| Helene Spilling | |
| Birth Date: | 17 April 1996 |
| Birth Place: | Gjerdrum, Norway |
| Years Active: | 2011–present |
| Height: | 1.71 m (5 ft 7 in) |
| Partner: | Martin Ødegaard |
Helene Spilling (born 17 April 1996) is a Norwegian professional dancer. She is best known for her appearances on Skal vi danse, the Norwegian edition of Dancing with the Stars. During her competitive dancing career, she won the Norwegian dance championship 17 times, and represented Norway in European and world tournaments.
Helene Spilling[1] was born on 17 April 1996 in Gjerdrum,[2] to Anne Stenseth Spilling and Pieter Spilling.[3] Her eyes were opened to dance when, at a young age, she would watch Skal vi danse at home.[4] Spilling began to dance at the age of 12, progressing quickly as she showcased her potential.[5] Before deciding to pursue a career in dance, she also had an interest in gymnastics and excelled in many other sports.
In 2011, Spilling danced competitively for the first time with Christian Skibsrud. They won the NM in Latin and 10-dance. The following year, they competed in the U19 category and won a gold medal in ballroom dancing.
Between 2013 and 2017, she won twelve NM titles in the U19, U21 and adult classes with Jonas Pettersen.[6] She and Pettersen were the winners of the Kongepokal in 2017.[7]
In 2017, Spilling moved to Lithuania alone to venture further with a new dance partner, Dominykas Granskas, who hailed from the country. Representing Norway, they competed in both European and world tournaments for the Lillestrøm-based dance school LSKdans, and in 2018 became the Northern European Champions in standard dance. In addition to this, they made it to the quarter-finals in Grand Slam competitions.[8] Spilling and Granskas were honoured at the 2019 "Dance Awards" in Norway, receiving the "Duo of the Year" prize. [9] In total, Spilling secured 17 gold medals, four silver medals and two bronze medals from the NM throughout her time competing. After two and a half years in Lithuania, she returned to Norway.
In 2020, Spilling received an offer to be one of the professional dancers in the forthcoming season of Skal vi danse. In her debut season, she partnered television personality and presenter Nate Kahungu. They finished as runners-up to Andreas Wahl and Mai Mentzoni.[10]
In her second season the following year, she was paired with journalist Simon Nitsche. They won the 17th season of Skal vi danse, triumphing against Magnus Moan and Ewa Trela.[11] [12] [13] [14] In 2022, the pair were nominated for the "Duo of the Year" award at the 2022 "Reality Awards" hosted by the Norwegian edition of the Scandinavian magazine Se og Hør.[15]
In the 2022 Skal vi danse: All Stars season, Spilling was partnered with former swimmer Aleksander Hetland. They finished in 3rd place after a dance-off against Jørgine Massa Vasstrand and Santino Mirenna in the semi-final.[16] [17]
In the 2023 season of Skal vi danse, Spilling was paired with stylist Harlem Alexander.[18] They ended in 4th place after a dance-off against Alexandra Joner and Ole Thomas Hansen in the quarter-final.[19] [20]
