Melisa Sahra Katılmış

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Melisa Sahra Katılmış

Salsa Instructor

Melisa Sahra Katılmış was born in Istanbul in 1996. She started her sports career at the age of 8 with rhythmic gymnastics at the Denge Gymnastics Club. Between 2003 and 2008, she achieved notable success in the Istanbul Provincial Championships, securing 6th, 3rd, 5th, and 6th places. In 2009, she transitioned to synchronized swimming (synchronized swimming) and continued her athletic career, winning 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in the Turkish Synchronized Swimming Championship and receiving three dolphin awards at levels 1, 2, and 3. During 2010-2011, while continuing her education at Özel Pera Fine Arts High School, Melisa achieved 2nd place in the Pas de Deux category at an international competition held in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, for the ballet "La Bayadère." In 2010, she started taking social Latin and hip-hop classes at Aytunç Bentürk Dance Academy. In 2011/2012, she participated in her first competition with her first partner, Yağız Bankoğlu, in social Latin dance. They won the gold medal as the youngest TDSF Adult A-Class champions. In 2012, at the IDO (International Dance Organization) World Dance Olympiad held in Moscow, she won the gold medal in Salsa and Caribbean dance categories, bringing gold to Turkey. Later, Melisa continued her partnership with Cem Demir, and in 2012-2013, they achieved 1st place in the Professional Category of the Turkey Bachata Cup competition. Between 2014 and 2018, Melisa won numerous stage victories in TDSF Salsa Competitions, achieving four Turkish Championships (2014, 2015, 2016, 2018). She also won gold medals in the Bachata Couple, Salsa Couple, and the first-ever Turkish Salsa Ladies Solo categories at the IDO World DanceOlympics. At the IDO European Championship Salsa category, she earned 3rd place and attained the title of A National Athlete. In 2014, she and Cem Demir reached the finals in the World Latin Dance Cup Pro Salsa On1 category in Miami and became the first Turkish athletes to secure 4th place. Their stage performances in the WLDC competition drew significant attention, and they became the face of the event. In 2015, Melisa and her partner won 1st place at the WLDC qualifiers in Turkey and secured 6th place in the WLDC Pro Salsa On1 category. In 2016, they added a 3rd place finish in the WLDC Pro Salsa On1 category to their achievements, solidifying their status as major figures in the dance world. In 2014, Melisa, along with Cem Demir, Ersin Altaş, and Hande Atalay, founded the dance group Group Aura. The group garnered great attention with their shows, including "Mambo A La Sandoval," "The Soundmaker," and "Camaron," performing in Turkey and around the world. In 2020, their performance of "Stairway to Heaven" moved audiences deeply. In 2019, Melisa gained recognition with her show "Tú, Ven A Mí", dedicated to Cem Demir, and delivered speeches at seminars organized for empowering women. From 2020 to 2021, Melisa continued her solo career and gained significant attention in the dance community with her female student group "Señorita." Melisa Sahra Katılmış has left a mark on the dance scene through her performances with many famous artists and her work as a choreographer. In 2023, she and Ahmet Yiğit İşiyel drew attention with their choreography "Rapsodia", and they performed in several countries both in Turkey and abroad. Throughout her athletic career, Melisa Sahra Katılmış has been an inspiration for young athletes with her achievements. She has also taken on a leadership role in guiding young athletes through coaching, drawing from her personal experiences. In 2023, Melisa started judging in TDSF Salsa Stage competitions while continuing her role as a trainer and coach at VeDans. Some important festivals and workshops Melisa has participated in include: Istanbul International Dance Festival Paris International Salsa Congress Amsterdam Salsa Congress Singapore Latin Extravaganza Festival Lebanon Latin Dance Festival (Beirut) Romania Salsa Factory Festival Lausanne SBK Festival (Switzerland) Salsa Spring Festival (Athens) India International Dance Congress Mi Tierra Latin Festival (Italy) Athens Dance Camp (Greece) Salsa Jam in Cyprus Kazan International Latin Dance Festival (Russia) Berlin Salsa Congress (Germany) El Gouna Dance Festival (Egypt) Broadway Dance Center (USA) In television programs, series, and commercials, Melisa has worked on projects such as: Vogue & Rabanne (2024) Altın Kelebek (2021-2024) Exxen Acun Medya–GRJ Dance (2021) Star TV - Benzemez Kimse Sana (dancer) Miss Turkey Muhteşem Yüzyıl Kösem, Now (2024) Kelebek Mobilya (2024) Hepsiburada (2023) Elidor (2020) İntouch (2020) Derimod (2017) Melisa has also performed as a dancer in concerts and music videos for many famous artists, including: Buena Vista All Stars Edis Görgülü Zeynep Bastık İrem Derici Sefo Ajda Pekkan Khaled & Tohi Berkay Şahin Gökhan Türkmen Ziynet Sali Ece Seçkin Emircan İğrek Oğuzhan Koç Mustafa Sandal Gülçin Ergül Demet Akalın Sinan Akçıl Emrah Karaduman Göksel

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Experience

More Than 10 Years

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