Canan Yücel Pekiçten completed BA in Dance with honor degree at Yıldız Technical University in Istanbul and studied dance at Folkwang University in Essen, Germany for one semester. She received an MFA in Dance and Proficiency in Arts/Doctorate degree from Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University Dance Programme in Istanbul.
Dance artist, choreographer, lecturer Canan Yücel Pekiçten's works are inspired by her observations/experiences in class and cultural differences, personal and social memory. Her recent works focus on the forms of representation of the female body in contemporary art. Canan Yücel Pekiçten participated in the Utrecht Spring Dance Festival with her piece My Motto. Her piece, It’s OK!, premiered in the 19th Istanbul Theatre Festival and later performed in Vilnius, Lithuania, and Poland. The short piece of the artist called Der Zwerg/The Dwarf was performed in the 8th Gdansk Dance Festival in Poland and was awarded first prize by the jury. The short piece is also performed in Judson Church in New York. Her piece All About the Heart is premiered in Gothenburg, Sweden and later performed in 21st International Istanbul Theatre Festival. Her work is supported so far by Jardin d’Europe Foundation, Europe In Motion, The Swedish Arts Grants Committee and Kone Foundation-Saari Residence (Finland) and Cec ArtsLink-Movement Research (US).
Canan Yücel Pekiçten is currently dancing in the works of local and foreign choreographers and lecturing at Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University State Conservatory.