Born in Ankara in 1970, Handan Ergiydiren is an interdisciplinary artist who, through her collective 22/11 Performance Projects, explores “the narrative of our time” at the intersection of movement, space, text, and sound. In all her stage works, she seeks to reach the audience directly — to offer them an immediate, living experience. Embracing both creation and performance as acts of “summoning ghosts,” she regards the body and mind as “haunted houses,” open to the occupation of all that arrives. Embracing chance, accident, and deviation, her work gravitates toward spatially driven, text-influenced expressions grounded in the body.
Her artistic journey began at Kuğu Ballet School. She was a member of ODTÜ Contemporary Dance Group (1986–89), Balemodern Ankara (1990–97), and is the founder, artistic director, and leader of 22/11 Performance Projects (2006–present). Ergiydiren holds degrees in Industrial Design (B.A., METU), Theatre (M.A., Hacettepe University), Dance Studies (M.A., Trinity Laban Conservatoire, London), and Theatre (Ph.D., Ankara University).
She has taught contemporary dance, performance, acting, and design at numerous institutions including Hacettepe University, Bilkent, Başkent, Kadir Has, Fatih Sultan Mehmet Foundation, Doğuş, Haliç, and Muğla Sıtkı Koçman Universities. Her dance and performance works have been presented in Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Bursa, London, New York, Lisbon, Thessaloniki, and Kyrenia. She has choreographed for the State Theatres and Istanbul City Theatres, receiving the Choreographer of the Year Award twice.
Ergiydiren authored the accredited curricula of Hacettepe University’s Modern Dance Department and ARUCAD Faculty of Music and Performing Arts. She currently serves as Head of the Contemporary Dance Department at ARUCAD and continues her independent artistic practice under the umbrella of 22/11 Performance Projects.