An Unexpected Victory in Lower Saxony

The atmosphere inside the VW-Halle in Braunschweig was electric this past Monday, defying the venue’s reputation for harboring a notoriously difficult crowd. Host Daniel Hartwig had playfully warned the audience of thousands that the city was essentially the “Llambi of Lower Saxony”—a reference to the show’s toughest critic—implying they would be hard to please. Yet, as the evening unfolded, the spectators proved they were less interested in technical perfection and more swayed by heart. In a twist that deviated from the standard television format, the winner of the “Dancing Star Braunschweig” title was not decided by the judges’ paddles, but by a massive audience vote conducted via QR codes on smartphones.

The night belonged to 25-year-old influencer Ann-Kathrin Bendixen. Despite admittedly not being the most technically proficient dancer on the floor, she secured the trophy alongside her professional partner, Zsolt Sándor Cseke. Their journey to the top of the podium began with a Contemporary routine that leaned heavily on spectacle, featuring four backing dancers and pyrotechnics erupting from the sides of the stage. The visual flair, however, met with a mixed reception from the expert panel.

The Jury’s Verdict vs. Public Opinion

The critique from the judges’ table highlighted the disconnect between technical mastery and audience appeal. Judge Jorge González praised the emotion of the performance but noted that the transitions lacked fluidity. Motsi Mabuse took a more narrative approach, recalling Bendixen’s stint on the 17th season of the show, where she was characterized by insecurity and tears. Mabuse acknowledged a significant transformation, telling the influencer that she finally possessed real expressiveness.

Joachim Llambi remained the hardest to win over. While he called the effort “decent,” he questioned specific choreography choices, stating plainly that he didn’t understand what certain movements were intended to represent. Following the first round, Bendixen sat in last place with 23 points, trailing far behind frontrunners like singer Ella Endlich and actor Mark Keller, who both secured perfect scores. However, a second-round Quickstep began to turn the tide. Even Llambi conceded that the performance wasn’t bad, acknowledging her partnership with Cseke before awarding a score of 9—higher than his colleagues. Ultimately, the audience looked past the scoreboard, crowning Bendixen the winner of the night.

A New Era of Performance Art

While traditional ballroom tours continue to fill arenas, a distinct shift is occurring elsewhere in the German entertainment sector, signaling a modernization of stage performance. The Dancefloor Destruction Crew (DDC) is spearheading this evolution with a concept that seeks to redefine the circus for 2024. Titled “Breaking Circus,” the production moves away from the classic big top aesthetic, aiming instead to fuse the raw, pulsating energy of urban hip-hop culture with high-level acrobatics.

The creative philosophy behind the show is to present what a circus would look like if it were invented today. It is a deliberate blurring of lines, merging the atmosphere of a music concert with the physical rigor of an athletic showcase. The producers have drawn on a wide array of influences to craft this hybrid style, utilizing experience gained from performing at classical philharmonic halls, major music tours, and international festivals. The goal is to create a fluid narrative where genres do not just coexist but integrate completely.

Merging Street Dance with High-Wire Precision

At the core of this new format is the recognition of the shared DNA between breakdancing and traditional circus arts. Both disciplines demand an extraordinary level of body control, coordination, and the ability to execute feats that appear physically impossible. “Breaking Circus” highlights these parallels, utilizing lighting design and a modern soundtrack to enhance the physicality of the performers.

For the touring production, DDC has recruited an international roster of artists to bring this vision to life. The show represents a departure from nostalgia, positioning itself as a contemporary entertainment brand that updates its programming annually to reflect current trends in dance and music. By synthesizing the precision of acrobatics with the freshness of street dance, the production aims to usher in a new chapter for the industry, proving that the appetite for live dance—whether in a ballroom in Braunschweig or an urban stage—remains as vital as ever.