Photo by Adam Klingeteg / Red Bull Pool
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"In the beginning, it was a hobby," Vartan Bassil, one of the founders and creative directors for the Flying Steps told Flaunt. "Then we realized, maybe we can live from our passion."
The Flying Steps are a renowned B-boy urban dance group based in Berlin formed by Vartan Bassil and Kadir Memis ("Amigo"). The Steps have been making a name for themselves in the dance world since 1993 and will be celebrating their 25th anniversary in 2018. The annual Battle of the Year competition crowned the group as World Champions in 1994 only one year after the group had been founded, and came back for the crown a second time in 2000.
The dancers are also uniquely known for their "Red Bull Flying Bach" performance where they perform and put their own spin to contemporary music by Johann Sebastian Bach. The show toured over 35 countries and sold out two world tours. Bassil was initially inspired to incorporate breaking and contemporary music together when he attended classical concerts with his mom at a young age. He saw how classical music and ballet dance was "artful" and wanted others to view break-dancing in the same light.
"its similar to ballet dancers and how you have to learn many, many years of technique to become a successful dancer or strong dancer," he said. "Most people think we freestyle and do whatever we want, but all of our dancing, all of our steps, is also connected to the music. We have to also catch the music even when we do our power moves, turning, and all acrobatic things."
In celebration of Los Angeles and Berlin's 50th anniversary of sisterhood, be Berlin is coming to LA in a two-day Berlin Lab festival on October 4 to October 5.The Flying Steps are now reaching the next generation with their own Flying Steps Academy, which now is in its tenth year and located in Berlin. The Academy has been rapidly growing larger and houses many future young urban dance stars.
In celebration of Los Angeles and Berlin's 50th anniversary of sisterhood, _be_ Berlin is coming to LA in a two-day Berlin Lab festival on October 4 to October 5. The event will showcase a dance performance by the Flying Steps, as well as hold various cultural panels and workshops. Register for the free show and two-day celebration [here](https://www.eventbrite.de/e/berlin-lab-in-los-angeles-tickets-37729547091).
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Written by Kelly An
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