When it comes to choreographer Rudi Smit, his dance card never declines! He’s talented, nimble and absolutely relentless!
His dancing shoes have tip-tapped all over the world, making him one of the most well-respected choreographers out there. Whether dancing, teaching, performing or a judge, Rudi Smit has participated in dance competitions in 28 countries across five continents. He is the go-to dance dynamo for just about any on- or off-stage project – and always makes sure to work in some South Africanness!
Now watch me whip
From Hip Hop International and the World Hip Hop Dance Championship to Kamata Dance Camp, The W.H.E.S Convention, In10sive MasterCamp and HDI London, Rudi’s seen it all. In 2018, he choreographed for well-known local artists GoodLuck and Rouge, sharing in the winnings of the SAMA Music Video of the Year Award for Rouge’s ‘Arumtumtum’.
He was one of the choreographers for the 2016 film Honey 3 (and also appeared in it as a dancer) and was an assistant choreographer to Tony Gonzales for Bring It On: Worldwide #Cheersmack. He has also done choreography work for horror-comedy film Slay (which came out in March), featuring RuPaul’s Drag Race legends Trinity the Tuck, Heidi N Closet, Cara Melle and Crystal Methyd. Rudi has also become the first South African choreographer to work in the K-Pop industry, choreographing for girl groups ITZY, NMIXX and VCHA – all under JYP Entertainment, one of the top three companies in the Korean music industry.
Fans around the world go nuts seeing Rudi’s work on social media, and his growing record of more than 100 million views across platforms (accumulated both individually and with his dance company, Untimitive) is yet another testament to how his art and passion for movement resonates with people from all walks of life.
His dance journey began when he was nine years old, after seeing the group 101 win the first season of the TV talent show Coca-Cola Popstars in 2001. Rudi says he had an instant connection to dance after seeing them perform on television, and there was no looking back.
“I started learning their entire concert from a recorded VHS tape, and once I had it down, I would do little shows in the lounge for my family and perform the whole concert for them,” he recounts. “That’s what kick-started everything!
He says he never had any love or connection to sports at all. “So, once I found dance, everything clicked for me and I fell in love immediately. I was a fairly quiet and introverted child and dance really helped me express the ‘louder’ parts of myself. Dance really became a huge part of my heritage and a key factor in giving me the freedom to express myself as I want to.”
Rudi then developed himself and his craft by taking every opportunity to train with best of the best and remains committed to learning. Mainly self-taught, the only formal training he received was in 2008, from Kumari Suraj (coined ‘The Queen of Whacking Nuevo’), when he did a show with them called The Temple of Hip Hop in Cape Town for three months. “That was my first proper introduction to street dance styles and their origins.
After that, from 2009 to 2013, he spent a couple of months in Los Angeles every year, taking classes at different dance studios to further his training.
However, after hours and hours of training in the studio, he realised that he had a deeper passion for creating the choreography than following it. “I didn’t always feel the affinity to want to go to class and learn from someone else. I wanted to create the moves and story myself, and then teach it to others,” he says. “There was something more exciting about that to me, and I felt like it resonated more with what I wanted to do career-wise. That’s when I started submitting my work to Carnival Choreographers Ball and putting my work on other dancers in LA to showcase what I could do conceptually. From there, more opportunities started coming up.”
Untamed & beyond talented
One of my favourite choreographies by Rudi and the Untimitive Dance Company has got to be his take on Tyla’s hit, ‘Water’. The video has over half a million views on YouTube right now! It’s one of those things that just gives feel-good vibes. “I really feel like it represents me as a choreographer and director. I’m immensely proud of that video!” says Rudi. “I love the outfits that the ladies put together and the way we styled it with the little silver keys… I love the location. I love the way the blues in the denim work so beautifully against the whites of the walls and the blues in the water. I love the way it was put together and constructed and the general flow of the video. There were so many little details that really just made it come together beautifully. As it stands, I really feel like it’s my best work yet, and the honeys delivered!” he gushes.
@rudi_smit @Tyla we done made a movie for you honeyyyy 💦 WATER / out this Friday – 01.12.23 #rudismit #untimitive #untimitivedancecompany #tyla #water #dancevideo #dancevisual #trailer ♬ original sound – Rudi Smit
Rudi brings an authentic flair to choreographing; it’s a mix of global culture with a strong South African underpinning – there’s always a nod to local nuances. His drive and quick pace are what sets him apart in a highly competitive industry. He knows how to tell a story through dance; he knows how to make an audience feel.
“Generally, when I hear music, I see movement and I visualise locations, outfits, a general mood etcetera,” he explains. “Having a vision in my head when I hear music, and being able to extract that vision and put it on other people, is what really makes me love dance and music.
“The idea that I can create an entire world in my head and bring it to fruition is so exciting to me… I also love that it’s something that’s just within me and happens naturally. Seeing the outcome of what was initially in my head is so satisfying and it pushes me to want to do more and create more! It excites me that every single song tells a different story and that there are so many different ways in which you can approach dance and choreography to tell a story without even having to say a word. It holds a really special place in my heart.”
Feeling the beat
Touching more on his creative process, Rudi bubbles over about the significance of music in his life.
