The Official Red Bull BC One Blog

At 17 years old, Lil Ceng is the youngest member of the Berlin based Flying Steps Crew and is said to be one of the most talented up-and-coming power-move B-Boys. He vowed the audience with his dazzling combinations at the Red Bull BC One in Paris. We decided to find out a little more about him.

Lil Ceng was born in Germany and grew up with his mother and his older brother, Elviz, in Saarbrücken. Their family roots are from the Turkish speaking part of Macedonia. His mom has become familiar with the breaking scene through her sons and she heartily encourages them. Apart from his crews Style Crax & Kingsize Crew, he also practices with Flying Steps in Berlin.

The Flying Steps founded the Flying Steps Dance Academy in 2007 in Berlin. Internationally renowned artists teach breaking, popping, locking, Hip Hop, krump, house etc. The age of the students varies from 5 to 40. Apart from the daily classes, students can meet and exchange at freestyle sessions, workshops and battles like "Berlin Circlez.”

Yo Cengis, please explain to me, why B-Boying? What is so special about it for you?
B-Boying is a never ending story; you can always improve, learn new stuff and get better.

Did B-Boying change the direction in your life?
Ever since I was little, I wanted to be on stage, wanted to be an entertainer. I started breaking when I was 10 years old, learning it from my brother. Breaking gives me the opportunity to do what I love – travel the world and be on stage. It gives my life structure and a purpose. Dancing just makes me happy.

Are you still in school?
I finished school last summer, now I can finally dedicate all my time to dancing.

What are your plans for the future?
To dance and have fun. Dancing is my life, dancing is my future. I will do whatever it takes to become successful in what I love doing most and what I am fortunate enough to be able to make a living with.

What would you do if you would get injured and would have to stop dancing?
I don’t think about that. I think positive. I already had one knee surgery, meniscus problems. But I am still young, stuff heals pretty fast, I was dancing again one week after the surgery.

You will turn 18 this year. You were always one of the youngest at the Red Bull BC One – though, last year we had three “Lil’s”. Is being young an advantage or a disadvantage?
I think age doesn’t matter. If you’re better than your opponent, then you’re just better. It doesn’t matter how old you are. Experience does matter though, but I started when I was 10 years old, so I actually do have quite a bit of experience.

You competed in the Red Bull BC One three times. In 2006 in Brazil, you were only 15 years old! That year you lost in the first round to the winner Hong10. What do you think, why did you lose?

You competed in the Red Bull BC One three times. In 2006 in Brazil, you were only 15 years old! That year you lost in the first round to the winner Hong10. What do you think, why did you lose?
I wasn’t experienced enough back then. He was much more relaxed and free than me. He just had what it took to win that day and I just didn’t.

In 2007 you lost to the winner Just Do It in the semi finals. Why did you lose to him?
He just showed a bigger variety. I was good, but I didn’t show enough different combinations. I was too much into power-moves back then. Just Do It was very well rounded, very diverse and the judges saw that he had more to offer, more to come back with in a battle and that’s why they gave it to him. I also was sick in Stuttgart though; coming back from the R16 in Korea, I had a really bad flu. I couldn’t hear on one ear and was kind of off balance.
I expected Just Do It to get much further in Paris in 2008. I don’t know if he was holding back? In the Red Bull BC One you can’t hold back, you always have to give everything, kick ass in every round. You are battling the best and you can get kicked out in every round.

In Paris you got to the semifinals again, where you lost to Taisuke. Why did the judges give it to Taisuke in your opinion?
He was really vicious and confident. I already realized that in the first round. He was coming back at me harder than the others. I was really happy to have come this far, since I had a lot of stress before the Red Bull BC One with lots of shows with the Flying steps. I think the judges saw a bigger variety in Taisuke than they saw in me.

Before the battle started, you and Taisuke waited for a whole minute for the other one to start. You also waited for Hong 10 to start in Brazil. Why is it so important that the other one starts first?
I wanted to see what he had first, but I also just wanted to provoke him, freak him out.

Do you think you’ll be invited to the Red Bull BC One?
I hope so! I really hope so!

How would you see your chances to win this year? I gained a whole lot of more experience through last year’s BC One. Benny and Vartan helped me a lot in Paris. They made me understand that there are different ways to win a battle. They have a lot of experience and they know me very well. They explained to me why certain combinations worked better than others and what looked cleaner and what I shouldn’t do. Their support during these days certainly made 50% of my success in Paris. I really learned a lot last year and I know that this year, I’d have a real chance at winning. I’d give everything for that!

