Berlin: “Flying Lights” – incl. Flying Steps – Variety Show

Light moves in wild new ways. At Berlin’s Wintergarten Varieté, Flying Lights pairs Flying Steps breakdance with razor-sharp variety staging, all tied together by a single theme: light in every mood and color. If you like your evenings a little theatrical and a lot athletic, this show has the right kind of energy.

I love the show’s breakdance plus variety mix. You get street-style power, then it snaps into the precision and polish of a classic stage program. I also like that food and drinks are available on site, since the Wintergarten format makes it easy to turn the evening into a real dinner theater experience rather than just a quick seat-and-sprint night.

One thing to consider: the performance uses strobe light effects, which may be unsuitable for light-sensitive people, including those with epilepsy.

Key things to know before you go

• Breakdance from Flying Steps meets classic variety so the pacing stays high without losing showmanship.
• Light is the through-line, from fire and LEDs to quieter moments built on light and shadow with live cello.
• You’ll see multiple circus specialties including juggling, acrobatics on straps, and hula hoops.
• First-class food and drinks are on site, and you can order at your seat throughout the night.
• Strobe effects are part of the show, so light sensitivity matters.

Where the evening starts: Wintergarten Varieté dinner theater comfort

Wintergarten Varieté is not the kind of venue where you rush in, grab a seat, and forget the room. It runs like a dinner theater first, show theater second, which changes how you experience the performance.

Before the lights go fully theatrical, you’re in a dining rhythm. That matters here because Flying Lights is built in layers. The first layer is the spectacle you feel right away, but the second layer is the quiet poetic stuff, the light and shadow moments that hit harder when you’re settled instead of frantic.

If you want a night that feels designed for adults and also for artsy teens who love stagecraft, this is a strong match. You’ll also appreciate that the show ticket includes a reserved seat, so you’re not spending mental energy hunting for the best view.

The big idea behind Flying Lights: light, fire, shadow, and LEDs

Flying Lights continues the story that began when Wintergarten Varieté teamed up with Flying Steps for Flying Dreams back in 2022. For this new chapter, the theme is literal and smart: light as a unifying thread.

On one end, you get quivering beats and big visual impact using fire and the latest LED technology. On the other end, the show slows into poetic moments. That contrast is the point, because it keeps the program from feeling like one long stunt sequence.

Even if you’re not a technical lighting person, you’ll feel it in the choreography and stage transitions. The show’s world is bright and dramatic, then it becomes delicate, with light and shadow supporting live cello sounds. That pairing is a reminder that the variety side is not only about tricks, it’s also about mood.

The creators behind the mix: Rodrigue Funke, Vartan Basil, and Jeffrey Jimenez

This show is the product of a real collaboration, not a random “insert breakdance here” experiment. Wintergarten director Rodrigue Funke and Vartan Basil from Flying Steps are central to the concept, with choreographer Jeffrey Jimenez shaping how it all lands on stage.

Why does that matter to you? Because the best mixed-format shows don’t feel stitched together. Here, breakdance energy has a place inside variety structure, with acts framed like a classic lineup, then reconnected by shared lighting and pacing.

When a creative team takes ownership, you also get better transitions. You feel it when one act hands the stage to the next without the audience having to guess what’s coming. The result is an evening that feels intentional, even when the show gets wild.

What the show feels like live: strobe moments and a built-in adrenaline arc

Flying Lights aims for mood first, adrenaline second, but it definitely gets both. The program is action-packed, and the dancers from Flying Steps bring that fast, furious street energy that keeps the room awake.

The show uses strobe light effects, and that’s not a small footnote. It’s part of the visual language, especially when the action ramps up with LEDs and rhythm-driven lighting. If you are light-sensitive, plan carefully.

When the show hits its high notes, it’s easy to see why Wintergarten and Flying Steps keep collaborating. The adrenaline level rises, then drops into calmer poetic sequences with cello and shadow play. Those contrast moments make the big ones feel bigger.

Flying Steps breakdance: street style with variety-level polish

This is where you’ll feel the “special atmosphere” of the Wintergarten Varieté. Breakdance here is not presented like a street demo. It’s choreographed for a formal stage, with variety staging and lighting cues guiding your attention.

You’ll likely notice the difference in body control and timing. In street-style movement, power can be raw. In this show, power is still raw, but it’s framed by timing that works with the lighting, the music, and the next act.

Flying Steps also has a track record with major TV audiences, including America’s Got Talent earlier this year. That kind of performance background shows up in how quickly the audience is pulled into the momentum, even when the program shifts between dance, acrobatics, and circus skills.

Circus highlights you can’t miss: juggling, straps, hoops, and more

Flying Lights doesn’t just add circus flair. It builds a lineup of acts that complement the dance energy and the lighting theme.

