Breakdancer Redo and Eefje de Visser confirmed as the opening acts of the Eurovision 2021 second semifinal

Breakdancer Redo and Eefje de Visser confirmed as the opening acts of the Eurovision 2021 second semifinal
Wednesday, 17 February 2021

  • On 20 May 2021, award-winning break dancer Redouan Ait Chitt (Redo) will open the second semifinal of the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 together with singer Eefje de Visser with a special performance.

     

    The Eurovision 2021 organisers have confirmed that the internationally acclaimed breakdancer Redouan Ait Chitt (Redo) alongside with singer Eefje de Visser  will put on a universally recognizable performance through the combination of dance and song. 

     

    About REDO

    With his dance act, Redo tells, among other things, his life story and hopes to inspire others. The dancer is musically supported by Eefje de Visser. Redo was born with several physical malformations. He has a shorter right arm, which lacks an elbow joint, and has a total of 5 fingers – 2 on the right hand and 3 on the left. He is also missing his right hip, has a shorter right leg, and walks with the aid of a prosthetic. Despite these complications, Redo never allowed his situation to negatively affect his life.

    Redo says: 

    “The focus in this performance is on dance and a personal story: overcoming setbacks. The story now applies to many people: from the dark period in which we are now moving, we are working towards a moment of festive victory. I hope that people recognize themselves in this and that Eefje and I can touch people through our actions. ”

    At the age of 14, Redo saw a group of people breakdancing in high school. It was love at first sight and he decided to fight to make it in the dance world despite his physical limitations. To pursue this dream, Redo has created his own style.

    In April 2010, Redo became a member of the international breakdance crew: ILL-Abilities, which now consists of seven of the world’s best breakdancers, each with different physical or communication limitations.

    Redo generated national fame with his dance and television appearances at “You will have it,” the thank-you concert by Princess Beatrix in Rotterdam Ahoy and at the RTL4 program “Everybody Dance Now,” where he achieved second place. He recently received the ‘Zwaan’, the most important Dutch dance prize, in the category: ‘Most impressive dance performance of 2019.

     

    About Eefje de Visser

    Eefje de Visser is an established name in the Dutch music world. She is known for her hypnotic synth pop with lofty vocals. She is currently working with Eric van Tijn, Musical Director, on an English-language piece of music that can be heard during the opening act of the second semifinal of the Eurovision Song Contest. The lyrics and music written by Eefje connect seamlessly with the story that breakdancer Redo propagates with his dance act.

    Eefje de Visser:

    “As a child I already watched the Eurovision Song Contest a lot. Redo and I therefore consider it an honor to be able to collaborate on this enormous production. Redo is a very talented dancer and has an impressive way of dancing. Our action is about resilience and connection. And we say that more can be achieved through collaboration. We need each other, especially in these times. ”

    Eefje de Visser , born in Voorburg, on 8 February 1986, is a Dutch singer/songwriter. She won the Grote Prijs van Nederland, a national competition for musicians, in 2009 She released her first album, De Koek, in 2011, a breakthrough year in which she performed (accompanied by a four-man band called Most Unpleasant Men) at three major Dutch festivals: the Oerol Festival, Lowlands, and the Uitmarkt.

    On December 14, 2015, Eefje de Visser released a new song, "Scheef", on YouTube. The album Nachtlicht followed the next year. In 2020 she released her fourth album Bitterzoet, followed by a European tour supporting Balthazar. She currently resides in Ghent.

    Commenting on the cotribution of Redo and Eefje de VIsser to the opening act of the 2nd Eurovision semi final Gerben Bakker, Head of Show says: 

    “We want to show the best of the Netherlands during the Eurovision Song Contest. Talents like Redo and Eefje certainly belong to that. Every act on our stage has its own story. A recurring theme in the three shows is resilience, the ability to adapt. More current than ever. A theme that certainly applies to the life of Redo. We are proud to present this unique opening act together with Eefje and Redo. ”

     

    News source: Songfestival.nl

    Images: Thijs Huizer/ demorgen.be