Detlef Soost

Detlef Soost (born 2 July 1970 in Berlin-Pankow, East Germany), also using the name D! (formerly Dee!), most often called Detlef D! Soost, is a German dancer and choreographer.

Soost was born in East Berlin and grew up in an orphanage. His mother, who died very early, was a German, and his father came to the GDR from Ghana. The biography on his homepage states that Soost became streetdance champion of East Berlin when he was 15 years old, and champion of the GDR when he was 16, but some critics point out that based on his date of birth given in the same biography (1971) this appears very unrealistic: streetdance was not accepted in the GDR and no "official" battles could be held in which Soost could have won a title. However, there is no doubt that Soost in this time was one of the most important people in (East) Berlin's streetdance scene. Even if there were no "official" titles and championships Soost was the undisputed master of streetdance in East Berlin in this time.

In 2005 he published his autobiography "Neger – Heimkind – Pionier" ("Negro – Orphan – Pioneer"). In this book, among other things, he also writes about his ethnic background and the problems caused by it. Soost describes himself as "Schoki," a (childish) word for chocolate. In the years after German reunification, he started a career as a professional choreographer and dance teacher. Later, he founded a network of dancing schools under the brand D!s Dance Club. He owns a "Coaching and Casting Center" in Berlin-Mitte. He also produces dance music and develops choreographies for the D!s Dance Clubs and other dancers under the brand D!Nation.

He has two children, daughter Chani, who was born in April 2006, and son Carlos, who was born in July 2007.

...
Wikipedia