Entertainment

Founded in 1999, DDC is one of the most renowned breakdance crews in the German-speaking world. Combining breakdance with modern artistry, they have won numerous awards. The crew has toured worldwide, performed at major festivals, and produced over 300 shows, including "Breakin' Mozart." DDC is known for gala shows, TV appearances, and large live events. In 2013, they founded their own company and also provide talent development at the DDC Factory. Since 2023, their tour program "Breakin' Circus" has been on the road.

STORRY is a two-time JUNO-nominated singer-songwriter, visual artist, and advocate, renowned for her genre-blending sound and compelling lyrics. Drawing influences from R&B, hip-hop, and pop, she crafts emotionally powerful tracks that delve into themes of empowerment and resilience. 

Her captivating live performances have earned her a reputation as a rising star, transforming audiences with each show. STORRY has previously collaborated with notable artists such as Stormzy and Emmanuel Jal and is now set to release her highly anticipated album, Chapter 2: Run, in 2025.

This upcoming album tells the raw, emotional story of her realization that her 'boyfriend' was actually her trafficker, detailing the complex journey of reclaiming her life and healing from that experience. A 2024 finalist on The Voice UK, STORRY's live performances are visceral experiences that must be seen to be believed—her voice doesn’t just touch you; it hits you in the face.

Lauma Skrid is equally at home on the international podium as a soloist and chamber musician. The winner of the Beethoven Ring 2008 works with conductors such as Pedro Halffter, Andris Nelsons, Muhai Tang and John Storgärds and instrumentalists such as Anne-Sophie Mutter, Daniel Müller-Schott, Sol Gabetta, Julian Steckei, Jörg Widmann, Christian Tetzlaff and Tanja Tetzlaff. She has been performing internationally with great success in the Skride Quartet with her sister Baiba Skride, Harriet Krijgh and Lise Berthaud since 2016. She has released several CDs. Lauma Skride was born in Riga in 1982 and studied at the music academy in her home city (Anita Paze) and at the music academy in Hamburg (Volker Banfield). She has successfully participated in numerous international competitions since the age of eleven.

For thirty years, cellist Gregory Bennett Walmsley has traveled the world to perform in all the different genres that the glorious art of classical music offers: Opera, symphonies, ballet and chamber music. He has performed on five continents with such renowned musicians as Antal Dorati, George Solti, Colin Davis, Simon Rattle, Kurt Masur and Bernard Haitink. After 20 years as a member of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Gregory moved to Berlin with his partner, the pianist Lauma Skride, and their daughter Beatrice Lulu. He began playing the cello at the age of 10 and was a junior student at the Royal Academy. After completing his studies with Derek Simpson and Lynn Harrell at the Academy of Music in London, he was awarded a scholarship to study with Bernard Greenhouse at Rutgers University (USA). Future projects include performing Bach's Cello Suites at the London Eye and at chamber music festivals in the Netherlands and Germany. Gregory plays an Italian cello from Trieste.

Born in Riga, Latvia (2006), Elza Siliņa ir a violinist with extensive training and performance experience. She began her violin studies at the age of six and is currently studying in Jāzeps Mediņš Riga 1st Music School with Antti Kortelainen. She has participated in masterclasses across Europe with world renowned professor Mihaela Martin. Elza has won multiple competitions, including the 1st prize at the Valdis Vikmanis’ Competition (2024), 2nd prize and special award for Beethoven sonata interpretation at the 10th International Louis Spohr Competition for Young Violinists (2022) and more. She has performed widely as a soloist and chamber musician. In 2024, she performed in New Year’s concerts with Liepāja Symphony Orchestra, Participated in the Liepāja “Star Festival” and has given chamber music concerts in Latvia, Estonia, Germany, Ireland, Finland and Switzerland playing in different kinds of chamber music ensembles, including string quartet, string quintet, string octet and piano trio. She has performed in major venues such as the “Great Amber”, “Latvija”, and “Cēsis” concert hall in Latvia, National Coach Museum in Portugal, Music Conservatory of Geneva and more. Elza has collaborated with musicians like pianist Lauma Skride, accordionist Ksenija Sidorova and composer Raimonds Pauls. Her dedication and achievements reflect her continuous development as a musician through international performances and collaborations. 

Thomas Holthoff sees his mission as bringing together the experience of seeing art, engaging in conversation, and connecting a journey with a visit to the gallery on board. That is what he hopes to offer guests. Artists view the world through their own unique lens — they challenge us, invite dialogue, and open up new perspectives. In times of confusion, questions, and doubt, it is often these encounters that people seek — and find — both in the gallery and on board. When selecting artists, Thomas Holthoff is first and foremost interested in the individual: their inner world, their modes of expression, and their artistic attitude. As a gallerist, he sees himself as a bridge between artist and viewer. His goal is to spark curiosity and inspire a genuine desire to engage with art. His work also regularly touches on the margins of society — for example, through his long-standing collaboration with Atelier Freistil, which has been ongoing for eight years, or through his exploration of new, forward-looking fields such as Contemporary AI. In this context, Thomas Holthoff curated an exhibition in 2025 for the international law firm Taylor Wessing. And sometimes, everything can be said in a single sentence: “Anyone who doesn’t want to think gets kicked out — of themselves.” (Joseph Beuys)

Discover all cruises on which the gallery is represented on board.

Thomas Holthoff was born in Solingen in 1966. He grew up in the Rhineland, trained as an IT specialist and then studied business administration in Bamberg. After completing his studies, he initially worked as a management consultant at an IBM subsidiary and after two years became branch manager in Hamburg and Berlin. At the age of 32, he became Managing Director of Lufthansa Systems Hungary. This was accompanied by a move to his beloved Paris of the East - Budapest. At the age of 35, he left for another, new world - the world of culture. With stops in Berlin, Wolfsburg and Hamburg. At the age of 41, the next meaningful step in his career. He first worked as an assistant to an art collector and then founded his first gallery. His gallery has been located in Hamburg-Altona since 2013. His second, special exhibition space is located in the ruins of the former temple from 1844. TEMPEL1844 is a place of culture, a salon in the best sense of the word. In 2023, he opened another gallery with Alice Hinrichs - Galerie Watson, in the beautiful Milchstr. in Hamburg