"If we do something, they believe us," Giorgio Costa on the radio about 'Three little birds'.

[et_pb_section fb_built="1" custom_padding_last_edited="on|phone" _builder_version="4.16" background_color="#000000" min_height="2701.8px" custom_margin="-87px|||||" custom_margin_tablet="" custom_margin_phone="0px||||false|false" custom_margin_last_edited="on|phone" custom_padding="1px||0px|23px|false|false" custom_padding_tablet="" custom_padding_phone="0px||||false|false" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_row _builder_version="4.27.3" min_height="544.6px" custom_margin="80px|auto||auto|false|false" custom_margin_tablet="80px|auto||auto|false|false" custom_margin_phone="40px||||false|false" custom_margin_last_edited="on|phone" custom_padding="16px|||0px||" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_column type="4_4" _builder_version="4.16" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_image src="https://www.lloydscompany.nl/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/KKV-Cast-Giorgio-Costa-12-scaled-e1753810047341.jpg" alt="Klein, klein vogeltje" title_text="Giorgio Costa" align="center" _builder_version="4.27.3" _module_preset="default" width="76%" width_tablet="76%" width_phone="100%" width_last_edited="on|phone" max_width="76%" max_width_tablet="76%" max_width_phone="100%" max_width_last_edited="on|phone" custom_margin="||||false|false" global_colors_info="{}"][/et_pb_image][et_pb_heading title="Choreographer and dancer Giorgio Costa about 'Three little birds' on the radio with Eric Corton" _builder_version="4.27.3" _module_preset="default" title_text_align="center" title_text_color="#FFFFFF" global_colors_info="{}"][/et_pb_heading][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version="4.27.3" _module_preset="default" custom_margin="-36px|auto||auto||" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_column type="4_4" _builder_version="4.27.3" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.27.3" _module_preset="default" min_height="169px" custom_margin="||-7px|||" hover_enabled="0" global_colors_info="{}" sticky_enabled="0"]Choreographer and dancer Giorgio Costa was invited to appear on the radio program Kunststof. There, he told presenter Eric Corton all about the theater and dance performance he conceived and created under the banner of Lloydscompany: ‘Klein, klein vogeltje’ (Little, little bird). This performance has been nominated for the Jonge Zwaan Dance Production 2025 award.

“At first, I didn't know there were awards for dancers. Until a schoolmate was nominated for such a Swan about fifteen years ago. From then on, I thought: I want that too. So when I danced in pieces over the past few years, I always thought that maybe that would be the piece that would win this award. But in the end, my own choreography was nominated. That was unbelievable.” The award will be presented on October 3. How will Giorgio react? Corton wonders. “I used to be a Kanye West fan. When he won one of his first major awards, he said, ‘Everybody wanted to know what I would do if I didn't win, well I guess they'll never know.’ So I think I'm going to copy that,” Giorgio laughs.

Hip hop as a serious art form Costa is also delighted with the nomination because of what it means for hip hop. "In the past, the dance world was more focused on modern and abstract dance, but in recent years hip hop has become increasingly prominent. You can no longer ignore the power of hip hop. It continues to evolve; sometimes you can't believe what you're seeing. And people from the hip hop scene are increasingly seeking out theaters. This means that institutions can now produce standalone hip hop performances, whereas in the past this was only possible in a crossover with other dance forms. This also has to do with diversity and inclusivity. It makes us want to reach out to other people and cultures and see and use other things. Hip hop also benefits from this. So in that respect, too, it would be great if we won this award."

