Sema Yildiz - A Turkish Belly Dance Star 

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.

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