Flying Steps Diploma

17 years ago today, the world lost Michael Jackson.

For it wasn’t just the loss of an icon.

At only 21 years old, he had been cast as one of the dancers for Michael Jackson’s This Is It comeback tour. After weeks of rehearsals, they were just five days away from leaving for London to begin what was planned to be a years-long world tour.

The night before, Michael had rehearsed with them.

The next day, during a lunch break at the Staples Center, phones started buzzing.

TMZ reported that Michael Jackson had died.

Nobody believed it.

Everyone thought it had to be a publicity stunt.

Ten minutes later, choreographer Travis Payne walked into the dressing room and confirmed the news.

Everything stopped.

As they walked past the stage they had rehearsed on just hours before, the crew had already started taking it apart.

“That’s when it hit me. It wasn’t just that Michael was gone. The whole dream was gone.”

In this Flying Steps Diploma Q&A, Misha Gabriel shares what it felt like to lose not only one of the greatest artists of all time—but also the future he had been working towards.

A powerful reminder that life can change in a single moment.

🤍 Rest in peace, Michael Jackson.

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„Dad, are you getting old?“ 👀

After his son watched some of his old battle videos, he asked Adnan a simple question:

“Why don’t you battle anymore?”

Then came the comment that changed everything:

“Or are you just getting old?”

That little tease hit his ego right where it hurt. So Adnan decided it was time to step back onto the battle floor.

He entered a battle and, before the final, sent his son nothing but a link with one message:

“Enjoy your father winning.”

And that’s exactly what happened. 🏆

For Adnan, it was never just about winning. It was about showing his son who he is, where he comes from, and that you should never stop believing in yourself. 💪



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What motivates you the most?

The difference between training every day and taking one class a week? You can see it instantly. 🤓

Adnan Zaatouri brought pure House vibes to the Flying Steps Diploma. After a warm-up, the focus was on body movement, House foundations, and exploring different variations of steps and counts.

Together with the students, he developed movement concepts and a short choreography.

Adnan was especially impressed by the high level of the Diploma students: their movements were solid, precise, and showed the result of consistent daily training.

His conclusion was clear: there is a huge difference between training every day and taking just one class a week and the Diploma students demonstrated exactly that dedication. 🔥

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Welcome to the plan.

Lilou came into this battle with a plan. 😏

Years earlier, he had seen get kicked during a battle and never forgot it. When he finally faced Tight Eyez himself, he was ready for revenge.

But then something unexpected happened.

Tight Eyez showed him nothing but respect.

What followed became one of the most talked-about moments between the breaking and krump communities and a story that only Lilou could tell the way he does.

🔥 Respect.
🔥 Loyalty.
🔥 Battle mentality.

Fun fact: The iconic photo from that battle was taken by none other than 📸

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This was just one of many legendary stories Lilou shared during his Flying Steps Diploma Q&A.

Are you ready for Part 3? 👀👇

Welcome to Respect 🤝

Lilou explains that many of his most legendary moments were never rehearsed. He steps onto the stage trusting that something will happen, without knowing exactly what or when. Sometimes, he even surprises himself when he watches the footage back later.

As an example, he talks about the Red Bull BC One World Final 2013 in Paris. After preparing for an entire year, he was eliminated in the very first round. The disappointment was overwhelming. In that emotional moment, he made a gesture toward each judge that many people interpreted as disrespectful.

For Lilou, however, it wasn’t a planned provocation. It was a genuine human reaction. He emphasizes that he respects the judges, spoke with them afterward, and that the moment simply reflected how much breaking meant to him.

His message is clear: great performers are not machines. They show real emotions, even when those emotions aren’t perfect.

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One artist wanted an army.
The other wanted presence.

During his Q&A at Flying Steps Diploma, Misha Gabriel shared the difference between dancing for Janet Jackson and Michael Jackson — and why “doing less” can sometimes reveal the greatest performers.

For Janet Jackson, every detail mattered:
Left hand or right hand.
Every angle synchronized.
Every dancer moving like one powerful unit.

For Michael Jackson, it was different.
The choreography was often simpler — but the pressure was even bigger.

Because suddenly it wasn’t about difficult choreography anymore.
It was about intention. Presence. Ex*****on.
Who can make the simplest move look unforgettable?

A powerful insight into what separates good dancers from truly great performers. 🎭⚡️

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From learning steps… to understanding intention. 🧠

We had the chance to welcome for a special masterclass at Flying Steps Diploma.

It wasn’t just about learning choreography. It was about ex*****on, timing, energy, precision and understanding why movement matters.

“Treat the first part like an intro.You’re trying to get the audience’s attention.”— Misha Gabriel

A huge thank you for sharing your experience, energy and knowledge with the next generation of dancers. 💛

“There’s a lot of talent and potential in this room… the future’s bright.”



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From training to professional stage productions. ✨

Meet Lena — Flying Steps Diploma graduate of 2024. Today she’s already performing Flying Steps production: from Flying Mozart with the Rundfunkchor Berlin to Flying Lights with up to 9 shows a week. 🎭

One thing Flying Steps Diploma gave her most?
Versatility.

Breaking, waacking, locking, popping, hip hop, house dance — learning different styles prepared her for the reality of professional productions and helped turn her passion into a career.

“If you’re thinking about joining Flying Steps Diploma… go for it.” ❤️



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