Mona-Jeanette Berntsen (born January 16, 1990) is a Norwegian-Moroccan dancer. She is known for winning So You Think You Can Dance Scandinavia, and for working with artists such as Justin Timberlake,[1] Alicia Keys[2] and Chris Brown.[3] She performed on the Purpose World Tour with Justin Bieber.[4]
Mona Berntsen | |
|---|---|
| Born | Mona-Jeanette Berntsen January 16, 1990 |
| Nationality | Norwegian |
| Occupation | Dancer |
| Known for | Winner of So You Think You Can Dance Scandinavia, dancer for Justin Bieber and Madonna |
| Website | monaberntsen |
Life and career
editMona Berntsen was born and raised in Norway by a Moroccan mother and a father from Northern Norway. After having her dance career breakthrough as the winner of So You Think You Can Dance Scandinavia at the age of 18,[5] Berntsen was signed by Bloc Agency[6] and moved from Norway to Los Angeles. In the coming years Berntsen worked with some of the world's biggest artists, including Justin Timberlake[1] and Alicia Keys,[2] before traveling on two world tours with Chris Brown.[3] Berntsen has since performed at some of the world's biggest stages and shows, including the Academy Awards,[7] Grammy Awards, Billboard Awards and several MTV Award Shows. In 2015, Berntsen also performed for Nike during a clothing line launch.
Berntsen grew up as a member of street dance crew Cre-8, with fellow So You Think You Can Dance Scandinavia contestant Daniel Sarr and So You Think You Can Dance Norway contestant Alexandra Joner as some of the other members. With Maria Karlsen as lead choreographer, Cre-8 got to the semi-finals in Norway's Got Talent.
Berntsen will be the choreographer of Melodi Grand Prix 2024, taking the role from Mattias Carlsson.[8]
So You Think You Can Dance Norway
edit| Week | Partner | Dance | Music | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Endre Jansen | Afro | "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'"—Michael Jackson | Safe |
| 2 | Lyrical jazz | "Hangin' By a Thread"—Jann Arden | Safe | |
| 3 | Locking | "Rock Steady"—Aretha Franklin | Bottom 3 | |
| Results show solo | "Ring the Alarm"—Beyoncé Knowles | |||
| 4 | Endre Jansen | Jive | "Bye Bye"—David Cerra | Safe |
| 5 | Ole Petter Knarvik | Hip-hop | "Ice Box"—Omarion | Injured |
So You Think You Can Dance Scandinavia
edit| Week | Partner | Dance | Music | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Sergio Junior | Afrocuban Rumba | "Echa pa'lante"—Thalía | Safe |
| 3 | Showdance | "Hit & Run Holiday"—My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult | Safe | |
| 4 | Salsa | "Meñique-Mañigua (DJ Duste Remix)"—DJ Duste | Bottom 3 | |
| Results show solo | "Fall Out"—Method Man | |||
| 5 | Ronni Morgenstjerne | Hip-hop | "Run (I'm a Natural Disaster)"—Gnarls Barkley | Safe |
| Afro-pop | "Thorb"—Janet Jackson | |||
| 6 | Daniel Kouvinen | Tango | "I've Seen That Face Before (Libertango)"—Grace Jones | Safe |
| Contemporary | "It's a Man's Man's Man's World"—James Brown | |||
| 7 | Samba | "It Had Better Be Tonight"—Michael Bublé | Safe | |
| Lyrical jazz | "It's Been Awhile"—Staind | |||
| 8 | Lindy hop | "Swingin' the Blues"—Count Basie | Winner | |
| Mynte Lagoni Emma Hedlund |
Jazz | "These Boots Are Made For Walkin'"—Nancy Sinatra | ||
| Final solo | "Hmm Hmm"—Beenie Man | |||
References
edit- ^ a b "Norske Mona (23) danset med Timberlake og 'N Sync". Retrieved June 30, 2016.
- ^ a b Mona Berntsen (October 16, 2012), Alicia Keys Girl On Fire HD iTunes Festival 2012, archived from the original on December 21, 2021, retrieved June 30, 2016
- ^ a b "Norske Mona (21) turnerer med Chris Brown". Retrieved June 30, 2016.
- ^ Talseth, Thomas (January 7, 2016). "Mona Berntsen får drømmejobben av Justin Bieber". VG (in Norwegian). Retrieved June 30, 2016.
- ^ Pedersen, Ole-Tommy; Ane Teksum; Charlott Lokland Pettersen (May 29, 2008). "Mona Jeanette vant dansefinalen". Dagbladet (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on March 18, 2011. Retrieved June 26, 2011.
- ^ "Bloc LA | Mona Berntsen". la.blocagency.com. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
- ^ "Norske Mona (25) danser på Oscar-scenen i natt". Retrieved June 30, 2016.
- ^ Tangen, Anders Martinius (October 21, 2023). "Mona Berntsen er ny sceneregissør for MGP og det bli finale 3.februar" [Mona Berntsen is the new stage director for MGP, and the final will be on February 3]. ESC Norge (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved October 22, 2023.