Dance & Music
I started with folkloristic dances in Istanbul at the age of 7. My first dance steps were related to the Black Sea. Music was the next step. Ever since, dance and music made me who I am today. At secondary school, I continued dance and music activities, which resulted in me ending up at the Istanbul Dance Academy. Here, music also formed an important part of my education.
After graduating, I had the opportunity to join Internationaal Danstheater in the Netherlands. After 10 years as professional dancer, I discovered my passion with regard to teaching dancers, and more specific: amateur dancers. During the years I taught dances to non-professionals and I learned that getting people to dance could be experienced as more joyful for these dancers rather than wathcing a professional performance. I see that my students appreciate my efforts and that professional and non-professional dancers are connected to eachother in some way, which gives me lots of energy.
My courses include nearly all Turkish regions. My favourites are Thrace, Black Sea and Caucasus.
In classes or workshops, several rhythms and dance passes are being dealt with. Depending on the group, dance styles can differ from Asian dances to Middle Eastern dances, from Caucasus styles to Balkan rhythms or to traditional Anatolian styles.
My percussion background offers me the possibility to accompany my dancers in class with matching 'local' instruments.
I offer a wide range of percussion instrument lessons to my musicians. Besides being able to teach nearly all Anatolian and western percussion instruments on a basic, but also high advanced level, I am also able to combine Anatolian and western instruments with Latin American/flamenco percussion instruments.
After graduating, I had the opportunity to join Internationaal Danstheater in the Netherlands. After 10 years as professional dancer, I discovered my passion with regard to teaching dancers, and more specific: amateur dancers. During the years I taught dances to non-professionals and I learned that getting people to dance could be experienced as more joyful for these dancers rather than wathcing a professional performance. I see that my students appreciate my efforts and that professional and non-professional dancers are connected to eachother in some way, which gives me lots of energy.
My courses include nearly all Turkish regions. My favourites are Thrace, Black Sea and Caucasus.
In classes or workshops, several rhythms and dance passes are being dealt with. Depending on the group, dance styles can differ from Asian dances to Middle Eastern dances, from Caucasus styles to Balkan rhythms or to traditional Anatolian styles.
My percussion background offers me the possibility to accompany my dancers in class with matching 'local' instruments.
I offer a wide range of percussion instrument lessons to my musicians. Besides being able to teach nearly all Anatolian and western percussion instruments on a basic, but also high advanced level, I am also able to combine Anatolian and western instruments with Latin American/flamenco percussion instruments.
