Rudi Smit burst onto the country’s radar with the epic viral dance video of Meghan Trainor’s hit song ‘Me Too’ with the Untimitive Dance Crew. But he’s more than just a viral video star. Between teaching classes and appearing at events and on TV, the Cape-based dancer and choreographer shows no signs of slowing down. Here, he reveals more about his home base, Cape Town.
1 How does Cape Town influence or inspire you and your work?
I think I am genuinely inspired by the diversity and the culture within Cape Town. You think that you’d experience another sense of diversity and culture going to different countries but Cape Town truly brings another dimension of diversity. The way we celebrate different races, body types, cultures and people as a whole is beautiful and I absolutely love that about this city! It inspires me to create on and around different people who tell different stories, and it gives complexity to the work that I create.
2 What do you love most about this city?
The vibrant energy that the city carries in summer. There’s an unexplainable positive energy that Cape Town has that I just love, and especially comes out during the summer season. It’s a feeling you can’t explain to someone who hasn’t felt it themselves. Summertime in Cape Town is an experience.
3 If your friend was visiting Cape Town for the first time, where would you take them?
Table Mountain, Kloof Street House, Boulders Beach, Signal Hill – in that order.
4 Describe the city in three words.
Beautiful. Vibrant. Energetic.
5 If you were to create a souvenir that represents Cape Town, what would it be or look like?
I wouldn’t really create a new souvenir. I feel like Table Mountain is just such an iconic symbol of Cape Town and its beauty so that would probably be my souvenir of choice. Table Mountain encapsulates just how epic and how beautiful the city is.
6. What’s your favourite Cape catchphrase?
Awê.
7 Three Capetonians we should be following online?
Lukhanyo Mdingi, Lakota Silva, Dylan Pereira.
Photography Courtesy images