Nesrin Topkapı

Nesrin Topkapı became one of the most culturally significant Turkish Oriental dancers of the television era. She began professional work abroad before returning to Turkey and building a major career. Topkapı became famous as the first belly dancer to perform on TRT, Turkey's national television broadcaster. Her appearances made Oryantal visible to an enormous domestic audience at a moment when the dance occupied a complicated cultural position. She later moved increasingly into teaching and choreography, influencing subsequent generations of Turkish dancers.