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February 12, 2008

Sema Yildiz - A Turkish Belly Dancing Star

Updated by Lucy at 19:20 on 02/15/2008 | Reads (2446) | Comments (6) | bellydance

It is a whole year since we met Sema...

In 1978, an American dance-studying group appeared at an Istanbul nightclub. After they had watched one dancer on stage a superb performance, they went into the backstage, asking her to teach them. Although the dancer found that these people already familiar basic belly dance movements, they still adhered to be her students because they want to learn the way and feeling of her Turkish belly dancing. The name of the dancer is Sema Yildiz.

Even in 2007 the Chinese Lunar New Year, when we went Turkey to meet Sema, we were still charmed by her dancing style.

In the modern history of Turkish belly dance, Sema occupies a pivotal position. This senior dancer is always mentioned in the articles discussing Turkish belly dance for her famous Gypsy style. Her name also appears frequently in the dancing experience of worldwide dancers. So, it is worth to introduce this Turkish belly dancing star.

Brief Biography

Turkish belly dance has been at least 500 years of history. The most important influence on it came from the Roma (Gypsies) people of Turkey. In Ottoman Empire period, it was the court dance performed by the servant girls for the Sultan and his guests. Only after the collapse of empire, Turkish women could dance it in public. In 1960s, the belly dance has even become the most important show at Turkey nightclubs to attract tourists.

Sema just grew up in that era. She fell in love with belly dancing from childhood, and often went to the wedding parties to see belly dancers performing. Because she lived in the area near the Gypsy families, among her playmates there were many Gypsy girls, she learned belly dancing from them and her dancing style was naturally the Gypsy style.

At the age of 17, Sema won the 3rd place in a belly dance competition. Then she progressed quickly on to the stage and for the next 20 years was a much loved and regular performer at major Istanbul dance and club venues. She also performed abroad. Iran, Beirut, Syria and various European countries such as Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, England, Austria, Holland, Italy, etc.

Sema started to teach belly dance at the age of 27. There were many dancers asked her to teach them, after they had watched her performances on stage. There were also many foreign belly dance teachers recommending their students to learn with Sema to expand their views of belly dance.

After retired from the stage, Sema still contributes to the belly dance teaching. So far 30 years of teaching experience, her students already throughout the world. Belly dancers at many Turkey nightclubs are mostly her students. Even the foremost Turkish belly dancers - Asena and Didem (Gypsy dancers) are also her students.

Sema has been invited to teach at Raqia Hassan's famous "Ahlan Wa Sahlan" Egyptian belly dance festival. She also had been invited to the Far East countries, such as Japan, South Korea, Singapore, for running the master workshops.

Even today, Turkish girls and foreign belly dancers, which want to learn Turkish belly dance, will still first think of Sema Yildiz.

Dancing Style

It is well known that Oriental belly dance has two important mainstreams: the Egyptian style and the Turkish style.

The Turkish style is passionate and full of energy and is different from the Egyptian style that is a calm and meticulous dance. The performance form of Turkish Oriental dance is mainly solo dance. Turkish dancers often performance from the stage extends to the auditorium, and the veils and finger cymbals are commonly used (they seldom use the walking sticks or candlesticks). Floor work is also the major characteristic of Turkish belly dance.

In addition to her Turkish Oriental belly dancing (especially good at veil, cymbal, drum solo, and floor work), Sema is also famous for her Turkish Gypsy style.

Accompanied by a unique karsilama 9/8 rhythm and gestures, Sema's Gypsy style is note for it's dramatic level changes, jumping, wild spin and head tosses. Seeing the clip below, don't you think that Sema's dancing style is happy and lively?

Although Turkish belly dance has its own characteristics, the younger generation of Turkish dancers have move closer to Egyptian style in recent years and have adopted large of traditional Arab music or pop music in their performances, leading the Turkish Oriental dance losing its original identity.

