DanceSport in Turkey on the rise

ISTANBUL

Competitive ballroom dancing, which is known as DanceSport, has taken off in Turkey shortly after the country was accepted as a member of World DanceSport Federation. 

Turkish dancers have become increasingly assertive in international competitions, like the one organized in Stuttgart, Germany, on Aug. 11-15. National team dancers Seda Arıgül and Erhan Kuş, the couple who won the Turkish championship for the fifth time in a row this year, will represent Turkey at the German Slam in August, when the largest grand slam competition will be held. Applications to compete in the grand slam were so numerous that each day will be counted as a round.


Meanwhile, as a sign of the increasing popularity for DanceSports in Turkey, the Middle East Technical University in Ankara will be organizing its own competition, which is regarded as significant in the international calendar of competitions. The METU Open will be held from Oct. 31 to Nov. 1. Turkish organizers plan to work in tandem with international partners to get competitive ballroom dancing recognized as an Olympic sport.