| 2020 | 16 | Nate Kahungu | 2nd | 35.81 | 573 | |
| 2021 | 17 | Simon Nitsche | 1st | 28.31 | 453 | |
| 2022 | 18 | Aleksander Hetland | 3rd | 26.17 | 314 | |
| 2023 | 19 | Harlem Alexander | 4th | 25.70 | 257 |
| 1 | Salsa | "Gettin' Jiggy wit It" | 7 + 7 + 7 + 6 | 27 | No elimination | |
| 2 | Foxtrot | "When You're Smiling" | 8 + 8 + 8 + 9 | 33 | Safe | |
| 3 | Cha Cha Cha | "Men in Black" | 6 + 7 + 6 + 7 | 26 | Safe | |
| 4 | Show dance | "Axel F" | 9 + 9 + 10 + 10 | 38 | Safe | |
| 5 | Rumba | "Demons" | 9 + 8 + 9 + 9 | 35 | Safe | |
| 6 | Viennese waltz | "Neverland" | 7 + 7 + 7 + 7 | 28 | Eliminated | |
| 7 | Show dance | "Ghettoparasitt" | 10 + 10 + 10 + 10 | 40 | Safe (return) | |
| 8 | Samba | "Bun Up the Dance" | 9 + 9 + 9 + 9 | 36 | Safe | |
| 9 | Pasodoble | "Heads Will Roll" | 9 + 9 + 10 + 9 | 37 | Safe | |
| 10 | Quickstep | "Halo / Walking on Sunshine" | 8 + 8 + 9 + 9 | 34 | Safe | |
| 10 | Argentine tango | "Human" | 10 + 10 + 10 + 10 | 40 | Safe | |
| 11 | Jive | "Take on Me" | 10 + 10 + 10 + 10 | 40 | Safe | |
| 11 | Tango | "There's Nothing Holdin' Me Back" | 9 + 10 + 10 + 10 | 39 | Safe | |
| 12 | Argentine tango | "Human" | 10 + 10 + 10 + 10 | 40 | Safe | |
| 12 | Foxtrot | "La Vie en rose" | 10 + 10 + 10 + 10 | 40 | Safe | |
| 12 | Show dance | "Dance Monkey" | 10 + 10 + 10 + 10 | 40 | 2nd place |
| 1 | Cha Cha Cha | "Dynamite" | 8 + 8 + 8 | 24 | No elimination | |
| 2 | Foxtrot | "En Solskinnsdag" | 9 + 9 + 9 | 27 | Safe | |
| 3 | Rumba | "More Than Words" | 8 + 9 + 8 | 25 | Safe | |
| 4 | Show dance | "Run Away" | 9 + 10 + 9 | 28 | Safe | |
| 5 | Jive | "Rebel Yell" | 9 + 9 + 10 | 28 | Safe | |
| 6 | Modern | "Writing's On the Wall" | 9 + 10 + 10 | 29 | Safe | |
| 7 | Viennese waltz | "Ein farfar i livet" | 10 + 10 + 10 | 30 | Safe | |
| 8 | Quickstep | "I Want Candy" | 9 + 8 + 8 | 25 | Safe | |
| 9 | Pasodoblew/ Aleksander Hetland | "Eye of the Tiger" | 10 + 10 + 10 | 30 | Safe | |
| 10 | Tango | "Bad Habits" | 9 + 9 + 10 | 28 | Safe | |
| 10 | Samba | "El Diablo" | 10 + 10 + 10 | 30 | D.O - safe | |
| 11 | Salsa | "Hung Up" | 10 + 10 + 10 | 30 | Safe | |
| 11 | Argentine tango | "Running" | 10 + 10 + 9 | 29 | Safe | |
| 12 | Cha Cha Cha | "Dynamite" | 10 + 10 + 10 | 30 | Safe | |
| 12 | Foxtrot | "Someone You Loved" | 10 + 10 + 10 | 30 | Safe | |
| 12 | Show dance | "Blinding Lights" | 10 + 10 + 10 | 30 | Winners |
| 1 | Tango | "Pepas" | 6 + 6 + 7 | 19 | Safe | |
| 2 | Salsa | "Don't Go Yet" | 9 + 9 + 9 | 27 | Safe | |
| 3 | Jive | "Fire" | 9 + 9 + 9 | 27 | Safe | |
| 4 | Modern | "Arcade" | 9 + 9 + 10 | 28 | Safe | |
| 5 | Foxtrot | "Dancing On My Own" | 9 + 9 + 9 | 27 | Safe | |
| 6 | Argentine tango | "Mother" | 10 + 10 + 10 | 30 | Safe | |
| 7 | Show dance | "Rock Your Body" | 7 + 7 + 8 | 22 | Safe | |
| 8 | Pasodoble | "Warriors" | 10 + 9 + 10 | 29 | Safe | |
| 9 | Sambaw/ Grunde Myhrer | "Don't Call Me Up" | 9 + 9 + 8 | 26 | Doubt | |
