Today we’d like to introduce you to Rose Lu
Hi Rose, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
As of today, I have been in the New York dance scene as a professional for a few years. I started dancing simply because I thought it was cool as a kid. Initially, I was drawn to breakdancing, and my interest was further piqued by the challenge. As I practiced consistently, one of the studio owners noticed my dedication and invited me to join a women’s dance crew.
Having a friend group that shared my passion for dance was incredibly fulfilling. We weren’t just dance friends; we were close-knit, staying in touch and supporting each other even today. This sense of community is something I deeply cherish, and it’s something I emphasize in my own teaching. My background has instilled in me a love for this supportive environment, and it naturally influences how I create and nurture community in my classes.
When I started my own dance program called Hustle last year, I wanted to recreate that warm, connected atmosphere because it felt so natural to me. I’m dedicated to building meaningful relationships with my students, so our classes feel engaging and full of warmth. It’s rewarding to see new students making friends and forming connections both in and outside of class.
As for my journey as a commercial dancer, it began during a challenging time when I was injured and unable to breakdance in 2018. A friend, a choreographer visiting New York, encouraged me to take a class at Broadway Dance Center. I took her advice, and after she left, I sneaked into a class with Carlos Neto, a well known choreographer in New York City. I expected it to be easy, but I was quickly challenged. I kept going to his classes and I massively improved between my first and fourth classes to the extent that Carlos noticed, and picked me out to dance in front of the class with him at the end.
This experience sparked my interest in exploring dance styles aside from breakdance, like hip-hop, house, and street jazz. While studying film at college and within a year of my first class with Carlos, I incorporated dance into my projects and even focused my thesis on choreography. This was the catalyst for creating my own choreographies, which can be a challenging task for even people who consistently train for years. It took me a whole month to choreograph, which for comparison, it takes me only two hours now. My unique look and passion led me to start teaching and sharing my choreography with friends, which helped clarify my path. I began performing with Carlos and participating in various projects and videos. As opportunities grew, I realized, “I think I can do this,” and decided to pursue it more seriously.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Challenge 1:
In 2018, Rose was at Broadway Dance Center in NYC, taking a class from a renowned choreographer in Studio 5. During the session, the choreographer presented two options for the choreography, dividing the students into groups: “fellas do this, and girls do that.” Rose froze, feeling caught between two worlds. She chose the option for guys, even though it didn’t fully align with her identity and she struggled to perform the moves naturally. As the class split into male and female groups, Rose felt exposed and unsure. While people might see her as fitting into the “guy” category, the typical masculine moves didn’t always resonate with her. Conversely, feminine movements often felt foreign, and she doubted her ability to perform them convincingly, in contrast with her admiration for some of her mentors, who could excel in heels—a skill she felt she could never master.
Navigating these choices was challenging. Rose’s self-expression fluctuated daily between masculine and feminine traits, making it difficult to fit neatly into predefined roles. She began entering classes with a specific intention, such as “I’m going to be masculine today,” and used trial and error to adapt choreography to suit her authentic self while respecting the choreographer’s vision. This approach helped her find ways to modify moves that felt unnatural, enabling her to convey the story and energy of the piece without compromising her own identity.
As Rose progressed in her dance career, she noticed that she was not alone in her struggle; there were a few others facing similar challenges. Now, as a successful dancer and teacher, Rose is committed to creating a safe and inclusive space for her students. She encourages them to explore what movements and expressions mean to them personally, rather than adhering to traditional gender norms. For example, when a choreography calls for a “sexy” portrayal, she prompts her students to define what “sexy” means for them, rather than conforming to a one-size-fits-all standard.
Rose’s broader message to the world is to recognize that gender is not binary. She advocates for breaking stereotypes and moving beyond traditional notions of what men and women should look like. In the commercial dance world, where shows are often cast based on stereotypical norms to fit audience expectations, true inclusivity is sometimes secondary. Rose believes that increasing awareness of gender fluidity and non-binary identities can lead to more authentic representation and inclusive casting choices.
