Words by Alexandra Schmidt, Photography by Fynn Stoldt

GEN SHOX BERLIN: “Not here to be liked”

Berlin loves its bubbles. Hip-hop moves through the south, ballroom thrives in hidden studios, and electronic beats pulse through cathedral-like clubs. Usually, these worlds orbit separately. But last Saturday, Nike and Zalando drew them into the same gravitational field for the Berlin edition of GEN SHOX at Musikbrauerei. The occasion: the return of the Nike Shox – and the opportunity to bring together people who don’t usually end up on the same dance floor.

Words by Alexandra Schmidt, Photography by Fynn Stoldt

“Not here to be liked” – this night wasn’t about fitting in; it was about curiosity, openness, and discovering new influences. Three scenes that often live in separate worlds – hip-hop, electronic, and ballroom – came together for an event curated as a three-part experience under the motto “Genre as a vibe, not a label.”

The hip-hop duo Hoe Mies, the art collective Glazed, and Berlin’s vibrant ballroom community each brought their own voices, energy, and movement to the space, while headliner METTE wove the evening together with her magnetic presence. Her performance created a rare moment of calm before the floor came alive again.

The American dancer, actress, and singer – who first gained attention through her appearance in N.E.R.D and Rihanna’s “Lemon” video and has since become a star in her own right – embodied the night’s core message: expression that comes from pure emotion and inner self-knowledge. Through her body, her voice, and her presence, she showed how self-expression can unite rather than divide.

The event set out to break the automatic labels people tend to place on one another. That required everyone to step into the unfamiliar — and they did, visibly so. “People were more curious, more open,” says Salimata, Mother of Glazed. “Some were overwhelmed too, and that’s exactly what made it interesting.”

Between club beats, electronic interludes, and the intensity of ballroom performances, looks passed between people – some curious, some unsure – while others kept dancing without questioning. For Salimata, the real magic of a night like this lies precisely in that coexistence of reactions. It shows what becomes possible when people move beyond their usual comfort zones.

It was a night centered on the freedom of personal expression – on what it truly means to be an individual. A kind of self-expression that exists outside norms rather than within them. “The more time I spent in spaces where I could be myself, the easier it became,” says Anouk-Aimée, dancer and member of the ballroom community. Last Saturday, being different wasn’t just accepted – it was celebrated.

Surrounded by an empowering environment, the energy of the crowd deepened that sense of belonging. For Shayne, also part of the ballroom scene, that supportive network is vital. There is always a “backup,” always someone who has your back. Even – or especially – in a mixed crowd.

Nike x Zalando GEN SHOX set out to give existing communities visibility — by letting them stand exactly as they are but creating touch points at the same time. People crossed paths with strangers, tried out the pole as a stage, and allowed themselves to be seen and celebrated for their individuality.

In the end, the night was defined by interaction rather than conformity. The Nike Shox became the perfect symbol of that spirit: bold, unapologetic, and never designed to please everyone.

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