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‘Cool Heat’ taps into
By Tim Ryan
rhythm of the streets
Star-Bulletin"This is something special," swears Herbin "Tamango" Van Cayseele in a wonderful French-Guianese accent. "You cannot stay in your seat very long when you hear this music. I promise it will make you get up and move."
Van Cayseele is co-founder and choreographer for "Cool Heat Urban Beat," a sort of hip hop ballet, which opens tonight at the Hawaii Theatre.
"I think also," he says, "this show is a celebration of life itself, and of Africa, and of black America. The music is all related ... from the traditional drumming to jazz to hip hop by way of rapping and a lot of physical comedy and vocal stunts."
The tour has been traveling around the world for nearly two months and ends in Hawaii. Van Cayseele, 35, is one of 14 performers in the 90-minute show, performed with no intermission.
ON STAGE
What: Cool Heat Urban Heat
"The show is performed by different people from different backgrounds with different styles," he said. "That provides the freedom for all of us to express our own selves."
Van Cayseele's interest in dance came late, at age 21. He was born in Cayenne, French Guiana, and as a young man he wanted to paint and "study," he said. As a student in Paris, he saw a street performer tap dancing.
"I wanted some fun besides studying; I tried tap and got hooked," said Van Cayseele, who is 5-foot-9 and 180 pounds. "My attraction was as much to the music as the dance."
Later, Van Cayseele began to focus on tap improvisation. He's shared the stage with the likes of Gregory Hines, Buster Brown and Lon Chaney, and performed in music videos with Madonna and Tony Bennett.
Last year, he performed in the "Majesty of Tap" show with Jimmy Slyde, Chuck Green, Lon Chaney and Bunny Briggs at Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center. And this January, he was named one of the nation's top 10 dancers by the New York Times.
Van Cayseele also created the Sunday tap scene at Deanna's, a small club in New York City's East Village. He also developed the dance show "Urban Tap," which he describes as a concept group based on improvisation.
In light of his love for improvisation, Van Cayseele said "Cool Heat's" choreography has changed a lot since the show debuted some three years ago.
"The dancers come up with things spontaneously on stage. Now, I think, what may have seemed like separate pieces three years ago actually melds together nicely now."
Though more challenging than choreography, Van Cayseele said he prefers improvisation.
"I think there are very few people doing improv to the degree I do it," he said. "I like doing something right on the spot with intensity."
"Cool Heat" doesn't tell a specific story, but rather, gives a history of black America through dance.
Shows like "Tap Dogs," "Stomp," and "Cool Heat" are not just for the young, attracting audiences of all ages, Van Cayseele said. "Ah, the spontaneity and improvisation is so pure and raw. It allows all people to relate.
"It's definitely pumping out there with an energy that you cannot not be sensitive to," he said. "You hear that rhythm and suddenly you be dancing."
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