Vincent Massey’s renaissance man: Cash Laluk

In the modern sports world, elite athletes are formed through specialization. For those who want to excel in hockey, football or gymnastics, the belief is that constant practice and improvement are almost a necessity.

True off-seasons have also gone by the wayside. At most, athletes will focus on an alternative sport, but many devote their time to extra training in their main sport.

In this context, Cash Laluk is a true renaissance man who advises athletes not only to look outside of their sport, but also to look to the arts.

If you’re a regular reader of the sports section, you’ll know Laluk as a linebacker for the Vincent Massey varsity football team. However, if you’re a fan of local arts and culture, you’ll recognize his name from multiple Mecca productions over the years.

His love of musical theatre and tap dance is something he encourages other athletes to explore, broaden their horizons and, in some cases, improve their skills on the field.

“You don’t hear a lot about dancing football players, but it gives you so many more paths,” said Laluk. “If I wanted to do football and musical theatre (in the future), I have that choice, but if I didn’t do musical theatre, I wouldn’t have that same opportunity. I think in that way it’s helped me a lot.”

Laluk’s love of musical theatre started at a young age. As the youngest sibling of four with three older sisters who were interested in musical theatre, he spent much of his time steeped in the kind of music he would go on to perform himself.

“Whatever (my sister’s) listened to I’ve always had to listen to,” said Laluk. “It’s grown into something I love, and it’s awesome.”

He started acting in Mecca productions from as young as five, playing small parts and slowly learning the skills he would use later. At 10, he auditioned for a show called “Fun Home” in Winnipeg. His role wasn’t huge, but he got to work with some talented actors, and he even got paid.

“I got to learn from Carson Nattrass, who’s a big actor in Winnipeg,” said Laluk. “It was a great experience; it helped me learn a ton more about acting than I knew before as a kid. It eventually led me to get bigger roles in shows.”

In Grade 8, he got to play Kristoff in the Mecca production of Frozen, and at Vincent Massey he really got the opportunity to show what he could do when he auditioned for Seussical in Grade 9.

“I ended up getting the lead for that show in Grade 9, which doesn’t happen very often for Grade 9s, so I was thrilled about that,” said Laluk.

The most recent show he did was “Once Upon a One More Time,” in which he played the part of Prince Charming. He said that was a fun experience because he hasn’t had the opportunity to play many villains.

This year, he will play Gomez in Vincent Massey’s production of “The Addams Family.”

Musical theatre was just one aspect of his interest in the arts. Growing up, he also learned to tap dance starting at Stepping Time Dance Studio when he was six years old.

“(Brody and Carson Burr) inspired me to become a better tap dancer and to want to put that work ethic into tap dancing,” said Laluk. “Growing up through that process of wanting to be at the level they were has really pushed me to push the limit.”

He’s been a part of multiple tap dancing competitions and has even won a provincial championship. He’s currently experimenting with putting tap dances to slower tempo songs.

“A lot of people would think that with tap dancing you’d want to have a really fast song and get a lot of fast tap notes in,” said Laluk. “I’ve been trying to do it with slower songs and trying to explore, just like having more variety of not going fast all the time.”

He also says tap has helped him with footwork on the football field. As a linebacker, he needs to be on his toes and capable of moving in whatever direction the play develops.

Laluk’s experience with dance helping his football skills isn’t singular. Former Seattle Seahawks running back Alex Collins famously did Irish step dancing on the side.

“I’m on my toes all the time when I’m doing tap dancing and being out there and doing that warm-up; it’s just the same thing,” said Laluk. “That has really helped my footwork, especially as a backer; you want to be on your toes all the time.”

Until this season’s musical gets under way, Laluk will continue to have an impact in the Vincent Massey Vikings lineup. The team is 1-1 to start the season and looking to improve to a positive record with a matchup against St. Paul’s in Winnipeg today.

Vincent Massey’s renaissance man is 100 per cent behind encouraging athletes to take the road less travelled and try something in the arts. He says it will greatly enrich their experience and maybe even help them out in the athletic arena.

“It’s the opportunity of a lifetime to get to know people that do it, and you’ll get so many more opportunities,” said Laluk.

» rmccarthy@brandonsun.com