Cem Yildirim

I was raised in Istanbul, Turkey (a.k.a. Constantinople, Byzantine, and Stan Polis). I grew up as an Air Force brat. My father being part of NATO Allied Forces in the Mediterranean, I was exposed to and intrigued with different cultures since I was very young. I remember being very excited to practice my English and German with other international military brats. Growing up I wanted to live in a foreign country. My first year in college, I decided that it was time to do that when I picked the “Melting Pot” to finish my engineering degree. Recently, my temporary move completed a decade. Most I miss about Turkey is the unique blue color of the Aegean and the Mediterranean Seas and beautiful beaches where the battle of Troy took place and Mark Anthony and Cleopatra met for their time-off.

I have been exposed to Latin beat long before I was forced to dance by my friends at Virginia Tech in our Circulo Latino (Latin Students Club) Parties. Even though I had been uncomfortable with any kind of dancing, I had a lot fun with my international friends in the Circulo Latino Parties. I remember my friends from Spain and Colombia trying to “break down” MERENGUE for me and I was having such a hard time “getting” it. Nevertheless, I have always felt the desire to dance only with Latin music.

I like to challenge and push the limits of my comfort zone. Until a year ago my comfort zone and passion have been competitive rowing and coaching competitive rowing teams outside of my manufacturing and software engineering job. 2004 November I picked up swimming to cross-train during the long and cold Indy winter until Eagle Creek thawed out for rowing. I felt like I was still in my comfort zone with swimming. I had to push it with something I am totally uncomfortable with that is still legal. I walked into Red Room to learn Latin dancing, and met with the most international crowd since college. After a while I realized that dancing was similar to rowing in many ways. You have to have rhythm, have to learn how to teach your body to do something it is not naturally used to (in my case), and have to learn how to lead or be lead. Amazingly with both you can keep learning and improving for years and still have a lot to learn and improve. I enjoy the diversity Latin Dancing adds to my social life and Salsa is dangerously becoming a passion and obsession that I will have to dedicate more time to.

No matter what our background socially, economically, politically,…etc., is, this is one platform where our differences seize to exist. Thanks to Into Salsa for facilitating this platform for us in Indy.

See you out on the dance floor!