Jo Strømgren was born in Trondheim, Norway, in 1970, and had a typically Norwegian childhood, steeped in the wilderness, social-democratic values, and violent fairy tales featuring trolls. In addition to his traditional upbringing, he also spent several years in tropical regions due to his parents' professions. This early blend of local identity and globetrotting has influenced his professional work, both in terms of the themes and genres he explores and, perhaps most importantly, his keen interest in different languages.

After graduating, he hesitated between two alternative paths: chemical engineering at a polytechnic school and Russian language studies in the Norwegian army. However, his year studying flamenco in Madrid as an exchange student sparked a serious interest in the performing arts, and he sent an unsolicited application to the National Ballet School in Oslo. He was accepted, and his future was sealed.

Although he trained as a classical ballet dancer, he embarked on a successful career in contemporary dance. Due to an injury, he chose to focus on choreography and theatrical directing. His literary ambitions evolved, and he quickly established himself as a playwright. While these three art forms are defined as his primary occupations, he has also developed a distinctive style in set and lighting design. His involvement in filmmaking, both in front of and behind the camera, is also noteworthy. One of his films won the prestigious Rose d'Or award.

As a choreographer, he has been sought after by a wide range of companies, from classical to contemporary. As a director, he has primarily worked with national and municipal theaters in the Nordic countries, but he has also directed several productions in the United States, Germany, and Russia. As a playwright, he has written a long list of plays and screenplays.

Jo Strømgren is the artistic director of the Jo Strømgren Company and currently the resident choreographer of the Norwegian National Ballet.

Jo Strømgren's résumé includes approximately 200 productions, most of which are full-night performances. His works have been performed in 68 countries.