Born in Hong Kong, China, Natalie Lu began her ballet training at Jean M. Wong School of Ballet and was awarded The Tsinforn C. Wong Memorial Scholarship in 2014. She later attended The School at Jacob’s Pillow ballet programme and trained at Queensland Ballet Academy. Lu joined the Queensland Ballet as a Jette Parker Young Artist in 2018 and performed with Hong Kong Ballet the following year. After graduating from Princeton University with Honors in Architecture and a Certificate in Dance, she joined Hong Kong Ballet as an Apprentice in 2022 and became a Corps de Ballet member in 2023.

With HKB, she performed in Anna-Marie Holmes’ Le Corsaire, John Meehan’s Swan Lake, Terence Kohler’s The Nutcracker, Cynthia Harvey’s The Sleeping Beauty and Septime Webre’s The Nutcracker, Cinderella and ALICE (in wonderland). With Queensland Ballet (QB), Lu was featured as Clara in Ben Stevenson’s The Nutcracker and as Maykin in Paul Boyd’s The Little Green Road to Fairyland. Her other repertoire with QB includes Stevenson’s Swan Lake and Cinderella, Greg Horsman’s La Bayadére and contemporary works by Craig Davidson, Gabrielle Nankivell and Jack Lister. Lu also performed Effie in Flemming Flindt’s La Sylphide with Hong Kong Ballet Group.

Lu was a gold medalist at the 8^th and 9^th Hong Kong Ballet Group Young Ballet Stars Award competitions and a finalist in the 2015 Star of Canaan Dance International Ballet Competition. She received the Solo Seal Award from Royal Academy of Dance in 2013.

Dancer Q&A

1. What inspires you to dance?
The combination of athleticism and grace, of precision and freedom.
The moments when the movement seems to drive the music.
The remarkable way our intricate bodies can articulate such a dynamic range of motion.
The ability to tell stories and move an audience.
The continual pursuit of perfection.
The rare moments of invincibility.
The opportunity to take part in creating magic.

2. What is your most memorable onstage moment?
Dancing as Clara in The Nutcracker with Queensland Ballet. It was a dream come true! In one of the shows, I had tears in my eyes as I watched a retiring soloist give her final performance as the Snow Queen. It felt surreal, as I had the best seat in the house in the midst of falling snow and a dry ice cloud. 

3. How do you unwind after a show?
I’m usually the last person to leave the dressing room because I like to take my time. I roll out my feet and calves if they’re tight, or stay behind to finish sewing some pointe shoes. I usually get home pretty late but I make sure to have a good meal before I sleep. At least we get a late start the next morning!

4. What keeps you motivated on tough days?
Remembering that I have many things to be thankful for.

5. If you could have one more talent, what would it be?
To speak six languages.

6. What would you be if you were not a dancer?
Good question. Either a musical theater performer, an architect, a high school teacher, or someone who organizes things.

7. What are your hobbies?
I love to sing and hang out with my dog. 

8. What is your favorite book?
My favorite book is The Prodigal God by Tim Keller. It changed my life.

9. What is the coolest thing about being a dancer?
You get to tell stories on stage for a living! I enjoy fully immersing myself in a story, where my dancing becomes an extension of the music and the character I portray.

10. If you could have a super power, what would it be?
Definitely to fly! To never get injured is a close second.