Luke Stephen Hopper was born in Western Australia. He is passionate about the analysis of human movement, through his analysis of the arts and sciences, and in maintaining his work in supporting dancer health and well being.
Luke holds a Bachelor of Exercise and Health Science (honours 1st class), and Biomechanics, and has a PhD in Biomechanics from the University of Western Australia. He is a Vice Chancellor’s Research Fellow. He is Past President of the Australian Society for Performing Arts Healthcare and past Member of the Board of Directors of the International Association for Dance Medicine and Science.
In 2010 Luke spent six months in London, coordinating the biomechanics module in the Pioneering Master’s of Dance Science at the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance before returning to Australia as a lecturer in biomechanics at the University of Notre Dame Australia. He held this position between June 2010 and February 2015.
In 2014 Luke has been a lecturer at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts. as the Module Leader in Biomechanics, and returned to Australia to become a Lecturer of Exercise, Musculoskeletal and Clinical Biomechanics at the University of Notre Dame Australia between June 2010 and February 2015. From 2014 he moved to the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts and is currently a Vice Chancellor’s Research Fellow.
Luke’s work in dance science and performing arts health has involved several collaborations with international ballet companies such as the Birmingham Royal Ballet and with industry partners Harlequin Floors. Luke continues to work with the International Association of Dance Medicine and Science and the Australian Society for Performing Arts Healthcare in the development and dissemination of health evidence in preventing injury and illness in performing artists. In his position at Edith Cowan University, Luke is developing a health education and research program for the performing arts using his specialised skills in biomechanical 3D motion capture facilities and in collaboration with the WAAPA staff and students.
Over his career Luke has received many National and International Awards, Teaching Awards and Fellowships, Including receiving the 2018 Stuart and Norma Leslie Churchill Fellowship to innovate 3D motion capture methods for dance with leading UK animation studios and research.