A self-described “shy child,” one might not have thought that Kevin Lau would become an accomplished performing artist. Through widely voracious curiosity, deep thoughtfulness, and good old “elbow grease” (in other words, continuing to show up and do the work), that’s exactly who he’s become. Originally from Toronto, Lau is skilled in a wide variety of dance styles – from street styles to classic modern techniques to more post-modern work.
Lau also has a background as a musician, actor, and visual artist, and has worked with creators from around the world on an impressive plethora of projects. He knows that a wide knowledge base is key to all of that work, and that’s something that he’s intentionally cultivated. Going forward from here, that wide and hungry curiosity has him setting his sights on various parts of the creative process. If he’s creatively fulfilled, that’s where he wants to be, he believes. I recently had the chance to talk with Lau, and here's what he shared.
From timidity to commanding the space: the first steps of Lau’s path
Lau started dancing through television and movie inspiration, mainly hip-hop/street styles, at about nine or ten years old. He also played piano. Attending an arts school, he trained in visual arts and theater, as well. Dance in pop culture piqued his curiosity about movement. That exposure to an extensive variety of art forms then led him to an even deeper broader interest in “storytelling through movement,” he recounted.
He began studying Vaganova ballet technique, and subsequently Cechetti. At an arts high school he gained even broader education on the various components within dance as an art form: from improvisation to composition to various codified techniques. Lau also began to build a more expansive understanding of the art form, including historical and global context, in that atmosphere. A ”universal perspective” and a “broader view of the art form” is something that he still carries with him, he noted.
Lau also described the importance of teachers and mentors who nurtured him along this path. Ever curious, he would stay after class (at his performing arts school and at the dance studio where he studied after school) and talk with his teachers. He would ask about his progress, and – Lau notes as important in his development – they would be honest with him. “If they thought that I wasn’t ready for something, they would tell me that.”
These teachers would also tell him stories about their paths and their careers, which inspired him to “dream and believe and push [him]self forward.” Meaningfully for Lau’s trajectory, they were “willing to take that one-on-one time,” he said. His teachers also helped him to build strong discipline and work-ethic, as well as get past his shy tendencies. “My mentors helped me to see that it was something that I had to work on and get past if I really wanted to do this," he described. Thankfully, presenting himself as a performer "came to feel natural over time." Don’t rush the process – it takes time, they helped him to understand.
Versatility, intermodal exchange, and continuous learning: honing Lau’s creative values
The next step on Lau’s creative journey was Boston Conservatory. Many of the technique classes there were rooted in ballet and modern. As such, Lau was feeling drawn toward concert work in a repertory company. Honing further, he looked towards Europe (and, in particular, the UK) for companies of interest.
As another result of Lau’s curiosity and inclination towards experiencing all that he could, he took summer classes and workshops with European choreographers. “It opened my eyes [creatively] and turned my focus [to Europe],” he shared. He even spent a summer backpacking in Europe: through the UK, Austria, and Germany, to name just a few countries that he explored. “I got to see how different cultures valued dance, taught dance, and talked about dance,” Lau noted.
All of that was compelling for him because of how different it was from the repertory that he learned in college. In Europe, he encountered more improvisation, engagement in the choreographic process as a performer, and theatrical elements such as prop use, projection, and spoken word. “It was all fascinating to me!”.
Studying at Boston Conservatory also allowed him to work with musicians at Berklee College of Music – bringing experimental music and dance together in new projects. With him being a former musician, that allowed Lau to heighten his inclination towards musicality as a dance artist.
“Music and dance has always had a strong relationship for me, and [my background as a musician has] played a big part in how I look at music for dance…I listen to the layers. My aesthetic and style has been driven by rhythms,” Lau explained. At the same time, he does sometimes choreograph to silence, which has been “an interesting creative exploration” for him.
The conservatory also had a musical theater program, so – while much of his training at Berklee was in ballet and contemporary – he had the opportunity to explore musical theater styles as well. Lau underscored the call for performers to be more and more versatile, all the time, in today's dance sector. He believes that the breadth of styles he’s studied has positioned him well here. “I was exposed to a lot, which I’m grateful for…it really broadened my understanding [of the art form].”
Dancing and making forward from here
Like many people, during COVID lockdowns Lau took time and space for reflection. He thought about what most interested and drew him, and his answer was commercial dance – back to his dance roots in street/hip-hop styles. As a big step towards deepening his work in that area, he got signed with an LA-based agent in 2022. A long trip in the city last August allowed him to take a wide variety of classes and meet many intriguing, talented creators.
He’s also interested in exploring many different roles in the entertainment industry: including music production, choreography, movement direction, and direction. That’s where his interest currently lies. He’s also aware that he could be called back to concert dance work, perhaps even back in the UK. Lau has a broad network of friends and former collaborators in that sector, something that could assist him in a (potential) future shift back there.
“I love abstract work, but also more mainstream [creative product]!,” he said. He’s grateful for the broad exposure to a wide variety of art forms and art making, and from that a wide perspective on what’s possible. “I don’t have to be married to any one idea. If this is the season for a certain thing, then great, but I could be called elsewhere in the future,” he affirmed. “I don’t want to be too stuck.”
If he’s currently doing work that makes him happy, fulfilled, and “ignited creatively,” then he’s in the right place for that time, he believes. Curiosity, diligence, and a pinch of wanderlust has led him to interface with a good deal of what’s available when it comes to artmaking. That’s a foundation from which he can build in many different directions – sky’s the limit!
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