“Music is the driving force behind everything for me… Probably because I have an audio-editing background and it’s become something I am known for. I love to add edits to the music or sometimes even create my own remixes to keep the piece fresh and introduce an element of surprise.”
Like any good accompaniment, music works hand-in-hand with every stomp, slide and clap to tell a story, which Rudi makes sure to infuse with South African flair.
“I think the South African twist comes in with our lived experience in SA itself and the diversity that we showcase as the Untimitive dance company… We showcase different body types, different races, we also have a strong affinity for having moments that represent the LGBTQIA+ community in our pieces by pairing guys with guys and girls with girls in our partnership sections.
“It becomes a melting pot of everything that you can find in South Africa; it represents freedom of expression and solidifies the idea that dance is diverse and multifaceted. From time to time, we also include amapiano sections in our videos (choreographed by Matthew Power) to showcase that element as well.”
Feeling, expression, authenticity and proper execution are all elements that make Rudi’s journey as an artist so compelling and absolutely worth all the ups and downs. It is this work ethic that has secured him collaborations with big-name clients like Adidas, Facebook, Samsung, Ford Mustang, Volkswagen, McDonald’s, Pepsi and Pongracz.
Proudly South African
For Rudi, South Africa remains a beacon of inspiration and hope as he continues to build his legacy. “As corny as it sounds, the people in SA are just so lekker and we are completely different to other countries. We have the most vibrant personalities, our humour is hilarious, and I just love the way our people talk, our slang, our way of conversing, our way of life… There are so many people from so many different walks of life; it’s special and innately South African,” he enthuses. “You can’t find this anywhere else!”
Rudi’s mission going forward is to make dance a movement, showing people how this art form can change lives for the better. “I would like to inspire others to know that they can achieve big things within the dance sphere, on a global level,” he asserts. “Being from Africa should not be seen as a disadvantage or as a reason to not be able to make waves internationally. It’s very possible, and the talent here is REAL!”
He also wants to leave behind a legacy of supporting other local dance artists, and helping them reach their peak and see their potential as he sees it. He would love to see more South African dance artists take their work abroad and succeed internationally.
The real mover and shaker
Dancing his way towards a brighter future, creating recognition and opportunities for South Africa’s dance community at large, Rudi shows no signs of slowing down (though he definitely deserves a good vacation at some point after all the shows he’s been doing lately!).
Rudi hopes to keep working and collaborating with more artists (not just musicians) on video projects, live performances and tours, internationally and locally. “I would love to be able to bring my company in on different projects. Having worked with my team for so many years, they really just get me and how I operate. We make a very special team, and I would love to create epic moments in pop-culture history with them by my side. I absolutely believe that it’s coming our way and that there is going to be loads to celebrate!”
@rudi_smit Have you watched Unholy yet? 🌹🔥 Link in bio! DC: Me 🙋🏼♂️ @Sam Smith @Kim Petras #unholy #unholysamsmith #samsmith #kimpetras #rudismit #dance #dancevideo #dancevisual #choreography #conceptvideo #instrumental ♬ Unholy – Sam Smith & Kim Petras
To keep the momentum going, Rudi is tapping into a healthier lifestyle, making gym and fitness a priority and eating healthier as much as possible. “I feel the best I ever have!” he says. “I’ve lost a lot of weight, and, beyond that, I’ve made lifestyle changes that have started to stick and have become part of my everyday life, which I am really excited about. It feels good to feel good!”
While he is adamant that our dancers and artists have a big place in the world, he is also concerned about their future, and the generations to come. His advice for them? “Be relentless in your pursuit towards what you want to achieve – even when all the odds are stacked against you, even when people are telling you that you are not going to make it to the place you envision yourself. Cancel out the noise, move with people who see the value in what you bring, invest in the people that show you love, build with them, show them the same love back and always keep your eye on the prize, no matter how hard it gets…
“Be proud of yourself. Be proud of who you are, what you do, what you offer, your point of view. Everything changes when you are cheering for yourself and you believe in yourself. The idea of ‘supporting’ yourself being viewed as selfish or self-indulgent is problematic – there is nothing wrong with loving the work you produce and being your own cheerleader!”
About Rudi
Full Name:
Rudi Smit
DOB:
18 October 1992
Age:
31
Hometown:
Durbanville, Cape Town
Current Turf:
Salt River
Latest Achievement:
DStv Content Creator Award for ‘Dance Creator of The Year’
Quick Q&A
Favourite Colour:
Green
Dance Icon:
Sean Bankhead
Top Dance Genre:
Commercial/hip-hop
Hobbies:
Does shopping count? Because, yes, I love shopping!
Fashion Staple:
Right now, a black or white tank top
A Song You Love:
‘Alright’ by Victoria Monét
Describe Yourself in One Word:
Calm
If You Had A Superpower, What Would It Be?
The ability to fly
Pet Peeve:
Sounds so petty, but being blue ticked on WhatsApp, especially if it’s an urgent message that needs a quick reply. Hate it!
Words by Charndré Emma Kippie
Photography: Zhann Solomons
Dressed by Sportscene
Also read: Tyla is taking over the music world