The idea for Klein, klein vogeltje He came up with the idea for Klein, klein vogeltje after seeing a puppet show in Rotterdam, where children were screaming with excitement. “I realized that adults only react at the end of a performance, but children react immediately to everything. Then I thought it would be fun to make something for children. I got in the car and heard the song ‘Klein, klein vogeltje’ by U-niq.” In this song, the Rotterdam rapper tells a little boy that he should have confidence in himself and his future. "His message appealed to me. So I asked myself: what is normally not possible, but is possible in the theater world? That's how I came up with a little bird. Because we all want to fly, right?"[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version="4.27.3" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_column type="4_4" _builder_version="4.27.3" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_image src="https://www.lloydscompany.nl/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/KKVsceneselectie-3-scaled.jpg" title_text="Klein, klein vogeltje scenefoto3" _builder_version="4.27.3" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version="4.27.3" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_column type="4_4" _builder_version="4.27.3" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.27.3" _module_preset="default" hover_enabled="0" global_colors_info="{}" sticky_enabled="0"]Creating Klein, klein vogeltje He got to work on the performance. “Normally, I create dance. In this choreography, you can also see that we try to help each other, for example by holding each other up when we do a somersault.” So he has to often fell back on text. “That's also fun for children, to be able to make jokes like that. So the text reflects brotherhood and trust.” In this way, he conveys a message to young people and parents. “If you see someone who is different, they're not necessarily a weirdo. You're allowed to just be yourself.” In the end, the creative process was easier than expected. “The advantage was that I know the boys so well that I know how they can express themselves. If I had found dancers through auditions, it might have turned out differently.”

Giorgio created the performance under the banner of Lloydscompany, founded by Lloyd Marengo. “He's an important person to me. To all Rotterdam dancers, in fact; he's a kind of godfather to them.” He was also the first person Giorgio told about the idea for “Klein, klein vogeltje” (Little, little bird). "Two weeks later, he called me and said, 'Yo, we're going to make this show. He trusted me; he knows what I can do.“ During the creation of the performance, Lloyd visited regularly. ”He kept a helicopter view. For example, he said that we should hold on to some moments longer." The performance was a great success: it was often sold out. The tour was extended and comes back into the theatres in the spring of 2027. "We wouldn't have dare to dream that."

Brotherhood Brotherhood is an important theme in the performance 'Three little birds'. "I think this is also important in my life, yes. I've known the guys I dance with in the performance for over twenty years. We traveled all over the world and participated in many TV programs with the dance group Groove Kings. So in a way, that performance actually started twenty years ago. That we are still able to do this at this age and make our mark on our work in this way is crazy, it's full circle."[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version="4.27.3" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_column type="4_4" _builder_version="4.27.3" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_image src="https://www.lloydscompany.nl/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/KKV-Cast-foto-1-scaled.jpg" title_text="Giorgio Costa, Pom Arnold en Remses Rafaela" _builder_version="4.27.3" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version="4.27.3" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_column type="4_4" _builder_version="4.27.3" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.27.3" _module_preset="default" text_font_size="12px" hover_enabled="0" global_colors_info="{}" sticky_enabled="0"]From left to the right: Giorgio Costa, Pom Arnold and Remses Rafaela[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version="4.27.3" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_column type="4_4" _builder_version="4.27.3" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.27.3" _module_preset="default" hover_enabled="0" global_colors_info="{}" sticky_enabled="0"]He is also pleased with the trust his friends have placed in him to create this performance. “I think we were waiting for each other after we had gone our separate ways in our careers. In a way, we longed to feel that friendship again all day long. Because with a colleague you sometimes work with, you have a different kind of bond.” The fact that they are friends through thick and thin does not mean they do not work hard. "Of course, there were days when we couldn't stand each other because when we're together, we can be three mischievous guys, really annoying. Sometimes we'd get two sandwiches and then not feel like rehearsing anymore. But then we could also say to each other that we were going to go for it, and then we really did. So we were able to find a balance between playing around and being serious." He quickly picked up a sense of brotherhood from the hip-hop community. "For example, I often went to the hip-hop house. That's where I met Lloyd Marengo. It was a real community. If you saw us, we were stereotypical guys, but when we were in the car on the way to a gig, we had deep conversations. That's how you get to know each other better and appreciate each other more. In the beginning, I was one of the youngest guys, so you look up to the older guys and learn from their actions. That shapes you."

Dance as medicine And brotherhood isn't the only thing he's incorporated into the performance from his own experience. “I think that I unconsciously reflect things that I have experienced in my career. That's why what we do on stage comes from our hearts. It's very pure. The audience also says that when they watch us, they believe us.”