Her hope is for the industry to embrace these diverse perspectives, allowing choreographers and directors to make more realistic and inclusive creative decisions. By doing so, they can reflect the true spectrum of human experience rather than conforming to outdated stereotypes.
Challenge 2:
When Rose began training in New York as a dancer, she encountered a significant challenge: the movements felt like a foreign language due to their cultural roots. Having grown up in Taiwan, Rose was unfamiliar with the nuances of these new dance styles, making it difficult for her to replicate the intended feelings before gaining a deeper understanding of the local culture. The body language intrinsic to everyday interactions of people in New York was different from what she was accustomed to, complicating her ability to convey the essence of the movements.Certain gestures and expressions used in the choreography carried meanings beyond the dance itself, often linked to specific songs, lyrics, or cultural references that Rose had not yet experienced or understood. Even when Rose did the choreography correctly, she noticed that the dances often functioned as a form of conversation or emotional expression rather than merely a series of steps.
As Rose progressed in her dance journey, she immersed herself more deeply in the local culture and worked diligently on mastering the foundational movements. Through this process, she gradually gained insight into the cultural inspirations behind the dance and began to sprinkle in her own personal interpretation.
Rose made it a priority to respect and understand the original cultural context before infusing her own feelings into the performance. By comprehending the underlying meaning of the movements, she could authentically engage with the material, drawing on her own experiences to tell the story. This approach reflects a broader truth: while we may not always fully understand cultures different from our own, it is essential to approach them with respect and awareness. Embracing this mindset fosters mutual respect and connection among people from diverse backgrounds, reinforcing the notion that, despite our varied origins, we are all part of a larger, interconnected family.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a professional dancer and model based in New York City. I was born and raised in Taichung, Taiwan, which is also where I was introduced to break-dancing at a very young age.
I am an experienced performer, having danced in front of 42,000 audience members at Citifield stadium in New York for worldwide K-pop superstars BTS on their Love Yourself tour. I have also starred in chart-topping music videos with international artists such as The Jonas Brothers, Daddy Yankee, Sebastian Yatra, and Natti Natasha. I was also the only Asian representative cast in the well-known Latin artist Las Villa’s “Flow Romántico” music video. I have collaborated with major brands like Redbull, UNILEVER x Target, Apple, Shopify, and JBL as a dancer and model.
My extensive teaching experience includes regular contracts with competitive New York-based studios PJM and Broadway Dance Center. I teach adults and children. I have sold-out classes and have taught internationally, including at the award-winning Colombian dance studios Bailaderia, MUN, and The Game. I was also a guest instructor at PariJ, a popular studio located in Taichung, Taiwan.
What I’m most proud of is how far I’ve come despite not following the conventional path. Many of my friends started dancing at a young age, often training at places like Broadway Dance Center. In contrast, I began dancing as an adult, purely out of passion rather than early formal training.
I’m thrilled to have built a community around my love for dance and to be signed with a reputable agency. Although I may not yet be booked for every job I aspire to, I take pride in the journey I’ve undertaken. My strong mentality and positive mindset have been crucial in this process. I committed to dance not for the sake of professionalism but because I genuinely love it. This commitment, along with my optimism, has fueled my progress and achievements.
And that’s what truly matters to me—how my dedication and positive attitude have brought me to where I am today.
I graduated with a BFA from the School of Visual Arts with a major in Film and Video, which sets me apart from other professional dancers. I leverage my camera talents when creating and choreographing a piece. Because of my unique combination of film knowledge and teaching skill, I have a huge following of students training under my self-created dance program every single month. I am also a member of two spotlight dance companies in the New York scene, The SHINSA Collective directed by Bo Park and aKompany directed by Kenichi Kasamatsu, who are both internationally acclaimed choreographers. I am signed by one of the best dance agencies in New York and LA, BLOC.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://roselu.my.canva.site
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erose_mulan_lu/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@erose_mulan_lu
Image Credits
@topherblev
@mulan_film
@seancheesecake
@bykasamatsu
@visualiv
