Up Close with Amberle Cheng

For actress and dancer Amberle Cheng, attending iPOP!, wasn’t the culmination of months of preparation, it was the beginning of everything that came next. Since returning home, the New York-born, New Jersey-raised performer has transformed the momentum she gained at the international talent event into an increasingly busy schedule filled with auditions, professional training, runway appearances, film work, and exciting opportunities that now stretch well beyond the United States. As she enters the next stage of her artistic journey, Amberle is discovering that success in the entertainment industry isn’t defined by one moment, it is built through constant growth, curiosity, and a willingness to keep learning.

Building on the Momentum

Looking back at her experience at iPOP!, Amberle immediately points to the coaching sessions as one of the most valuable parts of the event. Working with industry professionals Connor Weil and Robert Vito through NYLA Talent helped her develop not only her acting technique but also the finer details that elevate a performance.

“My favorite memory from iPOP! was definitely learning from the acting coaches,” she says. “Connor Weil and Robert Vito were so helpful. They worked with my diction and even the way I positioned my body.”

Those lessons didn’t stay in Las Vegas. They became part of the foundation Amberle has continued building upon ever since returning home.

A Summer Filled with Opportunity

The months following iPOP! have been among the busiest of Amberle’s young career.
She has participated in multiple acting classes, attended two professional photoshoots, walked another runway, received approximately eight auditions, and expanded her dance training across several disciplines. One of her biggest achievements came this summer when she attended the prestigious Joffrey Ballet School Summer Intensive Hip-Hop Program, an experience that challenged her physically while refining her performance abilities.

“Dance has always been a huge part of who I am,” Amberle explains. “I’ve been working on building my stamina and making every movement sharper and more precise.”

Her commitment to growth extends beyond dance. She has continued strengthening her vocal range through singing while also focusing on memorization techniques and scene preparation in acting. Rather than specializing in one discipline, Amberle is embracing the challenge of becoming a true triple-threat performer.

New Projects, New Experiences

Her dedication has already begun opening exciting doors. Amberle recently appeared in the short film Cousin’s Coven, scheduled for release during the summer of 2026, giving her another on-screen credit as she continues building her acting résumé. At the same time, her dance career has taken an international turn.

After gaining recognition through one of her dance studios, Amberle earned the opportunity to travel to China, where she will compete on Zhejiang Network Television, a remarkable milestone that combines both her love of dance and her cultural heritage. Following the competition, she plans to spend time visiting family throughout Shenzhen and Shanghai, experiencing the places where her parents grew up while celebrating a new chapter in her own journey.

Learning Beyond the Stage

While technical training continues to shape her as a performer, Amberle believes one of the biggest lessons she learned at iPOP! had little to do with auditions. It was about confidence.

“If I could give myself one piece of advice before attending iPOP!, it would be to always be friendly and open to everyone,” she says. “You don’t need to pretend to be someone you’re not, but people notice your energy.”

She also realized something many first-time attendees eventually discover. “The people around you won’t judge you nearly as much as you think they will. A lot of them end up becoming some of your best friends.”

It’s a lesson that has stayed with her long after the event ended. Dreaming Big. Like many aspiring actresses, Amberle already has a clear vision of the kinds of projects she’d love to tackle. If given the opportunity, she’d jump at the chance to portray Azula in a future adaptation of ‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’. The character fascinates her not simply because she’s one of animation’s most iconic villains, but because of the emotional complexity hidden beneath her confidence.

“She requires such an incredible emotional range,” Amberle explains. “She’s one person on the outside, but underneath she’s shaped by everything she’s experienced.”

Amberle also dreams of lending her voice to a future installment of KPop Demon Hunters, a film she admires for both its music and its emotional storytelling.

“It’s more than just entertainment,” she says. “It shows what artists can create when they truly care about their craft.”

Finding Inspiration

Outside of performing, Amberle enjoys another form of storytelling. Creative writing has become one of her favorite ways to relax, allowing her imagination to build entirely new worlds away from auditions and rehearsals.

“I like taking a break from the real world and putting all my ideas onto the page.”

She also finds peace through painting. While she enjoys making friends and sharing laughter with others, painting offers something different, a quiet moment where creativity becomes deeply personal.

“I enjoy the feeling of the brush moving through my fingertips,” she says.

Still Searching

When asked to describe this stage of her career in a single word, Amberle doesn’t choose “success” or “confidence.” Instead, she chooses something refreshingly honest. Searching.

“I’m definitely still searching for my place in the world and my career,” she says. “I hope one day I’ll be able to describe my life with the word ‘found.’”

That thoughtful perspective speaks volumes about the maturity she brings to her craft.
Rather than believing she already has all the answers, Amberle embraces the idea that every audition, every performance, and every opportunity is helping her discover the artist she is becoming.

Looking Forward

As Amberle prepares to begin high school while continuing to pursue acting, dance, singing, and modeling, her excitement for the future has never been greater. Whether audiences discover her through an upcoming short film, a dance performance, a television appearance in China, or perhaps one day on a major film set, one thing remains certain. She intends to keep moving forward.

Her advice to other young performers is simple, but powerful: “Keep trying. Determination will take you much farther than random luck ever will.”

For Amberle Cheng, the journey that began with a dream and took an important step at iPOP! is only just beginning. With talent, discipline, and an eagerness to keep searching for what’s next, she’s proving that every new chapter brings another opportunity to grow, and perhaps, one day, to discover exactly where she’s meant to be.

Stay Up to Date

You can connect with Amberle Cheng via her website: www.amberlecheng.com, on Instagram and IMDb