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© İlkin Eskipehlivan
Melih Kıraç is an Istanbul based artist, choreographer and practice researcher. His choreographic research centers around collaborative processes and modes of knowing and experiencing the world; through archive, absence of places and bodies with improvisational structures. His practice is rooted in body-based research and unfolds through performance, choreography, performative exhibition, and durational formats. He creates research-based spaces for experimentation, negotiation, shared attention, and collective knowledge production.
Choreographies and works including The loss of recent time (2026), New Skin for the Old Ceremony (2024), every night we are haunted by a dream (2024), sunset melodrama (2023), How is everyone in Istanbul? (2023), Clouds could not simply be taken indoors for study (2022), Data Shadow (2020), pureland (2019), HÂL (2016), and WELCOME (2015) presented at venues such as Kaaitheater (BE), Sale Docks (IT), Les Brigittines (BE), Salt Galata (TR), ZZT Cologne (DE), sub (TR), bilsart (TR), ARTER (TR), Alan Kadıköy (TR), Yapı Kredi Culture and Arts(TR), Sakıp Sabancı Museum (TR), and Kundura Sahne (TR).
Kıraç has pursued his research at residencies including workspacebrussels, Les Brigittines, Sale Docks, sub Çanakkale, bomontiada ALT (A Corner in the World), HELLERAU – European Center for the Arts, The Watermill Center and most recently The Center for the Less Good Idea x SAHA Exchange residency.
From 2014 to 2023, he was a core member of Çıplak Ayaklar Kumpanyası, performed in Mehmet Loves Peace (2011) and contributed to the creation of Tüh! (2014), Nothing is in the Right Place (2018), Data Shadow (2020), and How is everyone in Istanbul? (2022). He co-organized workshops with local and international guests, Düş Ortaklığı Günleri (2019), Arazi Buluşmaları (2019), Çıplak Ayaklar'la Herkes için Dans (2021) for the company’s land in İznik and contributed to sustaining an independent company through workshops, performances, talks and collaborative events at their studio in Tophane, Istanbul.
From 2011 to 2014, he was a dancer with Istanbul State Opera and Ballet’s Modern Dance Ensemble (MDTİstanbul), performed works by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Beyhan Murphy, Bruno Caverna, Deniz Keskin–Ejder Keskin, İhsan Rüstem, Itzik Galili, Michael Popper, and Rubato.
He has also worked as a creative dancer and performer with choreographers, artists, directors and collectives including Aydın Teker, Ayşe Draz – Marlin de Haan, Beyhan Murphy, Candaş Baş, Çıplak Ayaklar Kumpanyası, Gordon Monahan, Gözde İlkin, Handan Ergiydiren, İnci Eviner, Katherine Behar, Marc Vanrunxt, Murat Adash, Taldans, Tuğçe Ulugün Tuna, MDTistanbul, and Zeynep Tanbay. He performed in local and international stages and exhibitons such as Turkish Pavillion- 58th Venice Biennale, Kaaitheater, monty, 15th Istanbul Biennale, Çıplak Ayaklar Studio, etc. He appeared in Esme Madra's short films, and collaborated with writer Ceren Ercan and director Yelda Baskın for plays I love you Turkey (2017) and Protect me from punches (2021) for IKSV's International Theater Festival.
He completed his MA and Proficiency in Art degrees with the practice-based research projects Walking Practice in Art Creation and the Choreography of Walking in Contemporary Dance and Documenting Uncertainty: Choreography as Research Process.
Currently, he is an Assistant Professor at the Contemporary Dance Department of Istanbul State Conservatory, Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, where he teaches Improvisation, Contemporary Dance Technique, Repertory, and Creative Process.
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