In Spring 2011 Loa Olafson completed a B.A. with a double major in English and Dance accredited by the University of Winnipeg. She has recently been accepted into the faculty of education 2 year after degree program at the University of Winnipeg. Throughout her training she has had opportunities to work with hip hop and modern dance choreographers from across Canada. Since 2007, she maintains affiliation with Define Movement, a hip hop performance crew under the artistic direction of Dammecia Hall.
As a choreographer Loa has been commissioned to create work for notable organizations in the arts. In November 2011 she created a trio for the Plug In Institute for Contemporary Art, this work was performed at the opening event for their new building. In December 2010 the Manitoba Arts Council commissioned Loa to create a work that was performed by the N.E.E.D.S (Newcomers Employment & Education Development Services) youth dancers at the fourth annual Canadian Symposium for Arts & Learning. In August 2011 Loa created a work with youth dancers for The Graffiti Art Gallery, this piece was performed for The Right Honorable Governor General Michaëlle Jean. Most recently her choreography was commissioned for a music video by Canadian hip hop artist Pip Skid.
Specifically, for nuna (now) Loa has created a new work on two Winnipeg dance artists Emma Rose and Arlo Baskier-Nabess.
Since Fall 2010 Loa has been teaching at N.E.E.D.S as a hip hop and cultural dance facilitator, dual aspects of a weekly youth mentorship program. Since 2008 Loa has worked with Graffiti Art Gallery as a dance instructor in the St.Art programs. Loa has taught workshops with many youth based service organization in Winnipeg; Ircom, Spence Neighborhood Association, Rainbow Resource Center, Beyond Borders, West End Cultural Center and Crossing Communities. She has also taught for the University of Winnipeg Student Association’s weeklong annual Freestyle Hip Hop Festival and the CKUW Radio Camp series.