Sema Yıldız

Sema Yıldız is a Turkish belly dancer and actress who is known as the first dancer to perform in the Ottoman era Topkapi palace. Her father was a migrant to Turkey from the Balkans. thumb leftIn 1976, she embarked on a 3-month working tour of Beirut, Amman, Syria and Iran. As part of this tour, Sema performed in Khormashah, Iran, alongside Belly dancer and actress Nadia Gamal from Egypt, and Iranian actress, cabaret performer, and dancer Jamileh. In 2005, Sema was featured in a Japanese television documentary titled "Queens of Dance", filmed at the Çırağan Palace in Istanbul, alongside dancers Princess Banu and Birgul Berai. She collaborated with Turkish musical group Baba Zula in 2006, performing at venues around Istanbul together. That same year was the first time Sema visited Japan, doing a dance tour; giving workshops and performances. She was the first Turkish-style Belly dancer to visit the country and promote the style and Romani dance there. In 2009, Sema appeared in a documentary about Turkish Oryantal and cooking with Japanese pop singer, actress and former radio host Takako Uehara. She is featured in the documentary film "The Magical Call of Oryantal" (2007), directed by Umut Egitimci.

She was invited to attended the International Belly dance Conference in Canada in 2010, giving workshops and performing. She worked alongside choreographers and dance teachers including Mahmoud Reda.

In 2012, the Brazilian series "Mundo em Movimento" (World in Movement) interviewed Sema in the episode "Dances of Turkey". She was interviewed about her dance life and Belly dance, and also did a performance.

In 2012, Sema travelled to the USA as guest teacher to give workshops and perform at the 'Bad Boys of Belly dance' festival in Las Vegas, and also became the artistic co-organiser of Turkey's largest Oriental Dance festival: Tarazade, held in Istanbul. She held that position for two years until 2013. Turkish Director Cemalettin Irken invited Sema to perform in a short cultural documentary film made by TRT Belgesel. The film was titled "Bir Nergis, Bir Leblebi, Bir Ayvalık" (A Daffodil, A chickpea, One Ayvalik) and released in October 2017. Sema also appeared on Romanian Television the following year, on the talk show "Teo Show".

In 2023, Sema was featured in a book about Belly dance history titled "Danza Oriental en Egipto" (Oriental Dance in Egypt), by Giselle Rodriguez. Sema was described as being one of the stars of Oriental Dance in Turkey, and as having introduced Didem (belly dancer) to the owner of Sultanas restaurant where she performed.

Dance philosophy "All my life I have devoted my heart and soul to dance, to learning to dance and teaching dance. Dance is the great love of my life, I live and feed on it. No matter how tired I am, when I go on stage I forget everything, it's like entering a trance state. Dance for me is something like a prayer and music is my doctor. I feel like a plane tree and my students are my branches".

Partial filmography and television appearances

1970 Müthiş Türk, Belly Dance role. Directed by Nuri Ergün. 1976 Kime Niyet Kime Kismet, Small acting role. Directed by Tamer Oguz. 2005 Queens of Oriental, Documentary as herself (Japan). 2007 The Magical Call of Oryantal. Directed by Umut Egitimci. 2012 Mundo em Movimento - Dances of Turkey episode (Brazilian Documentary series), as herself. and is known as a dynamic dancer with strong hip movements and powerful floor work. as well as many Japanese students visiting her in Istanbul.

Sema still actively teachers and travels to give workshops, and is involved in efforts to help Sulukule Romani people who have been displaced due to an urban renewal project; which threatened their way of life.

Her legacy is seen in her many students around the world. As part of teaching them, Sema has given many of her students Turkish names. In Turkey Sema has been the teacher, mentor and trainer to well known dancers Asena and Didem (belly dancer).