I'M

LUKE

I

AM

a Fire Knife dancer and model based in Chicago.
‍
Active in the performing arts for over 15 years, I've created my own unique dance style by fusing the ancient Polynesian artistry of Siva Afi and the contemporary beats of American hiphop. With my degree in IT and passion for entrepreneurship, I hope working between the lines of tech and entertainment will allow me to explore the limits of Fire Knife by incorporating it into modern culture while honoring and acknowledging its traditional origin. I really believe it can turn into a whole new genre of art, so I’m here to explore that head-on.

MY

MISSION

is inspiring people to explore diversity through new experiences, perspectives, and skillsets.

MY

JOURNEY

has been full of turns.
See where I've been, where I'm at, and where I'm going.

2005 - 2015

For 10 years starting at the age of 4, I was highly involved in the performing arts. From singing to playing instruments, acting and modeling, I began working at a young age.

Signed with Lily's Talent Agency in Chicago.
Auditioned for hundreds of commercials, print work, musicals, and film.
Performed in all of my school plays, musicals, and performances.

4 year-old Luke Embers in a Newspaper article

4-year-old me in the news for my role as Tam in Miss Saigon

2015 - 2019

As I transitioned into my high school years, I gradually became less involved in the arts and explored different interests from volleyball, culture clubs, to strength training and computer science.

Simultaneously I had been working as a golf caddie at Bryn Mawr Country Club for about 7 years, resulting in being awarded the Chick Evans Scholarship for Caddies.

Luke Embers posing on the Western Golf Association Evans Scholars wall

Me posing at the 2019 BMW Championship

In 2018, I stumbled upon Hōkūle'a Academy where I started training in Polynesian dance and where my journey with Siva Afi (Fire Knife dance) began.

As a professional dancer with Hōkūle'a, I've performed for hundreds of clientele across the Chicagoland area to date.

Hōkūle'a Siva Afi dancers posing after a show.

2019 - 2021

In 2019 I graduated from high school to The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign as an undeclared major.

For my entire adolescence, I was constantly praised for my appearance and what I could provide on stage that I never felt as if I was useful beyond that. I wanted to prove there was more to me, so I worked toward an IT degree with a focus on UI/UX design.

Simultaneously, 2020 was a whirlwind of a year as the COVID-19 hit and everyone was in lockdown. Among all the uncertainty, I got really into calisthenics and started training in my apartment on campus.

Luke Embers doing pushups in his apartment

I turned my suite into a calisthenics gym!

2022

Halfway into college, I knew I needed to make my experience count. That's when I decided to study abroad in January 2022 where I moved to Barcelona, lived with a host family, and attended Universitat Pompeu Fabra for 3 months.

Luke Embers eating American burgers with his host family in Barcelona.

Dinner with my host family in Barcelona, eating American burgers.

Following my studies, I planned a solo backpacking trip and visited 11 countries in a span of a month. From seeing Hans Zimmer live in Paris, floating on the Dead Sea in Israel, to hiking a fjord in Norway, I put myself on a path of adventure, growth, and openness.

Luke Embers doing a headstand on the edge of Trolltunga Fjord in Norway.

Me doing a headstand on the cliff of Trolltunga, Norway.

Toward the end of my travels, I settled in London to work on a research project about the concept of Timebanking that I had learned from one of my professors. This led me to stay in London for one more month with the help of a research grant I was awarded, and I officially returned to the U.S. on May 31st.

Luke Embers posing with his research participants in London, UK.

Photo of me with my research participants in London, U.K.

2023

In my final year of college, I fell in love with entrepreneurship and immediately learned as much as I could through all sorts of resources. This led me to work on my first startup called Timely, a platform connecting people based on shared skills and helps plan a time to do them together.

Luke Embers posing with his developer team for his first startup, Timely.

My team of developers at the UIUC Engineering open house.

In June, the Timely team participated in an accelerator program called Life Changing Labs. Over the course of 9 months, we successfully launched a beta version of our app, reaching ~45 users.

At this time I also became member of Genesis, a community of Gen-Z startup founders, entrepreneurs, and creatives aiming to build impactful businesses and make change in the world. I started getting more involved by hosting events with them throughout the summer.

Luke Embers posing with GENESIS members at their Lakefront Luau event in Chicago.

GENESIS members at our Lakefront Lū'au Event in Chicago

Toward August, I was feeling really burned out because I was working on a startup, dancing, exercising, and hosting GENESIS events which took a big toll on me. I realized I needed a change...

The official logo of Embers Entertainment.

Combining my passion for the performing arts and what I've learned from Timely, I founded Embers Entertainment, my very own fire entertainment company (non Polynesian-related) offering spectacle performances with the element of fire.

After some tough conversations with myself, I ultimately decided it felt right for me to return to the entertainment industry full time. Starting in October I began making content on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok exclusively on my fire dancing journey.

To compliment my focus on Embers Entertainment, I now work full time with Hōkūle'a Academy as a professional dancer, IT director, and show host.

Luke dancing & emceeing for Hokule'a Academy.

Me Hula dancing at a Hōkūle'a show.

Finally, I also returned to modeling with a focus on commercial, runway, and editorial work. This allows me the opportunity to make additional money on the side and to network in the entertainment industry for potential Embers Entertainment clients.

What's Next in 2024...

That's a little about me!

My journey involves many twists and turns but, ultimately, I feel like I've found the direction I want to take my life for the next several years and I'm really happy. I'm working hard on some big projects that I'm excited to announce soon.

My name Luke Embers signifies my dedication to Fire Knife and the impact I hope to bring long after my flame has been extinguished. This births my mantra:

Be What Remains.
‍
I appreciate you for being here.

Aujourd'hui...

David Laroche continue à aider les ambitieux à défier le statu quo. Et vivre la vie qui les inspire vraiment.

Vous avez entendu mon histoire, il est maintenant temps pour le monde d'entendre la vôtre.

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