# Helene Spilling

Helene Spilling Ødegaard (née 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, and was the winner of the 17th season in 2021. During her competitive dancing career, she won the Norwegian dance championship 17 times, and represented Norway in European and world tournaments.

## Early life

Helene Spilling was born on 17 April 1996 in Gjerdrum. Her interest in dance was sparked by watching Skal vi danse at a young age. Spilling began to dance at the age of 12. Before deciding to pursue a career in dance, she also had an interest in gymnastics and took part in other sports.

## Competitive dance career

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. She and Pettersen were the winners of the Kongepokal in 2017.
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. Spilling and Granskas were honoured at the 2019 "Dance Awards" in Norway, receiving the "Duo of the Year" prize. 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.

## Skal vi danse

In her debut season on Skal vi danse in 2020, Spilling partnered television personality and presenter Nate Kahungu. They finished as runners-up to Andreas Wahl and Mai Mentzoni.
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.
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.
In the 2023 season of Skal vi danse, Spilling was paired with stylist Harlem Alexander. They ended in 4th place after a dance-off against Alexandra Joner and Ole Thomas Hansen in the quarter-final.
Summary :
| Year | Season | Partner | Place | Average score | Total points |
| 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 |

### Season 16 (2020): with Nate Kahungu

| Week no. | Dance | Song | Judges' scores | Total | Result |
| 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 | Showdance | "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 | Showdance | "Ghettoparasitt" | 10 + 10 + 10 + 10 | 40 | Safe (return) |
| 8 | Samba | "Bun Up the Dance" | 9 + 9 + 9 + 9 | 36 | Safe |
| 9 | Paso Doble | "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 | Showdance | "Dance Monkey" | 10 + 10 + 10 + 10 | 40 | 2nd place |
* Points that are highlighted in bold indicate that Nate & Helene were at the top of the leaderboard.
* Judges: Trine Dehli Cleve, Egor Filipenko, Merete Lingjærde, and Tore Petterson.

### Season 17 (2021): with Simon Nitsche

| Week no. | Dance | Song | Judges' scores | Total | Result |
| 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 | Showdance | "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 | Paso Doble w/ 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 | Showdance | "Blinding Lights" | 10 + 10 + 10 | 30 | Winners |
* Points that are highlighted in bold indicate that Simon & Helene were at the top of the leaderboard.
* From the 2021 season onwards, there have been three judges - Trine Dehli Cleve, Morten Hegseth, and Merete Lingjærde - resulting in a maximum score of 30 points per dance rather than 40.

### Season 18 (2022): with Aleksander Hetland

| Week no. | Dance | Song | Judges' scores | Total | Result |
| 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 | Showdance | "Rock Your Body" | 7 + 7 + 8 | 22 | Safe |
| 8 | Paso Doble | "Warriors" | 10 + 9 + 10 | 29 | Safe |
| 9 | Samba w/ 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 |
* Points that are highlighted in bold indicate that Aleksander & Helene were at the top of the leaderboard.

### Season 19 (2023): with Harlem Alexander

| Week no. | Dance | Song | Judges' scores | Total | Result |
| 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 | Paso Doble | "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 |
* Points that are highlighted in bold indicate that Harlem & Helene were at the top of the leaderboard.

## Other television appearances

In 2021, Spilling was a contestant on the third season of Alle mot alle [no]. Alongside Birgit Skarstein, she finished eighth in the group stage.
Spilling took part in the 14th season of NRK's television series Mesternes mester [no]. Spilling is the fifth dancer to have taken part in the program and is the one who has been the most successful thus far, finishing in fifth place.
The first season of 24-stjerners julekalender [no] premiered in December 2022, with Spilling among the contestants. She was eliminated in the 15th episode.

## Business ventures

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 previously used by Skal vi danse contestants. As the original studio was set to be demolished, a new premises was needed. Spilling chose an office building located in Torshov, which was converted into a spacious and functional dance studio with the assistance of the Skal vi danse production team. It contains six dance halls, a social zone, and office spaces. The Zone has since served as the training location for Skal vi danse contestants in the 2022 and 2023 seasons.
She founded the online dance and sportswear brand DAVAY, which was launched in 2021.
Spilling has been a wedding videographer in her spare time since 2023, under the name SpillingMedia.

### Other

She is a brand ambassador for Thune, a leading jewellery brand in Norway. It was first announced in May 2024.

## Personal life

Spilling is in a relationship with the Arsenal and Norway captain Martin Ødegaard. In November 2024, it was announced that they had married. Their first child, a son, was born on 1 December 2024.
Despite significant media attention in Norway, Spilling rarely discusses her personal life.
She is close friends with former Paralympic athlete Birgit Skarstein, with the pair having met on Skal vi danse in 2020. They shared an apartment together in Oslo for four years before Spilling moved to London permanently.
Spilling has one older sister. She is the granddaughter of the late Internet pioneer Pål Spilling.

## Filmography
### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2014 | Melodi Grand Prix 2014 | Background dancer | For Linnea Dale |
| 2020–present | Skal vi danse | Professional dancer | 2nd (2020); 1st (2021); 3rd (2022); 4th (2023) |
| 2021 | Alle mot alle [no] | Contestant | Season 3; 8th place in the group stage |
| 2022 | 24-stjerners julekalender [no] | Contestant | Season 1; 10th place, eliminated on day 15 of 24 |
| 2023 | Mesternes mester [no] | 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 |

### Radio

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2023 | StudioP3 | Herself | Guest; June 2023 |

### Music videos

| Year | Title | Artist | Role | Ref. |
| 2022 | "Pust" | TIX | Lead | |