Meet Mathilde Rasmussen | Dancer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mathilde Rasmussen and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mathilde, do you have a favorite quote or affirmation?
“Be who you needed when you were younger”.

Sometimes we tend to discredit how far we’ve come, so we think that no one can learn from us, because we haven’t achieved this one huge goal yet. But if you pause and look back, you have been through so much that someone out there can learn from. No matter how old you are, how much or little money you have, where you’re from or where you are in your career, you have the opportunity to inspire, encourage and uplift someone else every single day. Whether that is by being the friend you wish you had, sharing information about the career you’re in or sharing your failures and lessons with others.

I started the blog “Love Notes To LA” where I write about all the things I wish someone had told me when I was younger. At first I was like “who the heck would want to read this”, but I get messages every single day from dancers from literally every corner of the world, who have benefitted from the articles. The things that seem “obvious” to you can be completely new and important information to someone else. I wrote about how to get signed, what is a headshot, what to do if you don’t get support from your family, where to live in LA, how to get an Artist Visa etc. etc.

In 2019 took it a little further and started an Online Dance Mentorship program for Danish who want to pursue dance for a living and the program has everything that 15-year-old could’ve benefitted from, but couldn’t get anywhere. It’s currently running on it’s 15th season and it’s that one thing I’ve ever done in my dance career that makes the most sense and been the most fulfilling.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My name is Mathilde, I am a professional dancer who lives in Los Angeles. I’m originally from Denmark, but grew up in Switzerland and Germany because of my dad’s sports career. My parents raised 4 children in foreign countries, so from a very young age I learned that if there’s something you want – like really want – you will find a way to make it work.

I’ve danced my whole life, but it wasn’t until we went to the World Championship in competition hip hop in Las Vegas in 2012 that I experienced dance outside of Europe. My mind was blown by how incredible all these dancers were, and I just knew that this was what I wanted to do. Fast forward, I graduated, went to Copenhagen and did a one year dance program, tip-toed into the industry by doing an episode of X Factor and an episode of Denmark Got Talent, whereafter I started traveling to LA to take classes.

I quickly learned that the road to getting an american visa was long, expensive and extremely hard, but again – if there’s something you want, you just go out there and make it happen no matter what. To build my resumé I went to China for almost a year in total to tour with major Asian artist and do shows like Chinas Next Topmodel, Chinese X Factor, Chinese Music Awards etc. etc. The culture shock was real when I arrived in Beijing, but going from tiny Denmark where we’re 5 million people to suddenly do Stadium Tours for 60 thousand people and perform in TV for 200 million people was for sure one of my career high lights. Later I went back on a teaching tour, and it just blows my mind how the language of dance is universal.

Now I had the jobs I needed to qualify, but when I came back to Denmark I had to come up with 10,000 dollars in VISA fees on the spot, so I went down the “delayed gratification” path and applied for so many “regular” jobs. I worked 12 hour night shifts in a Milk Factory, worked in retail, at bars at night, cleaned houses, babysat – you name it, I did it. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was necessary and it’s been very important to me to share that part of my story – especially now were social media is so big. It hurts my heart that young creatives start their careers and give up after a short amount of time because they think the road is gonna be as easy as people make it look on Instagram. Working so extremely hard towards your dreams makes it so much more rewarding when you achieve it.

I ended up moving to Los Angeles in the end of 2018 and I never take one day here for granted. When it gets tough and I have all these goals I am trying to achieve I still try to remind myself: “hey, you’re currently living your dream. You are in the middle of it, you are doing great”. Because living your dream doesn’t mean that every day is amazing and that everything is sunshine and butterflies. No. My dream was to be a professional dancer. And I am. And like everything else, being a dancer is a Yin/Yan-package that comes with amazing experiences, creativity, community, costumes and glitter, but it also comes with rejection, auditions, hard competition and more rejection. You cannot choose one path in this life that doesn’t come with pain, so when you’re having one-of-those-days, I think it’s important to remember that the pain is inevitable, and you’re not failing. You are still living your dream. So be nice to yourself.

As I mentioned before, besides working as a dancer I also have a dance blog LoveNotesToLA.com and an Online Dance Mentorship Program for Danish dancers who want to pursue dance just like I did.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I love this city so much, and when my family visits from Denmark I try to do a little bit of everything. I love Zuma Beach and El Matador beach in Malibu, I love driving to Big Bear, doing a little day-trip to San Diego or staying in LA and doing a basic Wisdom Tree hike. When my siblings visited we went on a helicopter ride over the Hollywood sign which was such a cool experience.

I’m from a big sports family so a RAMS game at SoFi, a Dodgers Game, an LA kings hockey game or an NBA game is always the best time and yes, it is mandatory to get one of the street hotdogs after even though I’m not sure if they’re radioactive.

Otherwise I love The Last Bookstore, Grand Central Market, The Grove and ACE Hotel has a fantastic rooftop pool that’s free. My favorite rooftop for drinks is PERCH in DTLA and it’s also a cute night-activity to go to the rooftop movies! In the morning I like to take people to Hot8Yoga for a little stretch and workout session and I haven’t been yet but GOAT yoga is on my bucket list for sure!

I’m such a child so Disneyland and Universal Studios is also inevitable when I have my family here.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My family in Denmark. The only reason I have been strong enough to live on a different continent than my entire family, the reason I can take as much rejection as I can and the reason I can go through hard times is because of them and because they’re there to pick me up. I love them so much. My friends here in LA has become my chosen family – it’s just so important to have good people in your life, and having supportive, genuine relationships in a big city like LA where everyone is far away from home, is so incredibly important.

Website: www.lovenotestola.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/mathilde.veje

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mathilde.veje/

Other: TIKTOK: @matilda.veje

Image Credits
(orange pic) Mai Tilson