Artist Biography

Anna Rüya Ayyildiz is a whirling dervish. Through workshops, performance and one-to-one practice, she explores whirling as an artistic, spiritual and therapeutic practice. Working with breath, rhythm and embodied awareness, she supports people to deepen their relationship with their bodies, find their own expression and explore the restorative possibilities of movement.

Her work explores the meeting place between devotion and ecstasy. Connection to the land is central to this approach: sensing the ground, attending to the body and recognising ourselves as part of a wider living organism.

Born in London with Irish and Kurdish Alevi heritage, Anna’s cultural background informs her personal relationship with whirling and the traditions of Sema. This is one thread within a practice shaped through ongoing learning, collaboration and exchange. Together, those taking part weave their experiences, movement and ways of knowing into something new, allowing a shared culture to emerge through what they create.

Anna works predominantly as a solo artist, collaborating with musicians, dancers, storytellers and ecstatic dance practitioners. Her workshops bring the foundations of whirling into dialogue with improvisation, breath, voice and contemplative practice. There is time to develop balance and confidence, listen to sensation and explore the relationship between movement, emotion and stillness. Each person’s presence and expression help shape the unfolding practice.

As a performer, Anna brings whirling into intimate gatherings, theatres and interdisciplinary collaborations. Her work includes performances and workshops at Riverside Studios, collaborations with String of Pearls Ensemble, and projects in London, Türkiye, Wales and the North of Ireland. Through Beyond Skin in Belfast, she has contributed to arts-led peacebuilding, including International Women’s Day and the PEACEPLUS programme.

She is also the founder of Dünya Dance Collective, a women’s whirling ensemble bringing together different cultural and artistic backgrounds through movement and live music.

Professionally trained in dance, Anna holds a BA from Roehampton University and studied Dance Development: Teaching and Learning at Laban Conservatoire. She has taught yoga since 2008. Ten years living across India, the UAE and Türkiye have further shaped her understanding of movement, spiritual practice and community.

Through workshops, online programmes, individual sessions and collaborative events, Anna creates spaces to explore how these practices can support everyday life: making room for feeling, deepening connection and discovering the extraordinary joy that can be found in turning.