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Star-Bulletin Features


Wednesday, April 19, 2000



"Cool Heat Urban Beat"
Herbin "Tamango" Van Cayseele, co-founder and
choreographer for "Cool Heat Urban Beat," explores the
rhythms of Africa and the street.



‘Cool Heat’ taps into
rhythm of the streets

By Tim Ryan
Star-Bulletin

Tapa

"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."


Review

ON STAGE

Bullet What: Cool Heat Urban Heat
Bullet When: 8 p.m. today to Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, and 4 p.m. Sunday
Bullet Where: Hawaii Theatre
Bullet Cost: $15 to $45; $5 discount for students, seniors and groups of 10 or more
Bullet Call: 528-0506


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.

"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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