Duygu Basmaci

Anti-slip socks
Originally designed for yoga, but they are perfectly comfortable for modern and improvisation classes.

Latex-free elastic bandage
I know my weak spot (i.e., my left ankle). I use this to keep localized pressure on injuries and to prevent new ones from happening. 

Ballet slippers
I wear Capezio Freeform shoes to which I add ribbons; I love them! 

Leotard & dance tights
The basic and inseparable ballet wear.

Legwarmers, knit romper & crossover cardigan
For at least the first half of class this is a ‘must have’ because it helps warm my muscles. After which, I usually roll down the romper to make shorts. 

Ballet Espressivo flyers
They are with me to ‘spread the love’ wherever and whenever I can!

Water bottle
With ionized water. 

The Dance Bible: The Complete Resource for Aspiring Dancers by Camille LeFevre, published by Barron’s Educational Series
I do my best to keep up with dance literature and this book, published in 2012, is my most recent discovery. It’s written for beginners, yet definitely provides invaluable insights for any dancer, considering dance as art, cultural identity, rebellion, competition, entertainment and worship. Personally, I learned the most from the chapter about rest and rejuvenation for dancers. 

Duygu Basmaci is a dancer and choreographer with the Only Human Dance Collective (a group associated with the University of Toronto) and the U of T Festival of Dance. Basmaci started her classical ballet training at age four with Yildiz Alpar, (who founded the first private ballet school in Turkey), before continuing in the Conservatory of Classical Ballet, also in Turkey. When she was thirteen, she received an invitation to join The Royal Ballet School in London, England, but circumstances didn’t allow it. As a result, Basmaci studied to become an IT engineer. She has a master’s degree from U of T and pursues dance as a parallel career, performing and choreographing work. She is the creative director of Vivid Design, a Toronto-based communications design company, and designed Ballet Espressivo’s website, where she currently trains in ballet, modern and improvisation. In addition to dance, she is very passionate about poetry, photography and philosophy. She speaks Turkish, German and English.