| 10 | Rumba | "Toxic" | 9 + 9 + 9 | 27 | Safe | |
| 11 | Argentine tango | "River" | 9 + 9 + 8 | 26 | Safe | |
| 11 | Modern | "Without You" | 10 + 8 + 8 | 26 | Eliminated |
| 1 | Tango | "I'm Good" | 7 + 8 + 8 | 23 | No elimination | |
| 2 | Cha Cha Cha | "One Kiss" | 7 + 7 + 7 | 21 | Safe | |
| 3 | Modern | "Ikke som de andre" | 8 + 8 + 8 | 24 | Safe | |
| 4 | Pasodoble | "Mission Accomplished" | 9 + 9 + 9 | 27 | Safe | |
| 5 | Bhangra | "Mundian To Bach Ke" | 9 + 9 + 9 | 27 | Safe | |
| 6 | Rumba | "Når Snøen Smelter" | 10 + 10 + 10 | 30 | Safe | |
| 7 | Quickstep | "Because We Can" | 7 + 9 + 9 | 25 | Safe | |
| 8 | Samba | "Hip Hip Chin Chin" | 10 + 10 + 9 | 29 | Safe | |
| 9 | Foxtrot | "You're Welcome" | 8 + 8 + 8 | 24 | Doubt | |
| 10 | Viennese waltz | "7 Rings" | 10 + 8 + 9 | 27 | Eliminated |
| 2014 | Melodi Grand Prix 2014 | Background dancer | For Linnea Dale | |
| 2020– | Skal vi danse | Professional dancer | 2nd (2020); 1st (2021); 3rd (2022); 4th (2023) | |
| 2021 | Contestant | Season 3; 8th place in the group stage | ||
| 2022 | Contestant | Season 1; 10th place, eliminated on day 15 of 24 | ||
| 2023 | Contestant | Season 14; 5th place, eliminated in episode 7 | ||
| 2023 | Idrettsgallaen 2023 | Herself | Presented the "Female Paralympic Athlete of the Year" award | |
| 2023 | Melodi Grand Prix 2023 | Background dancer | For Elsie Bay | |
| 2023 | Harm & Hegseth | Herself | Season 3; guest in episode 2 | |
| 2024 | Drømmen om EM | Herself | Docuseries; appearance in episode 3 |
| 2023 | StudioP3 | Herself | Guest; June 2023 |
| 2022 | "Pust" | TIX | Lead | [21] |
Spilling is the founder and owner of The Zone Dance Studio in Oslo. In 2021, she was given a temporary lease to run the studio that was used by Skal vi danse contestants in the previous season. The building was later set to be demolished, so a new premises was needed. Spilling decided on an office building located in Torshov and with the assistance of the Skal vi danse production it was converted into a spacious and functional dance studio. It contains six dance halls, a social zone, and office spaces.[22] The Zone has since served as the place for Skal vi danse contestants to train and practice in the 2022 and 2023 seasons.[23] [24]
She founded the online dance and sportswear brand DAVAY, which was launched in 2021.[25]
Spilling has been a wedding videographer in her spare time since 2023, under the name SpillingMedia.[26]
She is a brand ambassador for Thune, one of Norway's leading jewellery brands. This was first announced in May 2024.[27] [28]
Spilling is in a relationship with the Arsenal and Norway captain Martin Ødegaard.[29] [30] She is close friends with Paralympic athlete Birgit Skarstein, with the pair having met on Skal vi danse in 2020.[31] She and fellow Skal vi danse professional dancer Rikke Lund have known each other since childhood, and chose to pursue dance together.
Spilling has one older sister.[32] She is the granddaughter of the late Internet pioneer Pål Spilling.[33]