Eveliens PodiumPraat

Seen: Kokokito from Louis Vanhaverbeke
Thurday the 25th of July 20:00h, De Doelenzaal, Amsterdam, Dance Dubble date #2

Written for International Young Makers in Action; www.IYMA.eu

At the start of the performance, we look at an empty stage, surrounded by only black curtains. Then Louis walks in, in simple sporty clothes with a beamer standard on a small trolley. On the beamer standard is electric music equipment, like a mixer, speaker and a sample machine. Nothing fancy.

Then Louis starts talking/rapping/singing on a simple beat, about big choices as an artist and as a human being. With his rhyming words and divers beats, he lays down a path of thoughts about psychological struggles and questions about performance and about life. This contrast between the simple appearance and difficult life thoughts becomes even more present when he brings more and more props on stage: a children’s basketball net, a glove, a sandwich, a guitar. Whenever Louis steps behind the curtains, he surprises us with something different with which he makes his performance. Everything is multifunctional.

Louis is clearly better equipped with words and beats than with actual dance moves. But you could call his performance on stage a sort of dance. A dance with stuff, beats, words and thoughts. He uses it all to point out how life is filled with choices. Which direction do you choose? What if you don’t know? This is very much a topic of young people nowadays. Where to focus on, what to study, where to live in a world that is getting smaller and easier to access every day.

Kokokito is a funny, dynamic, one man performance with many recognisable things about life nowadays. I would call nothing about it fumbling. It has the appearance of a repetition on stage, but Louis’ business tells the audience otherwise: that he is well prepared. What would strengthen his performance and the contact with his audience, is if he would dare to play with the aspects of rest and speed. The whole piece is too much in one rhythm. Give the audience a little more breath and/or excitement to create a stronger connection. With that in mind, I would love to see more of Louis in the future!