That's probably because his love for music and dance was instilled in him from an early age. “My father has a large record collection, and my sister was always lip-syncing.” He first came into contact with breakdancing and hip-hop in seventh grade. “At my first school party, I saw boys breakdancing for the first time. I was so impressed: by the dancing, but also by the applause and cheering.” While all his peers were playing soccer, he was lip-syncing to the Backstreet Boys in the living room and doing sports like breakdancing. Soon he was participating in battles, or competitions, often in a circle with other breakdancers. He also received a lot of cheers. “When you do a lot of performances and battles, you learn moves that drive the audience wild. We call those signatures. If you train for a long time and can do more of those moves, you can just go on stage and please the audience for 30 minutes, really get them going. That's a special feeling you have inside.” Since then, breakdancing has been an indelible part of his life. “I grew up with it, my friends come from the same world, my career has been based on it for twenty years... it's my outlet. When something's bothering me, I feel like dancing, shaking it off, and letting loose.”

When I turn on the music and start freestyling, I feel myself becoming more and more relaxed, both mentally and physically. It's like medicine."

Acting normal He made dancing his profession and tried his luck in New York. "I was in dance school when I was told that I could only go so far in the Netherlands. But that I had to go to LA to become a superstar and do lots of tours. Two of my friends had already gone there, like Timor. So I went too; they introduced me to people. I saw that the world was actually the same as in the Netherlands, but bigger. There are 400 to 500 dancers at an audition, when they only need four dancers." Still, New York wasn't his place. “I was too down-to-earth for the way people interacted there. People compare Rotterdam to New York because it's the birthplace of hip hop. But Rotterdam has a down-to-earth and dry attitude; let's see what you can do first. I missed my own friends and acting normal.”

And he still does that in the Netherlands. Despite becoming so good that he was asked to dance for brands, he keeps both feet on the ground. “I was more concerned with my body back then because sometimes I had to suddenly take off my shirt or something. But now I've become more relaxed about it. I eat healthily as part of my lifestyle, but not just salad.”[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version="4.27.3" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_column type="4_4" _builder_version="4.27.3" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_image src="https://www.lloydscompany.nl/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/KKVsceneselectie-27-scaled.jpg" title_text="KKVsceneselectie-27" _builder_version="4.27.3" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version="4.27.3" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_column type="4_4" _builder_version="4.27.3" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.27.3" _module_preset="default" custom_margin="||-61px|||" custom_padding="||0px|||" hover_enabled="0" global_colors_info="{}" sticky_enabled="0"]Each one, teach one Giorgio returned to the Netherlands and, in addition to performing, also started teaching. "In hip hop, we have a rule of thumb: Each One Teach One. That means you're supposed to pass on your knowledge to the next generation so that the knowledge is preserved. Many people start teaching for financial stability, because gigs come and go. But when I started teaching, I grew to love it more and more. And as I got older, I started thinking differently. I began to see it as a contribution to the future, because teaching improves my field of work. When you see the value in that, you start teaching in a different way than if you're just in it for the money.“ He now also enjoys teaching a lot. ”When you smile and have fun, you can learn more than when you're under pressure or stress. So if I can take away that pressure and let people have fun, they can develop more."

He became so good at teaching that he was named Teacher of the Year in 2019. "That was strange. Because teachers always told me that I would never amount to anything. I was seen as a big problem at school; I was also suspended and stuff. But then it was different. If I were in class now, I would definitely be labeled as having ADHD. But back then, there weren't enough teachers who wondered what else they could do with me besides just expecting me to be quiet and focused. So when I became teacher of the year, it felt like giving the middle finger to all the teachers who didn't give me a chance."

Now he tries to do better at the things that disappointed him in education as a student. "So going the extra mile for students when you see that they have extra problems, such as a difficult home situation or something like that. I've also never told students that they would never amount to anything. I always think about what kind of environment I need to provide for someone that will encourage them to learn. Then you connect on a different level. I think it's important that as a teacher, you don't do what you did last year, because the energy, dynamics, and issues change every year, so you have to adapt to that. I also told the jury of ‘Teacher of the Year’ that I stand in the classroom instead of in front of the classroom. They thought that was a great quote, but for me it's very normal. That way of thinking has changed the structure of my lessons."

