Lucas De Marinis’ passion for dance has blossomed ever since his first dance class at the age of eight. A year later, Lucas joined the competitive team at Dance Inc. and began his formal dance training, studying different styles of dance including ballet, tap, jazz, modern, contemporary, and hip hop. His well-rounded training garnered him a versatile background and unique artistry as an up and coming dancer. He utilized his talents to earn many awards and scholarships from competitions and conventions throughout North America.
With a scholarship from MOVE Dance Competition, he attended Conteur Dance Academy’s Summer Intensive Program, where he was able to connect closely with Eryn Waltman, Chaz Buzan, David Norsworthy, Kelly Shaw, and Stephanie Rutherford, who all had a profound impact on expanding his contemporary movement qualities and improvisational abilities. Most notably, at the NYCDA nationals in New York City, the NYCDA college scholarship foundation awarded Lucas large scholarships to several prestigious post-secondary schools in the United States.
Lucas ultimately decided to attend the classical and contemporary ballet program at Mercyhurst University on a full tuition dance and academic merit scholarship. Mercyhurst molded him through rigorous ballet training and various residencies from guest teachers/organizations such as Pilobolus Dance Theatre, Vertigo Dance Company, Dancing Wheels, Richard Chen See, Laura Alonso, Ask Le Cour, and Jay Kim. While studying, he also had the opportunity to perform principal roles in The Nutcracker and Sleeping Beauty, as well as perform as the lead male dancer in Balenshine’s Concerto Barroco. Being on the Dean’s List four years in a row, Lucas was awarded the highest academic achievement in the Mercyhurst dance department, graduating summa cum laude and earning himself a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance.
Lucas went on to work as a guest artist for several professional dance companies throughout the United States, including Lake Erie Ballet, Syracuse City Ballet, Erie Contemporary Ballet Theater, and DanceStation. He was also a company member with SoMar Dance Works for four seasons, being featured in repertoire and having an active role in the creative process of new works. Most recently, he has had the opportunity to work as a Guest Entertainer, touring with StepONE Dance Company aboard Holland America Line’s ms Koningsdam.
Lucas has also worked with a number of professional companies in his home country of Canada, performing for two seasons with Eddy Toussaint Ballet, touring throughout Montreal with ProArteDanza, being featured as a principal dancer for Toronto Symphony Orchestra’s production of A Christmas Carol, and performing at the Scotiabank Arena in the opening ceremony for the 2018 Rotary International Convention.
Lucas started his professional acting career after he appeared in a number of television commercials, including a promo for the Pan Am Games held in Toronto. Lucas has gone on to be showcased on a variety of Film/TV networks including Disney Channel, Family Channel, YTV, and Netflix. He danced on The Next Star: Top 6, made recurring appearances on the television series The Next Step and the television series Backstage, and performed in Disney’s TV movie Zombies 2. He is dedicated to continuing to grow as an artist and continuing his career in the entertainment industry for years to come. When his talent isn’t radiating on the stage or screen, Lucas can be found setting choreography and teaching the next generation of performing artists.