Ballet in Northern Cyprus: Schools for Children and Adults

In Northern Cyprus, it is possible to study classical ballet regularly — from a child’s first classes to structured level-based training. Ballet schools offering academic classical ballet, contemporary dance and adult programmes operate in Lefkoşa and the Kyrenia area. There is also a school where students take examinations under the international Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) system.

• How to choose a ballet school
• Bella Ballet Center in Lefkoşa
• Azade Sucuoğlu Eğitim Merkezi — Ortaköy, Lefkoşa
• Ceren Sökmen Ballet School in Kyrenia
• Kıbrıs Sanat in Kyrenia and Lapta
• What age can children start ballet?
• Frequently asked questions

How to choose a ballet school in Northern Cyprus

Ballet schools in Northern Cyprus differ in more than just their location. If classes are needed for a child’s general physical and creative development, you can choose based on the age group, teacher and convenience of the timetable. If serious ballet education is being considered in the future, it is worth paying attention to the academic programme, the system for progressing between levels, examinations, stage experience and the teachers’ professional backgrounds.

It is also worth checking how many classes are held each week. The workload will be different for a beginner child and for a student preparing for examinations or further professional training.

Adult ballet is also available in Northern Cyprus. Therefore, it is possible to start taking classes not only in childhood if the goal is to practise for personal enjoyment, improve flexibility and coordination, and become familiar with classical dance.

Bella Ballet Center — Lefkoşa

Bella Ballet Center — Royal Academy of Dance in Lefkoşa is particularly worth considering for families who value structured classical ballet training and the opportunity to take ballet examinations.

The school works with the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) system — an international system of ballet education and examination preparation. Teacher Emine Faiz Rüzgar has RAD Registered Teacher status.

This is an active programme at the school, rather than something simply included in its name. In February 2026, the first Royal Academy of Dance examination session was held here, followed by a second session in June. According to the results published on 12 July 2026, all participating students successfully passed the examinations in the second session.

Thus, Bella Ballet Center is suitable, among others, for children and teenagers for whom ballet is not just an extracurricular activity, but systematic training with progression through levels and examination preparation.
Address: Özker Özgür Caddesi, Shamrock Apt., 4th floor, Küçük Kaymaklı, Lefkoşa.
Phone: +90 533 845 62 54.
Classes: the school operates from Monday to Saturday. On weekdays, classes are held mainly in the afternoon, and on Saturdays they are held in the morning. The timetable for a specific group should be confirmed when registering.

Azade Sucuoğlu Eğitim Merkezi — Ortaköy, Lefkoşa

Azade Sucuoğlu Eğitim Merkezi is a ballet school and Mini Studio Özlem Güzel Bale & Müzik Okulu in Ortaköy. The centre follows the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) programme and has the status of an RAD Approved Examination Centre.

In the 2026/27 season, the school continues to offer regular training and is accepting new students. The programme is designed for different levels of preparation — from younger children’s groups to more advanced ballet training.

Training is based on the RAD system. In addition to classical technique, attention is paid to musicality, coordination, body awareness, discipline and stage expression.

This school is suitable for families who are considering not only ballet classes for general development, but also structured training under an international programme with the opportunity to take RAD examinations directly in Northern Cyprus.
Address: Ortaköy 1. Sokak No:5-1, Ortaköy, Lefkoşa.
Phones: +90 542 432 93 40, +90 539 106 26 66.
Instagram: azadesucuoglu_egitimmerkezi.
Academic year: enrolment for 2026/27 is open.
Programme: Royal Academy of Dance (RAD).
Status: RAD Approved Examination Centre.

Ceren Sökmen Ballet School — Ozanköy, Kyrenia

Ceren Sökmen Ballet School is located in Ozanköy near Kyrenia and specialises in academic classical ballet. In addition to ballet, the school offers gymnastics and dance training.

The professional training of the school’s founder, Ceren Sökmen, deserves particular attention. She began studying ballet at the age of 5 and later enrolled at the Hacettepe University State Conservatory in Ankara, where she completed secondary, high-school and higher education in classical ballet.

After graduating from the conservatory, Ceren Sökmen danced professionally for about seven seasons at the Ankara State Opera and Ballet. She later moved to Northern Cyprus and began teaching classical ballet.

