'Flying Bach' Joins Classical Music With Old School Breakdancing

Berlin's Flying Steps are shattering perceptions in both the classical music and modern dance worlds. Last month, the unique group launched the West Coast debut of their Flying Bach 2016 routine in San Francisco. The troupe is partnering with Red Bull to bring the unique presentation to U.S. audiences.

German dancers Benny Kimoto, Gengis Ademoski, Vartan Bassil and Ana Holmstrom combine the world-renowned music of Johann Sebastian Bach with old school b-boy moves to create a contemporary dance delight. Eroding the barriers between the jet set and urban culture, the performance is unlike anything in either category.

The cavorting quartet embark on a globe-spanning tour this fall, beginning with dates in Europe before traversing the States come December. As described on the Red Bull Flying Bach International website, the company's pièce de résistance is a rejuvenation of Bach's masterful keyboard suite, The Well-Tempered Clavier:

"In a clash of cultures, Red Bull Flying Bach turns the international classical music world upside down. World champion b-boy crew Flying Steps visualizes and revives Johann Sebastian Bach's The Well-Tempered Clavier in a creative performance that combines classical music and urban culture. Note by note. Step by step. With piano, harpsichord and electronic beats."

Legendary producer Quincy Jones' entertainment magazine Vibe recently featured an enlightening interview with Flying Steps regarding their forward-thinking dance numbers and upcoming world tour. Lead dancer Benny Kimoto described the group's mission in their singular melding of the classical music and urban dance practices:

"[Crossing] cultures is really important, especially the classical culture, so we came up with this idea to also show the young people 'Hey, classical music can be nice.' I think people will go in and they will see great dancers and they will listen to great music. And this type of crossover makes it so much more interesting, I think."

Watch a quick YouTube video of Flying Steps in action during their recent trip to San Francisco:

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TagsFlying Bach, Flying Steps