Rutkay Özpinar (1991) is a Turkish-Dutch choreographer with an extensive background in dance, like contemporary dance, classical ballet, hip-hop and Turkish folk dance.

Rutkay started dancing hip-hop and breakdance at a very young age and not long after with classical ballet and contemporary dance by joining Boys Action (Program of Artez). He pursued his ambitions to become a professional dancer at Codarts, University for the Arts in Rotterdam and danced with dance companies such as De Dutch Junior Dance Division and Introdans. In 2014 Rutkay made his choreographic debut at the age of 23 as the youngest choreographer in The Netherlands in Korzo Theater where he worked a house choreographer for 10 years. Over the years he created many works for Korzo, as well as for dance companies such as Introdans, Conny Janssen Danst, Battery Dance and Dutch National Ballet.

In 2019 Rutkay’s work took a huge spin when he did a research on Turkish folk dance to let it influence his movement language. He focused on dance styles such as Turkish belly dance and Halay. As his work was progressing Rutkay managed to let the different elements of contemporary dance, classical ballet, hip-hop and Turkish folk dance blend into his own authentic movement language. Containing many delicate articulations and undulations, it challenges the physical coordination and brings movements to life in a dynamic way. He keeps exploring the range of movements with this quality and creates a rhythmical view.

What fascinates Rutkay is the cadence of the human body responding to music and the way the body starts moving according to it. He approaches his work through subjects of our existence and our being that struggles to find rest in this world. Rutkay’s performances aim on taking the audience to another world, away from reality where everyone is part of his rhythm, let it be the dancers or the audience.

Rutkay created plenty of works for Korzo and collaborated regularly with Introdans. Throughout his career he has been nominated for awards such a Piket Kunstprijzen (2014), Dutch Dance Audience Prize in the category: Best dancer (2013 & 2014) and won the BNG Bank Awards in 2016 with his piece ‘Grip’ (Korzo production). In January 2023 his first full-length production ‘Work Line’ premiered and toured throughout The Netherlands. Rutkay is aiming to create works for many other dance companies.