"I want to create a place where people can come together."

Multi-talented Flockey Ocscor is a dancer, musician, videographer, spoken words artist and organizer of the "Sessions" at the Düsseldorfer Schauspielhaus, a series of events for performances of dance, poetry, music and art. He has been teaching dance styles such as locking and soul at Tanzhaus NRW since the age of 17 and has won several European competitions with his dance crew. The 31-year-old with Congolese roots was born in Friedrichshafen, grew up in Ulm, lived in Wuppertal for a long time and currently lives in Solingen. However, his artistic base is Düsseldorf - the German capital of urban dance for Flockey.

Flockey, what does dance mean to you?
For me, dance means peace and serenity. I like to switch off when I dance and translate my personal story into body language. Dance and music are like medicine to me - very healing.

How did you discover dance for yourself?
As a young boy, I used to watch my father dance in the Congolese community in Ulm, which unconsciously inspired me a lot. But the spark was ignited when I discovered dance films and music videos by Usher, Michael Jackson and James Brown when I was ten. I locked myself in my bedroom or bathroom - that was my safe space - and danced to choreographies. As the youngest of four siblings, I was very shy back then and didn't dare to dance in front of others. That only came later at school, when I practiced choreographies with friends and performed them in the school playground during the break.
My first official dance battle in Mühlheim soon followed.

Was there a moment when you knew that dance was your life?
When I was 17, I took part in the world's biggest dance battle "Juste Debout" in Parus for the first time and danced with my dance partner Sugar Rae in front of almost 20,000 people in Bercy. Everything changed after that. There were lots of requests and national and international workshops. But also a huge responsibility. All eyes were on us. Another milestone was when I won the UK B-Boy Championships with my partner. We were the first German dancers to ever win that. When I was little, I always dreamed of competing there. To be on stage and win? It was a dream come true.

You are internationally renowned in the dance scene. Even soul singer Erykah Badu has taken notice of you. How did that come about?
I worked with the Canadian band Bad-Bad-Not-Good on a clip. The guys are friends with Erykah Badu, she became aware of the video and followed me on Instagram. This is of course a great honor and showed me how well social media can connect people worldwide.

You lived in Wuppertal for a long time, now in Solingen, but you call Düsseldorf your artistic base. What gives the city its vibe for you?
I've been teaching dance styles such as locking and soul at Tanzhaus NRW since I was 17. I also studied communication design at HSD. My base is Düsseldorf. All dance events have taken place here, I have often trained here and many of my friends live here. Düsseldorf is a very unique, artistic city that offers lots of opportunities to do things. I feel very connected and at home in the Rhineland. The African community is very connected. Whether it's Wuppertal, Cologne or Düsseldorf: I can get a taste of all the cities and scenes and find exciting differences - both human and artistic. In the urban scene, Düsseldorf is the artistic capital. We have a lot of history, a dance battle culture, the Tanzhaus NRW and many international dancers who exchange ideas with each other. Being in Düsseldorf is really nice!

You organize the "Sessions" twice a year at the Düsseldorfer Schauspielhaus. A series of events consisting of performances from various artistic disciplines. What inspired you to do this?
I'm familiar with the dance scene, the field of communication design and have worked a lot with videography and directing. I realized that there is often a lack of communication. That videographers were looking for dancers or vice versa. There was no space where everyone could come together. In addition to the live performances, this is exactly what the "Sessions" at the Düsseldorfer Schauspielhaus are about: connecting people and giving them an enjoyable evening. To create a place where different people can come together, have a space and do something creative together afterwards. There are few events and spaces that people like to visit alone. I want to break that with the "sessions". I don't necessarily have to come here with three friends. I can go alone - and then leave with five new people I've met.

What can we expect at the next edition of the "Sessions" on April 30?
The focus is on various live performances at the Düsseldorfer Schauspielhaus that combine dance, poetry, music, art and spoken words. They are specially kept short, around five to 15 minutes each. Artists from the fields of painting, photography, jewelry and others will also be exhibiting. For the first time, there will also be hot food. And an after-party at Tanzhaus NRW, where you can dance into May.

How do you choose the artists for your sessions?
I'm very picky and decide by feeling. Something has to catch me. I can't say exactly what it is. There has to be something that I find interesting. I'm quite picky because I'm an artist myself and not just an organizer. At the same time, I'm open to different styles and have a team that supports me in my search for artists and shows me new perspectives.

Are there any Düsseldorf artists and talents that particularly impress you at the moment?
I discovered the Congolese guitarist Amuri by chance outside Düsseldorf Central Station. I was actually really stressed, had to catch my train and was wearing headphones. Then I suddenly heard the guitar, remembered my father and listened to him quietly. He won me over straight away, has been part of the family ever since and will be performing at the upcoming "Sessions" at the Düsseldorfer Schauspielhaus.

What places in Düsseldorf inspire you?
The Volksgarten in summer. I spend a lot of time there and can be creative. Or Ruby Luna, a beautiful workspace where I can also be creative. I'm a very quiet person and need quiet places that are also inspiring.

What are your dreams and goals?
My dream as the organizer of the "Sessions" is to show two formats in Düsseldorf: A small, intimate format and a big festival in the summer that families, children and people living abroad can come to. I'm currently working on an EP, a music project with a few songs that I want to combine with dance, short films and videos. As a perfectionist, it takes me a while. Creating a musical dance project like this is my dream as an artist.

dhaus.de

Interview: Karolina Landowski
Photos: Ardelle Schneider
Photos "Sessions", 10/2023: Courtesy of Flockey Ocscor