Apartment Diaries
Mona Berntsen
16/04/2026
A familiar face to OLE LYNGGAARD COPENHAGEN, Mona Berntsen spent a few days living in the Ole Lynggaard Apartment – a carefully curated home nestled within the brand’s creative quarters. During her stay in Denmark, immersed in our universe, we spoke with her about the inspirations, passions, and little rituals that shape her world.
Bio:
- Mona Berntsen
- Norwegian-Moroccan dancer, Creative Director & Choreographer
- Known for winning So You Think You Can Dance Scandinavia, and for working with artists such as Justin Timberlake, Alicia Keys, Chris Brown, and Justin Bieber.
- b. 1990
What are you listening to right now?
I just came out of an intense creative period working with our national selection for Eurovision, so those tracks have been on repeat lately. When I’m not in creative mode, I usually switch to podcasts or calmer music. Something that lets my mind wander a little.
What is your current obsession?
Climbing. I recently started and completely fell in love with it. Dance has always been my way of being fully present, and climbing gives me a very similar feeling. It has the same physical challenge and adrenaline, but in a completely different way. It forces you to slow down, while still challenging your body and mind. When you’re on the wall, you can’t think about anything else.
There are very few things I’ve found that require that kind of presence from me, so it has been really exciting to discover a completely new hobby to fall in love with as an adult.
What does your morning routine typically look like? Is there a special ritual that helps you set the tone for the day?
My mornings are often quite simple. I love starting the day with movement. Training, a run, or just waking up the body. It really sets the tone for both my mind and my energy. After that it is usually a quick shower, breakfast, and a coffee in a thermos on my way to whatever is on the schedule.
Movement is central in your life. How does it shape the way you find presence and balance?
Movement is where I feel most like myself. When I move, everything else quiets down. It becomes a kind of meditation where I am fully present in my body. I have learned that I function best when movement is part of my rhythm. It brings balance, clarity, and a sense of grounding.
How do you reset after an intense creative period?
It is always a bit strange when an intense creative period ends. It feels like stepping out of a very focused bubble where nothing else really existed for a while. I try to give myself a little time to land before jumping into the next thing. Being in nature helps a lot. Recently I spent hours walking in the forest listening to a podcast. Simple things like that give me a lot of energy.
What’s always in your bag?
Lip balm, headphones, and usually spare contact lenses. And something to snack on. I am always a little hungry:)
What’s something you’ve recently said “no” to?
I have been trying to say no to things that feel rushed or misaligned. When you work creatively it is easy to say yes to everything, but I have learned that having a little space is important.
What do you want more of in your life right now?
Time. Time for the people I love, time to move, and time to stay curious. I love having a busy life and a lot of projects. That is when I feel most alive. But I am also learning how important it is to create small pockets of time in between everything. Moments where nothing in particular needs to happen.