In such a development situation, if you want to learn the "true" Turkish belly dancing spirit, you have to choice the elder generation of stars such as Sema. That is why this article introduces Sema to you. Lucy Tiny icon

Sema's website: http://www.semayildiz.com/index.html External icon

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Comments (6)

Gonul

03/12/2010 06:05

Hello can y ou please help us to spread this wonderful news! Finally Turkey will be holding a Belly Dance Festival
Thank you

The 2010 Turkish Delight Belly Dance Festival is on its way!

The Festival, running from April 29th – May 3rd , promises a thrilling and eclectic mix of internationally renowned emerging master artists from New York City and as far as Turkey. Highlights include the return of "Classical Belly Dance superstar" Yousry Sharif of both Egypt and USA, Princess Banu of Turkey, World premieres by Elena Lentini from USA, Sema Yildiz of Turkey, The ever-popularYasmina of Cairo and Fifi Ness from Israel, Serkan Tutar from both Belgium & Turkey, Eva Chernick form USA, and many many more......

Visit the newly launched Festival website (www.turkishdelightfestival.com) for artist information, photos, and videos and to reserve your space today.

Turkish Delight Festival, lauded worldwide as a "hub and mecca of dancing" and "one of Turkey's most precious cultural assets" (Princess Banu & Sema Yildiz), both treasured legends and home to Turkish Delight Festival running international dance festival. Our aim is to continue each year joining hundreds of people from around the globe visit to experience the Festival with more than 45 dance workshops and performances, talks, and events; train from the best, one of the most prestigious professional dance training center; explore the Festival's rare and extensive dance program; and take part in numerous Programs designed to educate and engage dance audiences.
Turkish Delight Belly Dance Festival invites you to explore, enjoy, and experience dance--whether you are a longtime aficionado or a newcomer to this great art form.

TURKISH DELIGHT FESTIVAL
http://www.turkishdelightfestival.com

Lucy
03/12/2010 14:13

Of course,
for my Sema. Face Tup icon

http://lucybd.xxking.com/ShowArticle.asp?menu=show_article&cate_ser=4&article_ser=521&lang=en

sharon luo
10/06/2009 16:33

Lusy
第一次在你的網站留言
看到你對肚皮舞的熱誠
其實我也挺想學肚皮舞的
可以問一下你有到土耳其學過喔?

Lucy
10/06/2009 18:52

~有~ Face Wink icon

Lucy

christiane melo
03/12/2009 01:50

I love sema ! o brazil I love sema

Lucy
03/12/2009 15:40

I love sema,too. Face Tup icon

belly Dance

02/27/2009 03:15

the dance performance is very good Face Clap icon
and im eager to learn belly dance from where should i start could you give me tips..

Lucy
02/27/2009 20:09

Hi,
Firstly, find a good teacher.
Secondly, relax your body with cheerful mood.
The key is to enjoy it. Face Wink icon

Welcome to the charming bellydance world.

Dianne Davies

02/10/2009 17:55

Very interesting to illustrate the comparison between Egyptian and Turkish styles.

I have started teaching Egyptian, Raqs Sharqi locally and have been very pleased with the response. There is a lot of interest in this lovely art form.

D

Lucy
02/11/2009 10:30

Hi, Dianne,

Thanks for your comment. Welcome to the world of belly dance teaching. I have just visited your website and found that you are an attentive teacher. Let's try our best to introduce belly dance to the world, sincerely

Galipabi

03/26/2008 20:43

Hi, I am the webmaster of www.semayildiz.com
A very nice blog you got up here, but this blog can not be viewed on firefox browser. There are a lot of firefox users all over the world and this is an urgent fact. I hope your webmaster will take care of this problem soon.
Keep up the good work, sincerely

Lucy
03/27/2008 01:33

Hi, Galipabi,
Thanks for your notice.
My webmaster will fix the problem ASAP.
I will send an e-mail to you after my webmaster have fixed the problem.
Sema's website are very good, you've done the good job.

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