Entertainment

Dr. Peter Frey, born in 1957, served as Editor-in-Chief of ZDF from 2010 to 2022. On the program heute journal, he regularly provided commentary on national and international politics. He hosted numerous shows, including Berlin direkt, auslandsjournal, and ZDF-Morgenmagazin, and, together with Bettina Schausten, interviewed all key figures in German politics as part of the series Was nun? (What Now?). Since the 1990s, he conducted 48 interviews with Angela Merkel. Highlights of his television career include the coverage of Barack Obama’s election as U.S. President, the elections and funerals of Popes John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Francis, as well as the ceremonies surrounding the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Frey also served as a correspondent in Washington and authored the book Von Bagdad nach St. Petersburg, published by Hoffmann und Campe. He began his journalistic career in his early twenties at Südwestfunk radio and for the newspaper Die Zeit, where one of his first features was a report on the writer Anna Seghers and her novel The Seventh Cross. Between 1978 and 1986, he studied political science, Romance studies, and education in Mainz and Madrid, earning a doctorate on Spain’s accession to the European Union. As Editor-in-Chief, Frey actively engaged in dialogue with viewers and critics of public broadcasting. Since his retirement, he has been involved in German-Polish initiatives.

Karl Schlögel studied Philosophy, Sociology, Eastern European History and Slavic Studies at the Free University of Berlin. He received his doctorate in 1981 and initially worked as a freelance translator, publicist and author before being appointed to the newly created Chair of Eastern European History at the University of Constance in 1990. in 1995, he moved to the European University Viadrina in Frankfurt/Oder, where he taught until 2013. Research stays in Moscow, Budapest, Oxford, Uppsala, Munich, Vienna, and Los Angeles. Karl Schlögel is a member of the Order Pour le mérite. The German Academy for Language and Poetry honored him with the Sigmund Freud Prize in 2004. in 2016 he received the Historisches Kolleg Prize, and in 2018 the Leipzig Book Fair Prize. in 2025, he was honored with the Peace Prize of the German Publishers and Booksellers Association in St Paul's Church. His most recent books are "Auf der Sandbank der Zeit. The Historian as Chronicler of the Present" (2025), "American Matrix. Visiting an Epoch" (2023), "The Scent of Empires. Chanel No. 5 and Red Moscow" (2020), "The Soviet Century. Archaeology of a vanished world" (2017) and "Decision in Kiev. Ukrainian Lessons" (2015). He is also known to a wide audience through his monographs "Terror und Traum. Moskau 1937" (2008) and "Im Raume lesen wir die Zeit. On the History of Civilization and Geopolitics" (2003). His books have been translated into numerous languages.

Photocredit: Phil Dera

Born in Münster, studied German language and literature, art history and political science at the universities of Münster and Bonn. She gained her professional experience at the opera, in publishing and in the museum sector before she was responsible for art and cultural programmes in large companies. From 1998 to 2013, she was a board member of the Brandenburg Gate Foundation. She has been an honorary professor of cultural management at the Free University of Berlin since 1999. Monika Grütters was a member of the Executive Committee of the CDU Germany from 2016 to 2022. From 1995 to 2005, Monika Grütters was a member of the Berlin House of Representatives, where she was spokesperson for science and cultural policy for the CDU parliamentary group. She was a member of the German Bundestag from 2005 to 2025, chairing the Committee on Culture and the Media from 2009 to 2013. From 2013 to 2021, she was Minister of State and Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media.

Photocredit: Christof Rieken

Oana Nechiti and Erich Klann are two outstanding professional dancers who have made a strong impact on the international dance scene. Oana, born in Romania, discovered her passion for dance at an early age and became widely known through the TV show “Let’s Dance.” Her creativity and talent have established her as a sought-after choreographer who is also actively involved in social projects. Erich Klann, born in Germany in 1985, started dancing at the age of ten and went on to win numerous national and international titles. He also gained recognition through “Let’s Dance,” where he impressed audiences with his exceptional skill and stage presence. Together, they share a deep passion for dance and frequently collaborate on innovative artistic projects. Both are highly committed to supporting young talent and regularly host workshops to pass on their experience and knowledge. In their free time, they enjoy traveling and drawing inspiration from different cultures to further develop their artistic vision. For Oana and Erich, dance is a universal language that brings people together.

Natalia was born in Lublin, Poland, where she began dancing as a child and quickly achieved national success. As a teenager, she lived in Latvia for three years to pursue her dance career, gaining recognition on the international stage as well. In autumn 2015, she moved to Germany to begin a partnership with Lars and build a shared professional future. Lars was born in Kempen on the Lower Rhine and learned to dance at an early age in his parents’ dance club in Krefeld. Over the years, he achieved both national and international success with his previous partners before meeting Natalia in 2015, when they decided to represent Germany together. Natalia and Lars turned professional in February 2017 and went on to become German Professional Champions in the Latin American dances as well as in Latin Showdance. Internationally, they won the American Dance Sport Festival in the Professional division and reached the finals of both the World and European Championships. In addition to their competitive careers, they are active as trainers, adjudicators, and officials for the German DanceSport Federation.

Verena & Simon have been on the dance floor since childhood. Throughout their careers, they have competed in numerous national and international tournaments. Both are current state champions in their respective regions of Baden-Württemberg and Saxony. They first met in 2020 during a training session in Simon’s hometown of Freiburg. From the very beginning, they connected instantly and shared the same passion and mindset. At that time, however, both were still dancing with different partners. In 2022, Simon moved to Jena to pursue his studies, bringing him much closer to Verena’s hometown of Leipzig. It quickly became clear that they were not only a perfect match on the dance floor but also on a personal level. In June 2023, Verena and Simon officially formed a dance partnership. Since then, there has hardly been a day when they have not trained and danced together. They are known for their discipline, boundless energy, and positive charisma, which consistently captivate and inspire their audiences.

Cristian was born in Romania and began competitive ballroom dancing at the age of seven. As a multiple Romanian champion, he moved to Germany in 2020 to continue his international career together with Celine. Celine also discovered her passion for dance at an early age. Together, they have competed successfully at numerous national and international events, reaching finals across Europe and Asia. Today, they are ranked among the Top 50 couples in the world. Since 2023, they have consistently reached the finals of the German Championships and currently hold 4th place nationally. Alongside their competitive careers, both are dedicated dance coaches who enjoy sharing their knowledge and experience with the next generation. Having started teaching at a young age, they have achieved remarkable success both as athletes and as mentors to their students. Guided by their motto, “Dance connects,” Cristian and Celine view dance as a powerful form of expression, communication, and connection. Their passion, determination, and exceptional partnership on and off the dance floor continue to inspire audiences and students alike.