The origin of the project

The project Nikki Ninja & Afrobeathoven was created during a residency at the Neimënster Abbey. The result of this residency is a show for children, which we call the theater version: a ninjatastic staging by Dan Tanson. Parallel to this, there is a concert version directed by Nicole Bausch and Pol Belardi.

Interview with Dan Tanson:

What is the origin of the project Nikki Ninja and Afrobeathoven?

During the pandemic, neimünster contacted me about a residence. I liked the idea immediatly, all the more so that the result was not imposed on me. The task was to imagine a format suitable for the Jazz for Kids series. I decided rather quickly to collaborate with a hiphop musician to analyze the impact of flow on the narration. neimünster then made the link with Nicole Bausch (aka Nicool) and we got to know each other, without pressure, and could test what is hiphop, how to write rap, how to create a flow.

I launched myself into writing while discovering certain things such as, for example, the manner of a rapper and a story. We quickly realized what works and what doesn't. Then came the idea to develop a project with texts for children. At the same time, we met Pol Belardi, another artist in residence in Neimünster, and we immediately got along well. That's how the project came about. https://www.neimenster.lu/actualites/interview-avec-dan-tanson/

Picture by Sébastine Grébille

Theaterversion

The theater version is a theatricalized hip-hop concert for children, featuring stage machinery, video projections, and special theater lighting effects. It tells the story of how Nikki from Räppeldeng, angry after receiving a punishment from the teacher, transforms into Nikki Ninja. DJ Maxi Mix is also part of the show, played by Dennis Scholtes.

Watch as Nikki paints village life with stories that are sometimes funny, sometimes rough, crazy, and gentle.

Idea & Concept: Nicole Bausch & Dan Tanson 

Director : Dan Tanson 

Musical direction : Pol Belardi 

Composition : Pol Belardi, Dennis Scholtes

Music: Dennis Scholtes, AFROBEATHOVEN

Text : Nicole Bausch ('Hei komme mir' with Dan Tanson)

Text development in the school classes: Nicole Bausch & Milla Trausch

Production

Co-production

Support