I will never forget the opening night of Danzart and Culture Boutique, when my friend Alfredo and his wife, Zafira, invited me to come see his dream of building this space come to life. It was the summer of 2016. I came with my then-boyfriend, the only one in the room who couldn’t hold a conversation in English. However, everyone welcomed him and translated for him whenever possible. We spent the night drinking and laughing and toasting to the success of their dream. We hung out on the rooftop and reveled in the resplendent Taksim horizon view. We danced tango, some of us more gracefully than others. The language shifted from English to Turkish to Spanish to Greek and everyone enjoyed the flow. This spirit is cultivated every Friday night at Danzart and Culture Boutique, when people from all over the world come for language practice in those same four languages.
Danzart and Culture Boutique was founded by Alfredo as a Valentine’s Day gift for his wife Zafira. Alfredo is a Spanish teacher originally from San Francisco and a son of immigrants from El Salvador. Zafira is a tango teacher who grew up in Istanbul in a Greek Christian family. Both understand intimately how it feels to be in the minority and share an appreciation for diversity of all forms. The space began as a place for Zafira to teach Argentinian tango dance, and has now expanded into a place with a wide variety of programs. These programs include Istanbul Lotus River Sangha, a Zen meditation group open to anyone, requires no meditation experience, and engages in both seated and walking meditation, as well as a confidential discussion practice. Travelers can use the space as an inexpensive alternative to staying at a hotel. These are only a few examples of the programs they host, and they are always open to new opportunities.
In a loud bar called Yerli Yabancı near the studio playing Latin music, I sat down with Alfredo and Zafira to learn more about the space. Both were happy to answer all my questions.
How did the space get started?
Zafira: One day, on Valentine’s Day, Alfredo said to me, “Come. I have a surprise for you. But you have to close your eyes.” I said okay. And then I found myself in our studio. It was all set up with the decorations and everything. And he said, “Okay, you are a tango teacher. And you have all the skills and everything. So why don’t you have your own studio? And you can give your tango classes there.” And I started teaching tango there. But then we added some new ideas. We organized it as a boutique. So people can buy anything they like. All the decorations, even the tables and chairs are for sale. Then we decided we could teach English and Spanish, and all kinds of dances. And that’s how we started. It was a present for me! I helped him with decorating more, but it was Alfredo’s idea. It’s very valuable for me, and for us, it has a different value.
Alfredo: I discovered this place a year before she realized that I got it. The place had been empty for a little less than a year. I had my thoughts and goals to turn the place into what it is now. But I went abroad. America, Central America, Europe. But my mind was still on this studio that wasn’t finished. I used to sleep there in the cold and all my things on the concrete. I slept there. I rested there, always thinking about what needed to be done. And it didn’t take me long, not many cold nights. But a year later I packed my lights and everything I needed, and I presented it to Zafira for Valentine’s Day. And it’s still alive. It still produces. And I don’t want it to finish. I don’t want it to die. Even if I’m gone. Even if I go abroad or away spiritually. I would like people to keep it alive. Doesn’t matter who it is. It would be an awesome time to have an Istanbul nest in the heart of Turkey.
Can you talk about the various programs that happen at the studio?
Zafira: We have Argentinian tango classes. In every class, there is English, Turkish, Spanish, and Greek language teaching available. We can do our dance classes in four languages. We have Greek folk dances like sirtaki. We have Latin American dances like salsa, chacha, etc. We have English and Spanish classes. We do meditation classes, drawing classes, yoga and spiritual aura photography classes. Many different kinds of spiritual classes. Soon we will start Pilates and Zumba classes. For the moment, that’s what we have, but if there is any idea you can offer, we are open to it.
Alfredo: We will also plan some movie nights, so please, if you have any educational movies that can make people understand the world better, we’re in Turkey, so the language doesn’t matter. As long as people have a good movie and it makes people happy, we can adapt to the language, comedy and everything. We all have to be family for the movie nights. But later we will have microphone nights, not like spoken word, like a family microphone night. And karaoke nights.
What are some of your favorite memories of the boutique?
Zafira: We have a lot! First, as I told you, it was a surprise for me. It was a Valentine’s present for me, so there is no word that I can say about that experience. It was very romantic. In the beginning, in our relationship, we were staying there, until the opening. So we have memories of our lives and also all the art we produce there. Also, in my classes, I have great students. It started with zero students. And after a year and a half, the place was getting full of people every Friday for our language learning nights. So now we cannot imagine how many people are very regular in our studio. Because before there was no one. We built up from zero. And now we are very proud of it.
Alfredo: Some of our favorite memories are when we say “Okay, people, the night is finished” and people are having so much fun they say, “No!” And I say “Time to go home.” And they say, “No!” And that makes me feel so special and happy. People say, “I want to drink here. I want to wake up here.”
How is the space run and organized?
Alfredo: I’m in charge of everything. Everything! Decorations, cleaning, lighting, electricity, everything.
Can you describe the tango lessons?
Zafira: We have group lessons, individual lessons, and women’s technique classes. The woman’s technique is very important in tango, for women and men. We don’t separate men and women. But we focus on the woman’s technique. And also, as I told you before, we don’t just teach tango in Turkish. We also offer classes for foreigners, in English, Spanish, or Greek.
What are some future plans you have?
Alfredo: I want this place to be a community. I invite people from all over the world, and they have been there. I invite people from the LGBTQ community to be there too. People from every culture. Everybody. I want the place to be multicultural.
Zafira: And we are open to everyone. I’m a tango teacher, but if another tango teacher wants to use it, they can.
Alfredo: There’s no walls, no borders, no limits, nothing to make this place happen. Because it’s happening. And it’s been happening.
Is there anything else you want people to know about Danzart and Culture Boutique?
Zafira: I think we need to do more marketing. Because people think the location is bad but actually the location is changing. There are big plans for that location, they are building new hostels and everything. Maybe we have to spread this new knowledge around, the area plans and everything, so we can attract more people to our place. Because people have negative ideas about the place.
Alfredo: Our street, Turan Caddesi, where we are located, divides the Tarlabaşı and Talimhane neighborhoods, and Talimhane is a wealthy neighborhood, so please don’t be confused. Don’t feel that you are not safe here. Tarlabaşı may be a poor area, but it’s the border of it.
Danzart and Culture Boutique is located at 65 Turan Caddesi on the third foor. Look for the red door. Language practice is hosted every Friday night at 7:00 PM and lasts all night. People are free to come and go as they please. Exotic drinks are available for purchase. Meditation is hosted every 1st and 3rd Sunday at 4:00 PM. No experience is necessary. More information about the space, tango classes, and accommodation for travelers is available at their Facebook page and more information about meditation is available at their Facebook group.
