Fluid, Dynamic, and Raw: LOLA Beckers
“If I can make someone feel something, or see movement in a different light, then I feel I’ve contributed something valuable.”
Words Fiyon Gibson // BTS Images Joshua jinko
Professional dancer and choreographer, Lola Beckers’ passion for performing has taken a back seat, after a leap towards pursuing a career in choreography and movement direction.
Lola’s journey into the spotlight began with studying, Dance Academy in Contemporary/Urban Dance at Fontys School of Fine and Performing Arts. After graduating, came her big break — sharing the stage with global icons such as M.I.A., Kylie Minogue, and Sheeran. From Sony, Adidas to Stella McCartney, Puma and nHow, Lola has danced and modeled for top brands, and appeared at major events like Paris and Milan Fashion Weeks. Alongside the theatre and commercial industry, Lola shares her authentic style around the world as a choreographer and teacher.
With all of this came a realisation — her passion for creating and storytelling through movement and music was just as strong, if not stronger, than her love for performing.
Here, the Amsterdam-based artist shares her growing love for movement direction; invites us to take a step into her creative shoes as she unpacks two of her latest pieces; and reflects on what the future holds in this new chapter.
Lola Beckers (Centre)
How did you break into the industry?
During my studies at the Dance Academy in Tilburg, The Netherlands, I started sharing my work online. This got picked up and in my third year, I was offered a job to dance for M.I.A. and join her for several shows on her summer tour — including a festival in Los Angeles. That experience was a pivotal moment for me. It gave me a clear sense of direction within the dance industry. From there, everything really started to take off.
What gravitated you to film and screen?
As much as I love performing, I’ve always had a deep passion for creating. It started with choreographing and sharing my work through teaching. I love how we can explain music with our bodies and express emotions through dance, and film allows us to take that expression even further.
Ever since I was a kid, I would edit my own dance videos using Windows Movie Maker, haha. I’ve always been fascinated by how film can create entire worlds, how movement, colors, styling, and music all work together to shape an atmosphere, evoke feelings, tell a story, and transform it into a visual experience.
How did you make that pivot from dance to film and screen?
As I started editing my own dance videos, I began to see how much the camera and editing could influence the way movement is experienced. It made me curious about everything that happens behind the scenes. Over time, that curiosity grew, and I found myself wanting to learn more about filmmaking, (things like cinematography, editing, and storytelling). It gradually became another creative outlet that felt very connected to my background in dance. It wasn’t really a shift away from performing, but more an expansion of how I could express and share ideas.
You’ve directed two great pieces, Royals and Zenith. Could you share the inspiration behind each and what you wanted to convey?
Zenith really was a personal creative outlet for me. I was sent a song produced by Kenzo Alvares — an artist, dancer, and music producer from the Netherlands. He told me he saw my movement to it. The moment I heard the music, I immediately visualized the entire piece. At the time, I was going through some shifts in my personal life, and the music inspired me to express that phase and its emotions through movement and film.
The piece is an exploration of transformation — showing a journey through the balance between light and dark. Rather than telling a story, I wanted to capture an atmosphere, an energy/feeling to create a visually immersive experience. The movement and visuals flow between moments of clarity, chaos, and release, reflecting the intensity of the music and telling the story in a more abstract way.
The idea for Royals came from the emotional connection I’ve always had to the song. I used to listen to it a lot as a teenager, and hearing it again made me feel so nostalgic. That feeling inspired me to create something that matched where I’m at now, while still honoring what the song meant to me back then.
I wanted to reimagine Royals in a very visual way — using bold colors and vintage tones to create a world that could tell my own story through the song but still connect with its lyrics. I spent a lot of time researching the perfect location, I wanted it to have this mid-century feel, royal yet “trashy.” The presence of the seven dancers is central to the film, telling the story through movement, with each frame carefully composed to highlight their personality, attitude, and allure in a cinematic, editorial style. The video invites the viewer into their world, guided by dynamic dance that carries the experience from start to finish.
How would you describe your general visual storytelling approach?
I’d say my visual storytelling is very emotion-and-atmosphere-driven. I love creating a world that you can really feel through movement, music, color, styling, and visuals all coming together. I’m especially drawn to abstract storytelling. I like when people can take away their own meaning from a piece, depending on how it resonates with them.
