Harry Shum Jr.: No longer ‘the other Asian’ on ‘Glee’

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It’s a great moment for Harry Shum Jr., the impossibly pliable dancer who turned a few high kicks on ‘Glee’ into a breakout role on the musical TV series.

He’s also turned it into a fancy fashion editorial spread, it would seem, as we find the easy-on-the-eyes Shum starring in a new guide to winter style — and he chats about his early days hoofing for Beyonce, moonlighting for Steve Jobs and shining for Ryan Murphy.

‘I’d rather dance in a corner than dance in a circle,’ the actor told GQ, though based on the photo that’s above on the right, we’re not buying into all that shyness.

But Shum does have a natural sweetness, plus killer moves that made him an easy fit for Mrs. Jay-Z (he was a backup dancer for Beyonce) and as one of the the jiving silhouettes from early iPod commercials.

Then there’s the nickname he earned for himself on the set of the movie ‘Step Up 3D’: The man with no bones.

As Mike Chang Jr. on ‘Glee,’ Shum has carved a romantic plot with Jenna Ushkowitz, a dramatic arc involving an overbearing parent who doesn’t respect his son’s right to boogie, and plenty of showy numbers with another resident dancer, Matthew Morrison. A lot has changed since his character’s early episodes.

‘It’s been like a year and a half,’ Shum said, ‘since anybody’s referred to me as ‘the other Asian.’ ‘

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-- Matt Donnelly
twitter.com/MattDonnelly