The Canaval Twins bring LED club juggling. Juggling sounds simple until you add LED tech. Then the motion turns into drawn lines of light across the stage, and it becomes a visual rhythm that matches the breakdance beats.

The Segura Brothers deliver Icarus-like feats. Think height, control, and that classic sense of risk that keeps your eyes glued upward. Even if you know the basic type of stunt, the staging and lighting here make it feel more dramatic than a typical aerial act.

Carla Seitz performs on the straps. She’s listed as a 19-year-old fresh graduate of the State School of Artists, and that detail matters because you can feel the freshness in her presence. The straps are also a good match for the show’s light theme. Suspended shapes and controlled movement look especially striking when the lighting shifts between bright hits and darker shadow tones.

Then Geraldine Philadelphia is back at Wintergarten with hula hoops after a two-year guest performance in Las Vegas. That return adds a seasoned layer to the program, and hoops are one of those acts where timing and smoothness can make or break the illusion. In a light-themed show, hoops also work as a literal moving circle, which fits the whole visual concept.

Maxim Voronin is another standout. He floats across the stage and also makes things appear in an inexplicable way while doing a one-armed handstand. That act plays like a variety magic moment, and it’s a clever palate cleanser between the big LED and aerial sections.

LED tech and live cello: the quieter moments that make the spectacle smarter

Some variety shows lean only on speed and volume. Flying Lights adds a deeper beat. The show creates poetic moments with light and shadow to live cello sounds, and those sequences are more than a calm break.

If you watch closely, those cello-linked moments let the lighting change from effect to story. You’re not just seeing bright visuals. You’re seeing how light can soften the body, hide details, and then reveal them again at the right time.

The breakdance acts also benefit from this structure. When the show alternates between high-impact illumination and darker shadow play, the choreography reads differently. Fast moves feel sharper when the stage background changes, and slower shapes feel more intentional when the lighting gives them space.

This is the value of tying everything to one theme. Instead of a random collection of acts, you get an evening that follows a consistent emotional map.

The VR Universal Drivers act: the 3.80 m motorcycle ball and why it works

One of the most impressive technical features is the VR Universal Drivers segment. In the prior production Varieté GAGA, audiences reacted strongly to their loops in the world’s smallest motorcycle ball, with a 3.80 m diameter.

In Flying Lights, the Wintergarten presents this act again in a further developed version. That “further developed” phrasing is important, because it signals you are not just seeing the same trick rerun. The core stunt concept is already clear and dramatic, and now you’re getting an updated take.

From a viewer standpoint, a motorcycle ball act is a natural fit for a show called Flying Lights. You’re working with motion, confined space, and staged lighting effects. In a light-themed production, reflective surfaces and controlled beams can make the stunt feel even more precise.

Dinner theater pacing: how to order food and not miss the best parts

Flying Lights is a dinner theater, and you can order food and drinks at your seat before, during, and after the show. Food and drinks are not included in the ticket, but the venue offers them à la carte, so you can scale your spend.

This is a real advantage. You don’t need to leave your seat during key transitions or worry about missing the moment the stage goes dark. You can time ordering around the first wave of dance, then enjoy dinner theater without the usual theatre stress.

I’d treat it like this: arrive ready to settle in, then use ordering as your pacing tool. If you want the full theatrical rhythm, order before the show deepens. If you want to watch the show first and eat after the big strobe moments, you can do that too.

Because the food and drinks are available on site and described as high-quality, you’re not stuck with a bland concession stand. This matters if you’re planning the night as a Berlin activity rather than a quick ticket stop.

Value and fit: who Flying Lights is perfect for

Flying Lights is a strong choice if you like any of these worlds: breakdance, high-level circus, lighting-driven stage effects, or live music moments built into performance.

It also fits well if you enjoy mixed-format shows. You get street-style movement, variety show pacing, and multiple circus disciplines in one evening. The collaboration between Flying Steps and Wintergarten Varieté is the core value, because it’s not a gimmick. It’s a real artistic mix.

Where I’d be cautious is the strobe element. If you are light-sensitive, talk to the venue or consider whether you can manage it safely. The show explicitly notes strobe light effects may be unsuitable for light-sensitive people, including epilepsy.

Should you book Flying Lights at Wintergarten Varieté?

Book it if you want an evening that treats the stage like a playground for light, movement, and circus craft. I especially think it’s worth it when you want more than one kind of performance in a single night, and you like the idea of dinner theater making the experience feel complete.

Skip or rethink if strobe lighting is a problem for you or anyone in your group. Otherwise, this show is built for people who enjoy smart staging, athletic choreography, and a venue atmosphere that makes Berlin evenings feel special without being complicated.

If you’re deciding between a normal theatre night and something more physical and visually driven, Flying Lights is the one with the bigger wow factor.