Biography
Salim Sınar was born in İzmit in 1974. He completed his primary, middle, and high school education in Istanbul. In 1998, he completed his undergraduate studies at the Turkish Music State Conservatory of Istanbul Technical University (İTÜ), Department of Turkish Folk Dance (THO), and later completed a master's degree in Cinema and Television at Beykent University. He is currently continuing an interdisciplinary doctoral program at the Baku Music Academy and the Academy of Choreography. At the beginning of 2025, he founded a company named Def Art Acdemija in Bar, Montenegro, and continues his cultural and artistic activities under the umbrella of TURKADER, following the association's official establishment. While studying at the Department of Turkish Folk Dance, and alongside his comprehensive training, he began working as a contracted artist at the Istanbul State Opera and Ballet between 1994 and 1996. In 1999, he joined the Sultans of the Dance (Anadolu Ateşi) company as a dancer and shortly afterwards continued with the same company as an assistant instructor. Between 1999 and 2004, he performed in 680 shows across numerous countries around the world. He received training from many distinguished national and international choreographers specializing in their respective fields, including folk dance, modern dance, ballet, body percussion, tap dance, jazz dance, and war dances. In 2004, he founded Shaman Dance Theatre, where he served as co-producer and assistant director. In 2011, he founded Def Dance Academy, personally taking on the roles of producer and artistic director. The company has performed numerous shows both in Türkiye and abroad. Among its notable projects was a specially designed stage performance for world-renowned athlete Kobe Bryant during the 2011 launch of Turkish Airlines' Los Angeles route. The performance featured the asma davul, one of Anatolia's ancient percussion instruments, and also included Kenan Doğulu, who was the host of the evening. In 2016 and 2018, the company participated in the Bay Area International Deaf Dance Festival in San Francisco, USA, where it won first place together with deaf and hard-of-hearing dancers. He produced the opening performance of the 23rd International Deaflympics – Samsun 2017, which brought together approximately three thousand athletes. He has created custom-designed stage performances for the clients of numerous event companies. In addition, together with his professional team specializing in dance and rhythm, he has organized workshops at motivational meetings for employees of major companies, reaching approximately ten thousand participants in total. The company continues to perform a 90-minute stage production titled “Düğün” (“Wedding”), which incorporates motifs from across Anatolia while drawing on internationally recognized contemporary dance disciplines. In addition, through a separate department called Saray Kınası, it provides services for exclusive traditional henna-night events. Since 2005, he has continued to serve as a lecturer in the Department of Turkish Folk Dance (THO) at the Turkish Music State Conservatory of Istanbul Technical University (İTÜ). He also continues to serve as Vice President of the Alfa World Tourism Association.