Berk SARIBAY

He was born in İzmir, in 1977. He studied, ballet in the Izmir State Conservatory in 1988, before attending the Ankara State Conservatory during 1991-1992. He was privately trained by famous tutors such as Gennadi Potapoviçi and Vladimir Tolstuhin. In 1997, he graduated and subsequently received his Master's degree in ballet, from the Ankara State Conservatory in 1998. He also started working as a dancer in the Ankara State Opera and Ballet General Directorate, while continuing his master class practices with Sergei Terechenko and Natalie Arobelidze. He participated as a part of the Ankara State Opera and Ballet in the 1998 Asia Dance Festival in Japan, and performed Oytun Turfanda’s “Yoz Döngü”. He performed as one of the members of the Ankara State Opera and Ballet, in various festivals and tours held in many different European cities. Between 1997 and 2002, Sarıbay performed as a soloist and étoile in many ballets such as “The Three Musketeers”, “The Nutcracker” (Andrei Prokovsky), “Full-fledged” (Uğur Seyrek), “Blue” (James Sutherland), “Return to a Strange Land” (Jiri Kylian), Turnpike (Mauro Bigonzetti), “Sleeping Beauty” (Marcia Haydee), “The Taming of the Shrew” (John Cranko), “Concerto” (Kenneth MacMillan), and “Who Cares” (George Balanchine). He had the chance to work with many significant talents such as Oytun Turfanda, Andrei Prokovsky, Uwe Scholz, James Sutherland, Arlette Van Boven, Marcia Haydee, Mauro Bigonzetti, Nanette Glushak, Jose Martinez , Uğur Seyrek, Robert North. In the season of 2000, Sarıbay choreographed the ballet “Bab-ı Esrar” initially for the First Turkish Dance Platform, organized by the State Opera and Ballet General Directorate. In the season of 2002, the ballet “Nefesini Yitirmek”, which Sarıbay choreographed for the Second Turkish Dance Platform achieved to be a finalist in the International Choreography Contest, held in Hannover. Between 2002 and 2003, Sarıbay transferred to the Istanbul State Ballet. He has played the lead role in many classical ballet works including “The Swan Lake” (by Derek Dean, performed Prince Siegfried), “The Nutcracker” (by by Yuri Grigorovich, performed Prince), “İlişkiler” (by Mehmet Balkan), “Bebek” (by Oytun Turfanda), “Giselle” (by Georgy Pribylov, performed Prince Albrecht), “Romeo and Juliet” (by Nugzar Magalashvili), “La Bayadere” (by Marius Petipa, performed Solor), “La Fille Mal Gardee” (by Sir Frederick Ashton, Alexander Grant, performed Colas). He also took part in tours and productions such as “Troy Game” by Roberth North, “Concerto Barocco” by George Balanchine, “Mi Favorita” by Jose Martinez, “Kurban” by Uğur Seyrek (Morocco tour), “Güldestan” by Beyhan Murphy, “I Don’t Want You” by Rubato (Royal Opera House Londra tour), “Ağır Roman” by Aysun Aslan (Los Angeles tour). He choreographed the ballet “İste Mutluluk Bu!” in the “Three Ballets” programme for the Istanbul State Opera and Ballet in 2006. In 2008, he choreographed the movement theater “Neşeli Bir Gün”. In 2009, he choreographed “Düğünün Mutfağı” for the “Turkish Choreographers” programme. During the season of 2009-2010, he worked for the choreographies of “La Boheme” and “Rossini nin Menüsü”. He staged “İşte Mutluluk Bu!” for the Samsun State Opera and Ballet. In 2010, he choreographed “Notasyon, Final Turu ve Finalden Önceki Gece” for the 2. Istanbul Ballet Contest within the “Istanbul 2010 — European Capital of Culture”. He also worked in the choreography of “Olmazsa Olmaz” for the Ankara MDT. In 2012, he played the role of Şirin’s brother for the TRT TV series ‘’Leyla ile Mecnun’’, directed by Onur Ünlü. He worked as an actor, dancer, and choreographer in many movies and music videos. In 2013, he worked on the choreography for “Bent” by Martin Sherman, directed by Meltem Cumbul. During the season of 2015-2016 he wrote “İÇ-İN”, for the production “Three Colors”, for Antalya State Opera and Ballet. In the 2017-2018 season, he re-adapted “İÇ-İN” for the Samsun State Opera and Ballet. Currently, Sarıbay serves as an étoile and choreographer in the Istanbul State Ballet.

İlke KODAL

She graduated from Mimar Sinan University Ballet Department in 1998 and joined the Istanbul State Opera and Ballet in the same year. Prix ​​de Lausanne in 1994, St. Louis in 1998. She represented Turkey at the St. Petersburg Vaganova School and the 4th International Ballet & Modern Dance Competition in Nagoya, Japan in 2002. She is a very active artist who is extremely successful locally and abroad.

We had a great 2023 season with İlke Kodal,who has added to her success each day throughout her career.