What would be your tactics for this year?
Same as always – have fun and show what you learned.

Do you have a special training for the Red Bull BC One?
I am always training hard, but after Paris, I was so happy that I got so far and I got so much motivation and energy out of it that. I am practicing with much more fun and power now.

Are you watching the videos afterwards? Analyzing them?
Yeah, I watch the battles with several people, sometimes I have to laugh at myself.

You live in Saarbrücken, while the Flying Steps Academy is in Berlin. Who are you practicing with in Saarbrücken?
With my brother and my crews King Stylez und Style Cracks

How often do you practice?
I practice every day. Mostly 2 to 4 hours, but when I practice with Flying Steps for a show, we sometimes practice for 8 to 9 hours to get everything right. We have lots of different shows and it truly is a lot of hard work.

What do you do to keep in shape?
I run a lot. You remember, at Battle of the Year, where we had this treadmill show? I used that opportunity to run on them a lot while we had them. When we were on tour last year, I also used to run a lot. When the others sat down to chill at night, I went for a run. Since I didn’t know the cities we were in, I stuck to running a big circle around the hotel so I wouldn’t get lost. At home I also play soccer.

Are you living healthy?
I try! I try to eat healthy, but of course, sometimes I also eat fast-food, burgers on tour for example. At home my mum cooks very healthy.

You work a lot with the Flying Steps in Berlin. Are you considering moving to Berlin?
I am actually thinking about it. I am not sure. My family is here in Saarbrücken, my mum and my brother and I love my family. We are discussing it, but I am not sure yet.

How did you get into the Flying Steps?
I met Benny at an event. Benny always was an idol for me. So I walked up to him and talked to him. He complimented me on my dancing at a very early stage. We kept meeting at events and then he asked me if I would like to work with them and do shows. But I was only 14 at the time and couldn’t because of school and everything. But when they asked me to do the Red Bull Beat Battle in England with them in 2007, of course I accepted and hey, we won!

You are the youngest in the Flying Steps, what does that mean for you?
The others are very supportive! Not only with the dancing, but in everyday life. Martin, the manager, is doing a lot for me. He helped me to get my German passport sorted out for example, so traveling is much easier now.

How important is training with the Flying Steps for you?
Very important! We not only train for shows, but also just for fun. I learn a lot from them.

What is you strength?
I am not sure, I just love dancing! Well, power-moves I guess. I always try to learn something new.

How would you describe your style? What are your signature moves?
Cengster style! Crazy style! I DO love dance and I DO love power-moves. But I try to make the power-moves special. It’s not only the degree of difficulty or the number of spins. I like to be creative and invent new twists to a move. I like to make it my own, so it looks a little different from when the others do it.

In a battle, are you dancing more prepared sets? Or is it more freestyle?
At the Red Bull BC One for example, I had prepared sets of course, but there always is a lot of freestyle in it, too. I decide on which combinations and moves I want to bring, but I don’t count the numbers or decide what I will do in-between. It still is a dance and you want to go with the music and have fun! I’d say it’s 50% prepared sets and 50% freestyle.

Quickies:

Best B-Boy
There isn’t a best B-Boy! There are many B-Boys that are great in their field, but nobody can do it all. There isn’t one Über-B-Boy.

Biggest role model?
There isn’t just one, there are many. To name a few: Benny of Flying Steps, Tuff-Kid from Switzerland, Ronnie Ruen from LA, the B-Boys that I saw on the videos when I started breaking.

Family
Most important thing of all.

Friends
Very important. Very often, I am busy of course, but I love to go out and party with my friends. My close friends are like family. They hang out at our house and my mum treats them like my brothers. She watches breaking videos with us and I am impressed at her expertise that she has by now.

B-Girls
There are some really cool B-Girls, but I have to admit, I don’t like it when they are too aggressive. I don’t like it when guys behave like aggressive twats, but when girls grab their private parts and move and behave like guys, sorry, but that’s a turn off.

Favorite track at the moment
Salsa Beat, Lil Wayne – Lollipop

Last movie you watched
Saw 5

Favorite movie
I like comedy and action movies

TV series
King of Queens

Favorite dish
Pizza and everything my mum cooks

Best B-Boy experience so far
There are so many, I would be talking all night…

If you were granted one wish – what would you wish for (apart from world peace of course)?
To be successful with what I do. To achieve what I have been dreaming of since I was 10 years old. That everybody knows our names and that we can live on doing what we love best!