Dans Akademi | Accredited dance courses and performing arts training
Founded in 2008 by entrepreneur, instructor, and photographic artist Orhan Gürbüz, Dans Akademi is a dedicated academy for performing arts and dance training based in Istanbul, Turkey. Operating as an officially licensed private educational institution under the Turkish Ministry of National Education, the academy draws on over a decade and a half of educational expertise to design programs that meet European training criteria. The pedagogical system is structured around the unique learning pace, talent profile, and personal development goals of each student, prioritizing practical floor and stage experience over mere theoretical study.
Educational Programs and Dance Disciplines
Dans Akademi offers structured instruction across more than fifty disciplines, accommodating recreational hobbyists, aspiring stage performers, and certified dance instructors. The primary program categories include:
• Social Latin Dances: Dynamic social partner dancing including salsa, bachata, Argentine tango, merengue, cha-cha-cha, and swing.
• Ballroom Styles: Technical partner dances encompassing Viennese waltz, rumba, samba, bolero, and quickstep.
• Contemporary and Street Styles: Expressive formats such as hip-hop, contemporary modern dance, breakdancing, street jazz, Charleston, dancehall, and K-pop.
• Classical Ballet: Graded ballet curriculums tailored separately for toddlers, children, teens, and adults, alongside specialized conservatory audition preparatory tracks.
• Cultural and Folk Dances: Regional dances including Zeybek, Caucasian dance, Horon, Reyhani, and oriental dance classes.
• Movement and Fitness: Energy-driven fitness programs including Zumba, Pilates, yoga, and pole dance.
• Specialized Coaching: Custom wedding dance choreography for couples, modeling instruction, etiquette training, and personal development seminars.
Instructional Approach and Faculty
The faculty features active dancers, distinguished choreographers, stage directors, and performing arts academicians who have represented Turkey in national and international events. Group classes are maintained in boutique formats of roughly 7 to 12 participants to ensure detailed physical guidance, with customized private tuition also available. The curriculum features clear progression paths, offering lesson make-ups across sister locations and repeat guarantees for qualifying long-term students needing skill reinforcement.
Certification and Studio Environment
Graduates of applicable programs receive Ministry-approved professional certificates or accredited institutional diplomas, particularly within graded ballet tracks, creative drama, and world social dance curriculums. The academy actively supports student performance readiness through year-end stage productions, studio showcases, internal competitions, themed dance nights, and masterclasses led by dance masters. Instruction is hosted across modern, spacious studio facilities positioned in prominent Istanbul districts such as Bakırköy, Taksim, Kadıköy, Beşiktaş, Maslak, and Beylikdüzü. Beyond studio training, participants have access to community hubs like Sanat Cafe, while businesses benefit from tailored corporate workshops centered on rhythm, body language, and team dynamics.