For this reason, the school is of interest to parents looking for a teacher with professional stage and conservatory experience, rather than simply dance classes for general development.
Address: Zafer Caddesi, Olkesa Plaza No:3–4, Ozanköy, Kyrenia.
Phone / WhatsApp: +90 539 113 10 10.
Class days: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. The timetable depends on the group.
Programmes: academic classical ballet, gymnastics and dance.

Kıbrıs Sanat — Kyrenia and Lapta

Kıbrıs Sanat is a multidisciplinary arts school with a separate ballet and dance programme. The school has been operating since 2005 and currently has two branches — in Kyrenia and Lapta.

The ballet programme offers classical ballet, contemporary ballet and adult ballet. The ballet and dance teacher is Elena Bykova.

This distinguishes Kıbrıs Sanat from schools focused mainly on children’s academic ballet: here, classes can be found not only for children but also for adults.

Kıbrıs Sanat in Kyrenia

Address: Kubbeli Çeşme Sokak No:13, Oscar Otel Yolu, Karakum, Kyrenia.
Phone: +90 392 816 00 39.
Website: kibrissanat.com.

Kıbrıs Sanat in Lapta

The second Kıbrıs Sanat branch operates in Lapta. It is convenient for families living west of Kyrenia: regular classes do not require travelling to the city centre every time.

Before registering, it is worth checking which children’s and adult ballet groups are being formed specifically in Lapta during the current academic year, as the timetables and group composition may differ between the two branches.
Location
Website: kibrissanat.com.

What age can children start ballet?

The starting age depends on the specific school and programme. Earlier materials about Ceren Sökmen’s teaching stated that classes began at approximately 3.5 years of age. However, this figure should not be treated as the current 2026 admission requirement for Ceren Sökmen Ballet School: the school does not publicly specify the current age limits for enrolment.

At an early age, classes usually focus on basic coordination, musicality, correct posture and an introduction to the fundamentals of movement. As children grow older, the programme may become more academic.

For a child who has already studied ballet in another country or school, it is worth providing their age, the duration of previous training and level of preparation when registering. The school will be able to determine the appropriate group.

Frequently asked questions

Is classical ballet for children available in Northern Cyprus?

Yes. Schools offering regular classical ballet classes operate in Lefkoşa and the Kyrenia area. Options confirmed as of September 2026 include Bella Ballet Center, Ceren Sökmen Ballet School and Kıbrıs Sanat.

Where in Northern Cyprus can students study ballet under the RAD system?

Bella Ballet Center in Lefkoşa and Azade Sucuoğlu Eğitim Merkezi work with the Royal Academy of Dance. In 2026, students at the schools took RAD examinations.

Is adult ballet available?

Yes. Kıbrıs Sanat officially lists a separate adult ballet programme alongside classical and contemporary ballet.

Can a child start ballet at the age of 3–4?

In some schools, early training begins at approximately this age; however, the current minimum age should be confirmed directly when registering. The group is selected based on the child’s age and readiness for classes.

Are there classes for boys?

Ballet training is not limited to girls. Ceren Sökmen has specifically emphasised that classical ballet is also suitable for boys. The availability of a specific group for boys of the relevant age should be confirmed with the school selected.

Can students apply to a conservatory after attending a ballet school?

Systematic academic training can provide a foundation for further admission, but studying at a private school does not in itself guarantee acceptance. For a professional pathway, it is important to clarify in advance the preparation for entrance examinations and the requirements of the specific conservatory or ballet academy.

Are international ballet examinations available in Northern Cyprus?

Yes. Royal Academy of Dance examinations are held at Bella Ballet Center. In 2026, the school held two RAD examination sessions.

How much do ballet classes cost?

As of September 2026, the current fees of the schools listed have not been published publicly. The cost must be confirmed when registering, as it may depend on the age, level and number of classes.

Are there any well-known graduates of these schools?

We did not find publicly confirmed information about graduates of the schools listed who later built a well-known professional ballet career. Therefore, such names are not included in the article. At the same time, the examination results of Bella Ballet Center students and the professional stage experience of teachers at certain schools have been confirmed.