TAN SAĞTÜRK
Tan Sağtürk, after completing his secondary and high school education at Dokuz Eylül University's İzmir State Conservatory, completed his undergraduate education in the ballet department of Hacettepe University's Ankara State Conservatory. While continuing his education, he received offers from the Jeune Ballet de France, Vienna State Ballet, and Rambert Dance Company based in London. He began his professional career in Paris after accepting an offer from the Jeune Ballet de France.
Under the direction of Robert Berthier in Paris, he danced at the Jeune Ballet de France and under the direction of Pierre Lacotte at Ballet National de Nancy (French State Ballet-Nancy) between 1991-1997.
One of the most important features of the French State Ballet was its repertoire of major classical ballets staged by Pierre Lacotte, one of the doyens of ballet, and its numerous tours around the world. Tan Sağtürk became the first Turkish artist to start working with this important company.
In addition to earning a 'Lifetime Contract' (Contrat à vie) in France, he was honored by being invited to the Élysée Palace by the then President of France, Jacques Chirac, and his wife on behalf of the company.
The works 'Soude' and 'Je Ne Regrette Rien,' choreographed by Tan Sağtürk and premiered at Ballet National de Nancy, received positive reviews in France.
Tan Sağtürk served as the 'Principal Dancer' at Istanbul State Opera and Ballet under the management of Yekta Kara between 1997-1998, during which he took on leading roles in Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, Ara Danslar Ara Nağmeler, and Emrivaki.
He choreographed 'Kalp Sesi,' a project for the Antalya State Opera and Ballet, which was also performed by the Izmir State Opera and Ballet.
Taking on the lead role in Mehmet Balkan's work 'My Friend Mediterranean,' (Dostum Akdeniz) he performed at numerous festivals with Antalya State Opera and Ballet, including the 1st Bodrum Ballet Festival.
In 2018, he took on one of the leading roles in the epic opera 'Troya' as part of the State Opera and Ballet's major production. Troya, staged at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow on April 8, 2019, for the opening of the 'Türkiye-Russia Mutual Culture and Tourism Year,' became the first Turkish work to be staged at the Bolshoi Theatre.
In 2020, he met the Ankara audience as one of the leading roles in the giant production 'Göbeklitepe-Mourning of the Temple' staged by Ankara State Opera and Ballet.
Sağtürk, who has been awarded many awards for his artistic achievements, brought together tens of thousands of students and their families studying in schools he opened in many regions of Turkey with art disciplines such as ballet, dance, and music.
In addition to his known classical works of ballet, the books 'Ballet Studio,' 'The Nutcracker,' 'The Sleeping Beauty,' 'Don Quixote,' and 'Swan Lake,' which tell classical works of ballet to children, as well as 'Ballet Training Cards' and 'Tan Sağtürk - Sahne Tozu' were published, and he made various efforts to transfer ballet and dance culture to future generations.
On December 21, 2022, Sağtürk was honored with the Presidential Culture and Arts Grand Award in the field of dance and ballet for his dedicated efforts to promote and popularize ballet and dance through insightful interviews and conferences across various platforms in Türkiye.
By the decree published in the Official Gazette dated September 15, 2023, he was appointed as the General Director and General Artistic Director of the Turkish State Opera and Ballet.
Upon the invitation of the International Ballet Competitions Federation (IFBC), he served as Deputy Chairman of the Jury at the International Youth Ballet Competition held at the Moscow Russian Ballet Theater from February 20 to 27, 2024.
On April 4, 2024, he was awarded the 'High Culture Art Medal' by the Eurasian Culture Fund in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
Upon invitation from Korea IBC President Dr. Jae Keun PARK, he served as the President of the Jury for the 17th Korea International Ballet Competition held in Seoul from June 20-23, 2024.
The International Federation of Ballet Competitions (IFBC), which continues its activities under the presidency of Yuri Grigorovic, was unanimously elected Tan Sağtürk as the Vice President of IFBC at the General Assembly of IFBC held in Istanbul on June 14.
He was elected to the Hacettepe University Advisory Board and Hacettepe University's Ankara State Conservatory Unit Advisory Board.
Tan Sağtürk, who speaks French and English, is married and has two children.