Rewarded Teacher of the Year, a nomination for the Jonge Zwaan... Giorgio is very happy with it. "These are cool things. Now that I'm older, I think I get a lot back. When you're little, you get that more naturally, like a shoelace diploma, but when you're older, you have to seek it out yourself. So that makes an award extra cool. It proves to me that no matter where you come from, anything is still possible.

So you can be expelled from school and ten years later become Teacher of the Year, or have a poster of the Backstreet Boys and later be nominated for the Jonge Zwaan award. As long as you keep believing in yourself and do good for the people around you, you will be rewarded.

Making a difference He enjoyed teaching young people so much that he retrained as a youth worker. "Dancing is quite egocentric: I put on a show, I teach, but I wondered what my contribution to the world was. In teaching, I enjoyed working with young people, inspiring them, motivating them. I wanted to take that to another level. In Rotterdam, there are quite a few disadvantaged neighborhoods where you can make a difference. It's not possible everywhere, but if I can make a difference for just one or three people..."

He works mainly with boys. "They come from neighborhoods that are viewed negatively. They are told that they will never amount to anything. They then resign themselves to that. At school, they are seen as smart, hyperactive, and difficult.“ Giorgio quickly connects with these boys. ”You feel a certain energy from each other. That has to do with the way you look, the way you talk: it has to be accessible. I still dress and behave like a young person, so they can more easily see you as a role model, and they are more likely to accept what you say. And I don't immediately ask difficult questions the first or second time I meet them. First, I talk to them about what they want to talk about. Then there's an opportunity to throw in a question and you can go into it later. That's how you build trust." That way, he can teach them all kinds of things. “Especially small things like washing your hands before handling onions. If you know these little etiquette rules, you won't be labeled as quickly as you otherwise would be.” He does feel a certain pressure when working with these boys. “You can't lie to them. Once you gain their trust, you can't betray it, because then you're the one doing that. And I'm starting to gain that trust.”

Creative bubble no rest Even though youth work is good for him, he won't stop dancing. "Sometimes I toy with those thoughts, because I feel that you get older in some silly ways. For example, I used to warm up in two minutes; now I need longer. Fortunately, I've been active all this time, so I can still do all the moves. But physical recovery just takes longer. We once had six shows in three days, and afterwards I thought, when will I be able to walk normally again? I used to be fit again the next day,“ he laughs. ”But if I stop, I think the creative bubble inside me would never rest. In ‘Klein, klein vogeltje’ I still dance in the show, but I can decide to work as a choreographer without dancing myself. My dream is to set up my own foundation so I can produce myself, so I don't plan to stop anytime soon."[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version="4.27.3" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_column type="4_4" _builder_version="4.27.3" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_image src="https://www.lloydscompany.nl/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/KKVsceneselectie-10-scaled.jpg" alt="Klein, klein vogeltje" title_text="Klein, klein vogeltje" _builder_version="4.27.3" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}" custom_padding="20px|||||"][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version="4.27.3" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_column type="4_4" _builder_version="4.27.3" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.27.3" _module_preset="default" hover_enabled="0" global_colors_info="{}" sticky_enabled="0"]Three little birds

In a performance full of tricks, hip hop and breakdance, acrobatics and acting, the audience goes on an adventure with two brothers. On a warm day, they are allowed to camp in their parents' backyard, which in their imagination turns into a huge forest. As night falls, the brothers hear strange noises and meet a strange new friend...

'Three little birds' is about a boy who wants to be a bird and receives support from an unexpected source. The performance tells a story about friendship and believing in what you can be.

The show will be performed this summer and fall at festivals such as the Boulevard Theater Festival and De Betovering Festival, as well as in several theaters. After that, the show will return to theaters from February to April 2027.[/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_url="http://www.lloydscompany.nl/agenda" url_new_window="on" button_text="Check the tourdate" button_alignment="center" _builder_version="4.27.3" _module_preset="default" hover_enabled="0" global_colors_info="{}" sticky_enabled="0"][/et_pb_button][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]

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"If we do something, they believe us," Giorgio Costa on the radio about 'Three little birds'.

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