45 years of world success: ‘De Vogeltjesdans’ started in Sint Willebrord

“What a young god I was here,” laughs Fernando Reyes (64) while looking at a photo on which he poses in his flamenco-outfit. Fernando, who was born as Conny van Es-Konings, has a prominent place in the honorary gallery of famous Willebrorders in the Lanteern community center. Before he made a name for himself in Spain as a (flamenco) dancer and choreographer, at the age of 19 he came up with the dance that still appeals to the imagination almost half a century later.

“It is not that I go to bed with it or get up with it, but I sometimes think of that beautiful time. When you see the dance passing by during the Songfestival or in an act by Beyoncé, you realize that it is something very special. Something I could never have dreamed of at the time. Everyone knows my bird dance from young to old.”

Fernando loved dancing from childhood. No wonder that the role of youth prince of the carnival party in his hometown ‘t Heike was made for him. In that capacity, he was also allowed to award a gold record to his famous niece, singer Corrie Konings.

Young Conny followed his heart and did a classic dance course at the Brabant Conservatory in Tilburg. He danced in show ballets for television, at Theaterrevues from the Mounties and later also in shows of his current life partner André van Duin. In Spain he has been a big name in the world of Flamencoans for years.

“I just started working on the road in Spain when my mother called me,” Fernando begins his extensive story about the origin of the dance at ‘De Vogeltjesdans’. A soft smile appears on his face and the twinkle in his eyes clearly shows that he cherishes warm memories of this period in his life.

“My mother asked if I wanted to come home because uncle Marijn and aunt Jopie had a song that had to be added.” ‘Uncle’ Marijn Heeren from Sint Willebrord was the foreman of ‘De Electronics’ who had made his own adaptation of’Der Etentanz. ‘

The instrumental song, the original of which was composed by a Swiss accordionist, initially ended up on a B-side of a single from the Willebrord formation. When radio stations discovered the new version of ‘De Vogeltjesdans’, the song quickly gained popularity. The only thing that was still missing was a corresponding dance.

That became painfully clear when the first television recording of the electronics did not make the broadcast because the performance with only the band members behind their instruments was too long -winded. Fernando who was now back in the Netherlands, turned out to be the saving angel. In no time he came up with a new dance.

When Fernando occurred to Johnny Hoes’ office, the famous record boss almost fell off his chair. Hoes immediately realized that he now had gold in his hands thanks to the dance with ‘the bird dance’. “We are getting rich!” He cried in his genuine Rotterdam accent from behind his desk in Weert. “And the rest is history,” laughs Fernando.

‘Rijk’ Fernando has never become his ‘simple choreography’. He did, however, achieve with his hand, hip and arm movements that he came up with eternal fame. ‘The Chicken Dance’ still regularly comes by on social media and it is still a classic at parties and parties. This puts the bird dance on the international list of most infectious dances between, for example, ‘The Macarena’, ‘Gangnam Style’ or ‘The Baby Shark Dance’.

On his phone, Fernando looks at one old recording In which he performs his dance on television with other dancers: “Here in the middle I am in my yellow bird suit. I can remember that it was very hot when you were in it. We were very successful later in Germany. Then people were already doing the bird dance for the performance outside of our bus. Despite the presence of big stars, we got the most of the time, like Demis, like the time. special. ”

“You know,” it sounds musing. “In the Netherlands, people know ‘the bird dance’ only in the instrumental version. There are dozens of versions with a lyrics abroad. It would be nice if we would do that here too. Something like:” For if the birds start to whistle, it will be a party for everyone. ”

Fernando is completely absorbed with the thought: “As Fernando Reyes, I could make a comeback. Not so much for myself, but for my family and the people from here where it all started. hen dance Whether you are Fernando van Corrie ‘, I am still told regularly when I am in the village. I think that is sweet and tender and that is why I wear Brabant and Sint Willebrord very deep in my heart for the rest of my life. ”