What does your typical creative process look like when starting a new project?
My creative process usually starts with music — a song first. Then I imagine the world around it: location, colors, styling, and start collecting mood boards and making a treatment. I work closely with my DOP Denzel, sharing ideas and discussing how to capture the vision. After that, I feel the song in my body and bring it to the studio to try with my dancers, experimenting and adjusting choreography until it truly connects with the music and vision. For me, the process is the most fun and just as important as the final result. I love getting in the studio, creating together. There’s something special about everyone working toward the same vision and getting into that creative bubble.
Are there particular personal or cultural themes that inspire your work?
I think my own work is mostly inspired by personal experiences. Even when I’m choreographing, whether for film or otherwise, I aim to align my work with where I am in life and the emotions I’m experiencing at that moment. And sometimes if there isn’t anything really significant going on in my life, I usually draw my inspiration from the music itself — what the music is telling me and how I can express that through movement. I'm a big music lover and enjoy many different genres… my playlist is all over the place, haha. But that variety is what inspires me creatively.
Have you faced any challenges within the film and screen space? If so, how did you navigate them?
Absolutely, I think it would be unusual if I hadn’t faced challenges. It’s always a process of trying things out and learning what works and what doesn’t. I’ve done many projects in the past that didn’t come out as planned. I used to underestimate how long things really take, ending up not getting to shoot everything I had in mind. Or I’ve had situations where I ended up not being able to use certain shots because they didn’t work out the way I had in mind. With Royals, for instance, we had planned a slow-motion water shot in the edit, but we ended up not using it because its look and color didn’t match the rest of the footage and stood out too much in the final edit. LuckilyI learned, from experience, to always shoot plan B’s so we had enough footage to replace it.
I think for me having a good team and preparation are key. Knowing exactly what you want from A to Z, having everything pre-shot when possible, and having a detailed shot list for the shoot day all help a lot.
What are your thoughts on representation both on-screen and behind the scenes?
Something I always hope for is that everyone can resonate with my work. Saying that, representation is important to me, on-screen, but also behind the scenes and throughout the creative process. I’ve been fortunate to travel the world through dance and experience many different cultures, which showed me how powerful diverse perspectives can be in storytelling. Representation leads to richer, more authentic stories that connect with a wider audience. It also creates opportunities and role models for others and the next generation, helping to build a more inclusive and fair industry.
How do you see your creativity contributing to the broader conversation in film and direction today?
I hope my work invites people to connect with emotion in a way they might not expect from dance or visual storytelling. If I can make someone feel something, or see movement in a different light, then I feel I’ve contributed something valuable.
In what ways do you think the industry could better support fresh and independent talent?
By creating more platforms that showcase their work. Having dedicated spaces where emerging artists can share their projects helps give them visibility and recognition. And I think providing resources like funding and networking opportunities would also be really valuable.
What’s been a stand out moment in your career so far?
Early in my career, touring with M.I.A. was definitely a major moment that helped everything take off. But I also remember a deeply emotional and meaningful experience was getting to teach in Brazil for the first time at this big event. Getting to share my craft with so many passionate people and receiving so much appreciation for it, really shifted something in me. I will never forget how euphoric and aligned I felt in that moment. They say your purpose is not the thing you do. It is the thing that happens in others when you do what you do.
Tell us some artists that you’d love to collaborate with?
I’ve been obsessed lately with Nadia Lee Cohen and her work. I would absolutely love to collaborate with her one day! Other artists: Victoria Monet, FKA Twigs, Pharrell Williams!!!
What milestones are you working towards in the future?
I’d love to see my work featured in brand campaigns, and to direct and choreograph videos for artists and brands.
Are there any exciting upcoming projects you can share with us or hint at?
I’m currently starting on a collaboration project with NXT Museum in Amsterdam… I can't say too much but it will be very different from what I normally do, haha.
What would be your advice for the next generation of directors?
Surround yourself with like-minded people who inspire you and believe in your vision. Collaborate with people who push you creatively and aren’t afraid to give honest feedback.
