About

Ankara Lindy Hop

Ankara Lindy Hop is a swing dance community founded in 2018 by a group of friends with the desire to dance more and bring people together. The community’s core philosophy centers on the inclusive and freedom-driven approach of jazz music, which transcends differences in religion, language, race, and gender. Aiming to introduce dance styles such as Lindy Hop, solo jazz, blues, and swing to Ankara without any commercial intent, the community offers participants free or low-cost practices, dance nights, and workshops through the dedication of volunteer dancers.

The community also strengthens solidarity through social events and seeks to preserve the culture of jazz. Staying true to its founding spirit, it has brought together the essence of the street, jazz music, and dance in Ankara. The events are designed to create an environment where participants feel safe, comfortable, and respected, ensuring an equal and inclusive experience for everyone

Burcu Balaban

Born in Eskişehir in 1989, Burcu studied Mathematics at Bilgi University and MSGSÜ. Although her interest in dance began with Folk Dances in primary school, she discovered her passion for Lindy Hop (swing) during her university years after exploring various dance styles. What started as a hobby evolved into a desire to share the joy of dance. She has been teaching Lindy Hop and solo jazz in various locations for many years. At the beginning of 2019, she introduced the first Lindy Hop and solo jazz classes in Eskişehir and continues to teach regularly in both Istanbul and Eskişehir.

Can Usta

Can is a visual designer, web producer and artist. He encountered lindy-hop in 2013, becoming a student of Istanbul Lindy Hoppers and Swing Istanbul simultaneously. He began teaching at Swing Istanbul in 2015. He grew up in Istanbul and moved to London in 2019 and remains an active dancer. He offers private lindy-hop lessons. You can find more information about him at canusta.com.

Dilge Iseri

Dilge was born in Istanbul in 1997. She started receiving classical music training at a young age. In 2020, she graduated from the Harp Department of Istanbul University State Conservatory. Alongside this, she also studied in the Architecture Department at Yıldız Technical University.
She first began taking Lindy Hop lessons in Istanbul in 2022. After leaving Istanbul, she continued dancing wherever she went. In 2024, she moved to Izmir, where she actively continues to dance. She is inspired by the joy and culture of jazz music and dance.

Esra Baltaoğlu

Esra holds a BA in Mathematics-Computer from Ege University and a master’s degree from Bilgi MIS. She works as a white-collar professional in the private sector. Esra has been dancing since 2019, attending workshops and festivals. In addition to swing dance, she also practices blues and balboa. She believes in the healing and relaxing power of dance and strives to share this positive impact with others.