Olga Yaroslavtseva Gershanok was born in Riga Latvia (the former Soviet Union). At age nine she started her professional training at the Riga Ballet Academy with a strong emphasis on traditional classical techniques. During her school years in the Academy, she performed at the Latvia n National Opera house. After graduation in 1982 she became a member of the Latvian National Ballet, and in 1985 was promoted to principal dancer. She performed leading roles in the full classical repertory including Swan Lake, Le Corsaire, The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, For Whom the Bell Tolls, and many others, touring internationally. In 1989, while on tour, she defected from the Soviet Union and became a member of the American Ballet Theatre under Mikhail Baryshnikov. Over her eleven years at ABT, she performed a wide variety of soloist and leading roles, including Pas de Trois and Big Swans in “Swan Lake”, Harlots and Friends in “Romeo and Juliet”, Bathilda in “Giselle”, and Madam Vyrubove in “Anastasia”, as well as many others.

Olga toured extensively with ABT throughout the United States and around the world. Upon leaving ABT she then went on to teach at the Y.M.C.A Performing Arts School in Wyckoff, New Jersey. As teacher and choreographer, she worked with students ages 7 to 18 and taught all aspects of ballet from beginner to advanced, including pointe, variations, traditional and contemporary. She was the choreographer for award-winning competitions and yearly recitals, as well as head choreographer for “The Nutcracker” performed at the YMCA in December 2010.

In the summer of 2011, Olga began teaching at the Greenwich Ballet Academy, where she has been working as a teacher, choreographer, and coach for students participating in YAGP, ADC IBC, UBC, and CT Classic. Her students have been invited to the Finals for YAGP, ADC IBC and UBC many times. During her time at GBA, she has been a choreographer for the annual Nutcracker, and Gala Performances. From 2011 to 2021, Olga was also a member of the Petrov Ballet School, where she was working with senior level students, some of whom are now dancing with American Ballet Theater and the Washington Ballet. In addition to her work with GBA, Olga has also been teaching at the Elite Ballet Academy and Progressive Dance studio located in New Jersey.