ABOUT SIVA MERYEM CANBAZOGLU
dancer, choreographer, and a visual artist
"My work is deeply rooted and nurtured by kinesthetic, metaphysical, neo-spiritual, and philosophical knowledge centered around Anatolian and Turkish thinkers and writers. I research methodologies and choreographic elements to translate the invisible, unspeakable, yet perceivable concepts into tangible and relatable works. This is an ever-unfolding process that arises from rhythmic connotations. The body and movement serve as anchor points, forming a foundation for my research. The internal organization of the body is emphasized, rather than movement representing a certain image or shape. Therefore, the outcome of the movement research contemplates delicate, tender, radically honest, and raw physicality. One of the main characteristics of the universe is movement—ranging from subatomic motions to the swing of an arm to the expansion of the universe. Thus, the research being practiced stems from movement and the branches connected to this root, manifesting the fact that we are all part of a choreography much larger than ourselves."
BIOGRAPHY
Şiva Canbazoğlu is a dancer, choreographer, and a visual artist based in Istanbul and Rotterdam. Born in Istanbul in 1998, she graduated from Codarts University of the Arts in Rotterdam with a Bachelor of Dance. During her career, she has worked with choreographers and artists such as Emio Greco, Hofesh Shechter, Marco Goecke, Marina Mascarell, Ed Wubbe, Antonin Comestas, Marcus Azzini, İhsan Rustem, and Lorand Zachar.
From 2020 to 2021, she danced for a season with ICK Amsterdam under the artistic direction of Emio Greco. Following this, she embarked on a freelance career, collaborating with various artistic collectives, including AY AVEC TOI (based in Istanbul-Rotterdam), IJZERBLOK (based in Rotterdam), and CHOREO-GRAPHIC Translations (also based in Rotterdam).
She has worked in the field of education, teaching Contemporary Dance Composition and Improvisation at Yeditepe University, as well as Contemporary Technique Classes at AKBANK Sanat.
Her choreographic and creative works include a variety of contemporary performances and exhibitions. Notable projects from 2024 include "How Now Becomes Then," where she worked as a choreographer, performer, and project manager, touring in many venues in Turkey and the Netherlands. "Kim Bu Kızlar?" in relation to Cansu Yıldıran’s photography exhibition "Vargit Çiçekleri" was performed in HARA, İstanbul. "İrtibata İntibak," curated by Şiva and Zeynep Demirhan took place as a visual exhibition adapted from the contemporary dance performance "How Now Becomes Then." She also curated and created the multimedia collage exhibition "Beden Gemisinde Dunya Seferi," at Ayşe Galerisi, İstanbul. In 2023, she premiered "Horizontal and Vertical Migrations" at the Anima Flegrea Festival in Italy and later on performed at Garage Rotterdam. And as a dance film maker, she co created the artistic film "What Must a Bird Think?" with Kevin Beyer. Her latest dance film, "Invisible but Perceivable yet Unspeakable," was part of the official selection of Dance Camera Istanbul-Atlanta.
In addition to her performances and exhibitions, as the collective CHOREO-GRAPHIC Translations published an artistic research book in 2022, supported by Droom En Daad and Makersloket in the Netherlands.
CHOREOGRAPHIC-CREATIVE WORKS
2024
‘Kim Bu Kızlar?’ contemporary performance in relation to Cansu Yıldıran’s photography exhibition, ‘Vargit Çiçekleri’, curated by HARA’
‘İrtibata İntibak’ visual art exhibition, an adaptation of the contemporary dance performance 'How Now Becomes Then', curated by COBAC’
‘Beden Gemisinde Dunya Seferi’ multi media collage exhibition curated by Ayse Taki gallery.
‘HOW NOW BECOMES THEN’ with Ilayda Evgin supported by AKBANK SANAT. Performed at many venues around Turkey and Holland.
2023
‘Horizontal and Vertical Migrations’ with Noemi Calzavara and Claudio Murabito. Premiered in ‘Anima Flegrea Festival della Cultura e della Danza’. And Curated by Garage Rotterdam Gallery.
‘What Must a Bird Think?’ with Kevin Beyer. An artistic movie founded by Beykoz Kundura, Istanbul.
‘Conatus’ with Zeynep Demirhan, Performative Exhibition created for AKBANK Sanat.
‘Invisible but Perceivable yet Unspeakable’ Dance film choreographed and performed by Siva Canbazoglu, Directed by Zeynep Demirhan. Official selection of Dance Camera Istanbul-Atlanta.
2022
Publication of an artistic research book, founded by the Droom En Daad, Makersloket. Distributing in The Netherlands.
‘Transou’ with Ay Avec Toi
‘Grasp Concrete’ with Ay Avec Toi
2021
‘WHO ARE YOU?’ with Ay Avec Toi, premiered in CaptalaVie, Rotterdam.
‘SOMA’ a Solo
2019
‘The Revolution of the Sun around the Hearth’ is a collaboration with Costanza Calzavara and Noemi Calzavara. Premiered in Codarts, Rotterdam.
‘A Caterpillar quietly minding its own business’ with Line Brancherau and Noemi Calzavavara. Premiered in Codarts, Rotterdam.
‘OH MY GOD’ artistic co-direction with Noemi Calzavara created for third year students of Codarts, bachelor of dance.
STAGE EXPERIENCES AS A DANCER
2024
Sanpapie Dance Company and IDF in collaboration with Akbank Sanat, “The Quiver Project”
‘AFİFE’, contemporary musical theatre, directed by Serdar Biliş
2023
Sanpapie Contemporary Dance and Physical Theatre Milan, ‘Crossing Borders’. Premiered in Santral Museum, Istanbul
‘Not Alone’ Choreographed and Performed for Jazz artists Randy
Esen and Aydın Esen for the launching of their new album.
2021
Magdalena Petrova ‘I Spin in Circles but it Helps Me Not’
Ratri Notosudirdjo ‘Moving Landscapes’
2020
ICK Amsterdam & Toneelgroep Oostpool Coproduction ‘All Over-Acts of Love’
ICK Amsterdam, Emio Greco ‘Disappearance’
2019
Marta Worner ‘Falling In. Notes on Body, Space and Matter’
2018
Marco Goecke ‘Smokey Sarah’
Ihsan Rustem ‘Yidam’
Ed Wubbe ‘Single Manoeuvres’
Hofesh Shechter ‘Political Mother’
2017
Martha Graham, ‘Diversion Of Angels’ & ‘Maple Leaf Rag’
Antonin Comestas ‘Surface Image’
EDUCATION
2019-2020 ICK Amsterdam under the artistic director Emio Greco
2016-2020 Codarts University of the Arts
2012-2016 Mimar Sinan Güzel Sanatlar University State
Conservatory, Classical Piano Department