From Vancouver Stages to Global Dance Competitions: Orlando Lucas's Journey to the World Stage

Vancouver, British Columbia, is known as a hub for creative talent, and award-winning dancer Orlando Lucas is a prime example of the city's multifaceted artistic power. Lucas has carved out a remarkable career blending his passions for acting and dance. With appearances in major film and television productions alongside a burgeoning career in competitive dance, Lucas is poised to make a significant impact on the entertainment industry.

As an actor, Lucas has already amassed an impressive resume; he has graced the screens of major networks and streaming platforms, including CBS, The CW, Hallmark, and Netflix. Early in his career, he appeared in the pilot episode of The Good Doctor and landed recurring roles in productions such as Zoo, Altered Carbon, StarBeam, Big Sky River, The Good Doctor and iZombie. One of his most notable roles to date was in the Netflix film The Unforgivable, where he played the son of Academy Award winner Viola Davis and veteran actor Vincent D’Onofrio, sharing the screen with Sandra Bullock.

However, Lucas's talents extend far beyond acting. He is also a highly accomplished dancer. His journey in the dance world began with Fresh Groove Productions in Vancouver, where his talent and dedication quickly shone through. A significant milestone in his early career was the opportunity to perform as a backup dancer for singer Capri Everitt at the iconic Apollo Theatre in New York City in February 2020.

Lucas's competitive dance career took off after joining Fresh Groove Productions. In 2022, his crew won a gold medal at the Canada Hip Hop Championships. This victory secured their place to represent Canada at the World Hip Hop Championships, where he led his team to a bronze medal at the World Finals. The following year, his crew continued to excel, finishing fifth in the world finals, underscoring their consistently high level of performance on the global stage.

After completing high school, Lucas's ambition led him to New Zealand, where he successfully auditioned for Identity Dance Company (IDCO), an internationally acclaimed hip-hop crew of 40 members. With IDCO, he has been a featured performer in numerous international shows and competitions. In 2024, the crew won the gold medal at the Pacific qualifiers of the World Dance Crew Championships in Australia, setting the stage for a major competition in 2025. IDCO is set to represent New Zealand in the megacrew category at the World Finals in Auckland in April 2025.

Not content with just one major dance project, Lucas also formed Crew 24, a smaller ensemble consisting of nine talented dancers who collaborate on choreography. Within months of their formation, Crew 24 entered the Pacific Qualifiers of the World Dance Crew Championships in Australia in May 2024. They secured a gold medal at this competition, earning their spot to represent New Zealand in the small crew category at the upcoming Finals. Crew 24 further solidified their reputation by winning another gold medal at a competition on the Gold Coast of Australia, defeating the reigning gold medal-winning crew from the World Hip Hop Championships in Phoenix, Arizona.

Lucas's rise to fame has also been significantly fueled by his presence on social media. He has amassed nearly 2 million followers on TikTok under the handle @notorlandolucas and over 160,000 followers on Instagram @theorlandolucas. This robust online presence has allowed him to share his dance skills, connect with fans, and broaden his influence in the entertainment world.

In a candid interview, Lucas shared insights into his journey on TikTok: "During the pandemic in 2020, my sister—who is also a dancer—and I started posting dance videos on her TikTok page. One day, one of our videos together went viral, and because we were stuck at home, we kept posting.”

He explains: “Many of our videos blew up, and her following quickly grew to over 500,000 followers. That was my first real experience with TikTok and seeing how dance content could reach so many people. It wasn’t until 2022 that I started posting my own dance videos on my personal TikTok account. My videos initially got pretty good views, but things really took off in October 2022 when I posted a video dancing with two of my friends from my first crew in Vancouver. That video went viral, hitting 15 million views in just a few days, and that’s when my following really started to grow."

Lucas has artfully used Vancouver's diverse landscape as backdrops for his videos. "I’ve posted dance videos from so many different places all around Vancouver. I’ve filmed at home—in my bedroom, my parents’ bedroom, my backyard, and basically all over my house. I’ve also shot videos at my dance studio and at various outdoor locations whenever I get the inspiration to create a post," he explains. He initially felt self-conscious about filming in public places, but that quickly changed. "I started to love it because having people in the background—'innocent bystanders' who weren’t part of the video—often made the content more entertaining and even helped some of my videos go viral."

His most viewed dance video to date is his "Gas Pedal" choreography. "I posted it in January this year, and it has now surpassed 32 million views and 5.5 million likes," Lucas says. "I created the choreography myself, and it quickly took off, with countless people copying and reposting it. The video has been saved over 550,000 times and shared more than 250,000 times. In just two weeks, this one video boosted my follower count by 200,000."

When it comes to musical inspiration, Lucas has a broad palette. "I love dancing to almost anything, as I enjoy all different styles of dance, so there's really no limit to what I dance to. That being said, some of my favorite artists to dance to include Drake, Kendrick Lamar, Missy Elliot, Playboi Carti, Chris Brown, and JungKook. Their music really gets me moving, and I love the energy and vibe they bring to my routines."

While he hasn't yet toured with major artists as a backup dancer, it remains a significant aspiration. "It is my dream to be part of a tour with a major star. This is my next big goal now that I’ve accomplished everything I could in competitive dance and have started focusing more on performance. I feel like I’m ready for this next chapter, especially as I approach my 20th year. I’m excited to take my career to the next level and make it a full-time career in the industry."

For Lucas, the best part of being a dancer is the community and the personal growth it fosters. "The best part of being a dancer for me is the incredible dance community I've become a part of and the talented people I've had the privilege of meeting. I've made lifelong friends through dance, and we’ve trained together through both the tough moments and the highest of highs. It's also taught me to truly understand my body and how it moves, which has made me so in tune with myself. Dance has given me the ability to express myself in ways I never imagined, and that's something I cherish every day."

He approaches his TikTok dances with a blend of spontaneity and precision. "For a TikTok dance, it usually takes just a couple of takes because the choreography is more lighthearted and fun, and it's not too intricate. However, when I create an actual dance video, which often involves more intricate and complex choreography, I will film it until I'm completely satisfied with the performance. Sometimes I can get it in one take, but other times I might do up to 50 takes. I'll never stop until I get it perfect, especially with so many followers watching—it has to feel like the right take to me before I post it."

Lucas is well-versed in an array of hip-hop styles. "I love all hip-hop styles and have been trained in pretty much every street style. Some of my personal favorites are House, New School, Afro, Breaking, Tricks, Popping, and Amapiano. Each of these styles brings something unique, and I enjoy expressing myself through their diverse movements and rhythms."

Looking ahead to 2025, Lucas observes that "dance is evolving with new trends that combine creativity and technology." He notes the popularity of fusion dance styles, blending different genres, and the use of technology in performances. "TikTok dance challenges on platforms like TikTok and Instagram continue to dominate. These short routines are becoming more complex with dancers from all over the world joining in."

As Orlando Lucas prepares to compete at the World Dance Crew Championships in New Zealand in April 2025, his journey stands as a testament to his hard work, dedication, and versatile talent. Whether on screen or on stage, Lucas is a dynamic force, captivating audiences and leaving an indelible mark on the entertainment industry.

Follow @theorlandolucas on Instagram and @notorlandolucas on TikTok.