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Ersin Seyhan
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Dr. Ersin Ozan Seyhan was born in Mersin, Turkey, on 12 January 1944. Completing his high school education in Tarsus American College, Turkey, he received his Civil Engineering B.S. degree at Robert College, İstanbul, in 1966. In 1972 he received his M.S. degree at Delft Technical University, the Netherlands. In 1976 he received his Ph.D. at the State University of Utrecht, the Netherlands.
Ersin started dancing when he was a child, at home with his mother. His first stage performance was when he was 8 years old. During his high school years (1956-1962), in Tarsus, Turkey, he danced in the Tarsus American College Folk Dancing Group.
During 1962-1966 he danced in the choreography of the İstanbul Robert College Turkish Folk Dancing Assembly and participated in performances throughout Europe and Turkey. He came to the Netherlands in 1966.
From 1966 to 1969 he performed international dances in the demonstration groups of Dansamble-R in Rotterdam and Kolo in Amsterdam.
From 1969 until the present he has taught folk dances from Turkey and lectured on Turkish folkloristic culture all over the Netherlands and Europe.
In 1985, based on his knowledge and practical experience, Ersin was awarded an "Expert in Teaching Turkish Folk Dances" by the Dutch government.
Since 1991, he has worked as a Guest docent Turkish Dances at the Dance Academies of Rotterdam, Amsterdam, and Tilburg (Brabant).
Since 1990, he has been a Dance docent and Choreograph for many different groups in Belgium, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and Yugoslavia.
In January 1984 he started his own Turkish folk dancing foundation, "Ozan" ("epic-singer"), performing his own choreography of dances from all over Turkey. This group has won first prizes in many competitions. Ersin is Chairman of the Board and Artistic Leader of Ozan.
In March 1991 he published two books on Turkish Folk Dancing Culture. Since then he has been publishing articles on the traditions, beliefs, music, and dances in Turkish folklore.
On 30 January 1994 Ersin was awarded the "Culture Prize" by the Turkish government for his achievements as a scholar in Turkish folklore.
Believing that folk dancing is one of the best ways for man to communicate, uniting them under the same feeling of enjoyment, Ersin continues his folk dance teaching work with great enthusiasm.
Dances Ersin has taught include Antep halayı, Aslan Mustafa, Aşalım, Ata barı, Cezayir, Çiftetelli, Düz horon, Eyvah, Eyvah Nare, Fadike, Hanım Ayşe, Haydi gidelim, Hemşin oyunu, Henne, İki ayak Horonu, İstanbul kasap, Kabak, Kara Dut, Kavaş, Kızık Halayı, Makaram sarı bağlar, Menekşe, Muhtar, Osman Ağa, Oy askerime, Papuri, Temur Ağa, Trakya kasap, Şak şak, Sallan Gel, Üç ayak, and Vay vay halime.
Ersin has also produced dance series from Artvin, Bursa, and Tokat.