We recently connected with Kevin Lau and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Kevin , thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

If I’m being completely honest, I knew I wanted to be a professional dancer the moment I walked off the stage of my first school talent show at the age of ten. I had just performed my first dance solo in front of a live audience – a hip-hop and baton-twirling routine to Corbin Bleu’s “Push It to the Limit” (cringing and laughing as I admit this). I had just experienced a level of adrenaline and thrill that I never knew existed. Since then, my only goal was to re-create that magical feeling.

And for the past 17 years, I’ve strived to do just that! That moment played a crucial part in my artistic and professional development; it showed me that art and dance had the incredible ability to captivate and positively impact people. I learned that the spontaneity and excitement that’s associated with performing live is truly unmatched.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

From an early age, I knew I wanted to be a performer, more so an artist. I grew up in Toronto, Canada, watching dance movies of the early 2000s – Step Up, Honey, Save The Last Dance, as well as listening to music icons like Michael Jackson, Prince, and Usher. This was the initial spark that catapulted me into freestyling and hip-hop. Along with playing piano, saxophone, and drums (of which I still play today), I was soon exposed to the world of performing arts, attending the Claude Watson School for the Arts (CWSA) in North York, Ontario. Immersing myself in drama, music, and dance, I found myself gravitating towards movement and choreography, which led me to further my training and education in dance at the CWSA continuing Arts Program at Earl Haig Secondary School. My senior year of high school, I decided to move to Calgary, Alberta to focus my studies in classical ballet at the School of Alberta Ballet, under the direction of Edmund Stripe.

The following year, I enrolled in the contemporary dance program at The Boston Conservatory at Berklee in Massachusetts, graduating ‘summa cum laude’ with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree. During my time at the conservatory, I had the privilege of performing the works of Mark Morris, Kate Weare, and Zoe Scofield.

Post-graduation in 2020, I ventured to Germany to perform and freelance within the European dance scene amidst the pandemic. Throughout my year there, I danced the repertoire of choreographers like Micaela Taylor, Christoph Winkler, and Eduardo Vallejo Pinto. Following my time overseas, I returned home to Canada, where I spent the next two years focusing my energy on contemporary and modern dance, performing in the companies of Canadian icons, Peggy Baker, Anne Plamondon, and Guillaume Côté.

In the summer of 2023, I moved to Los Angeles to expand my professional experience in the commercial dance industry. Since living here, I’ve had the gift of working with renowned choreographers and artists like Monika Felice Smith, Entity Contemporary Dance, Erica Klein, Sophia Lucia, Gigi Todisco, James Gregg, and Camila Arana.

I’m currently on the dance faculty at Chapman University, DC Dance LA, and Long Beach Ballet. Additionally, I’m represented by Clear Talent Group and am a company member with Côté Danse in Toronto.

As a working artist, my goal is to inspire and uplift those around me through my movement and choreography. Furthermore, I aim encourage and mentor my students and the next generation of dancers. Nothing brings me more joy than this!

The thing I’m most proud of is my sense of resilience. Growing up, I was never the most talented dancer in the room. I believe that all of my accomplishments came as result of relentless passion and hard work.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

In 2021, my time in Germany was coming to a close, I felt there was a part of my artistic practice that was missing. My inner child and first love for dance resurfaced and I felt compelled to immerse myself in the world of film, television, and music. Growing up and watching my idols dance on television, I knew I needed to do the same!

This conviction I felt ultimately led me to relocate to Los Angeles, which is where I currently reside in. In my opinion, LA is the largest mecca for commercial dance, with deep roots in the entertainment and music industry. I knew I had to be in the place where this branch of the industry was exercised at the highest level.

Coming from a concert dance background, I had no idea of what was to come…

Suddenly I found myself in a city that regularly celebrates performance, art, diversity, and entertainment; dance and movement is embedded in the fabric of LA’s unique culture and art scene. I knew I had to be part of it all!

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

Two books I highly recommend are “Outliers” by Malcom Gladwell (which I’m sure is a top choice for many) and “The Dip” by Seth Godin. I have found both to be an incredibly honest, uplifting, and empowering resource and roadmap for life, especially as I continue to navigate my career in dance and performance.

Two of my favorite podcasts are ‘Q with Tom Power’ and ‘On Purpose with Jay Shetty.’

My favorite film is “The Pursuit of Happyness.”

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_kevin_lau/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kev.m.lau/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@KevinMLau

Image Credits

Photographer: Marissa Mooney