Eda Bozkurt took ballet classes while growing up in Turkey.
When she moved to a new town, she enrolled at a dance studio that, unbeknownst to her, specialized in ballroom dancing.
She immediately fell in love with the activity and has competed in dance competitions nationally and internationally for more than 10 years.
“(Ballroom dancing) has taught me discipline, time management and the importance of perseverance,” said Bozkurt, a graduate student instructional consultant with the Center for Research on Learning and Teaching and an engaged learning graduate consultant at the Ginsberg Center.
“And these skills translated well into my other academic and professional pursuits. So, it offered me a big creative outlet.”
Bozkurt, who also serves as a graduate student staff assistant for Rackham Professional Development and Engagement’s DEI Certificate program team, moved to Ann Arbor five years ago to pursue her Ph.D.
When she arrived, Bozkurt said she felt lost without a strong group of friends. She joined U-M’s ballroom dancing team where she connected with fellow student dancers and developed roots in the community.
“When I first came here, I didn’t know many people … and (ballroom dancing) provided me a big opportunity to put myself out there and get into a community where I feel more confident,” Bozkurt said.
Bozkurt and one of her dance partners take private lessons from coaches who choreograph their routines. Each dance has a different character with varying techniques, rhythms and footwork.
Different from some other forms of dancing, Bozkurt said, ballroom dancing is a combination of art and sport. Often to referred to as dance sport, ballroom dancing has been petitioned to be included in the Olympics by the World DanceSport Federation.
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Bozkurt said the intense physicality required to dance through complex routines that last from 90 seconds to two minutes, requires extensive training and dedication. Bozkurt and her partner practice five to six days a week for up to three hours.
“After each competition, even though I feel exhausted — because it’s a lot of physical effort — at the same time I’m also very energized,” Bozkurt said. “(Ballroom dancing) makes me more confident. It gives me more peace of mind. It helps me have a better relationship with myself and with my body and with my mind, too.”
When she takes the stage, Bozkurt hones her focus and prepares beforehand to enter the mindset required to excel and perform in front of an audience.
“I’ve developed coping mechanisms over the years. I don’t get nervous — I get super excited — but you need to calm your excitement a little bit and you need your breath. You need to be calm enough to concentrate and focus on your dancing,” Bozkurt said.
Bozkurt thrives in the performance environment and at times needs to practice breathing exercises to quell her excitement before taking the stage.
“I do a motivational self-talk to myself, do a little meditation, right before going to the stage,” Bozkurt said. “It really gives me a lot of courage, and it inspires me seeing myself in my mind.”
A memorable competition for Bozkurt took place in 2023 when the U-M ballroom dance team organized a competition called MichComp at Ann Arbor’s Skyline High School. College ballroom dance teams from across the country traveled to compete. Bozkurt and her partner placed first in the Collegiate International Latin Pre-Championship division and second in the Open division.
“It was really nice to place first in your home. So, it was really rewarding,” Bozkurt said.
On an even grander stage, Bozkurt and another partner competed in the pre-champion category of the national championships and placed second.
While the trophies are nice, Bozkurt said she views ballroom dancing as a key to maintaining work-life balance. With a significant amount of time devoted to dancing, Bozkurt said she sometimes feels her “life is split into two distinct parts.”
“Ballroom dancing keeps me motivated and helps me maintain a healthy balance with my work. It demands disciplined time management and forces me to prioritize,” Bozkurt said.
“It’s incredibly fun, and I’m so happy to have found an outlet where I can channel my energy. Dancing allows me to release the stress and chaos that comes with school. For a few hours, it’s like stepping into another world, and I can temporarily leave behind the challenges of everyday life. It’s the best way to let go and reset.”
