Kristina Melike performs Romany (Gypsy) Dance from Turkey & the Southern Balkans as well as Oriental Bellydance. Her performance highlights include appearing as a Guest Artist with Husnu Senlendirici (from Turkey), Kal (Romany band from Serbia), Turbo Tabla's “Bellydance Overdrive,” and at the CUNY Graduate Center. As a guest dancer with the brass band Slavic Soul Party, she has performed in festivals and clubs on tour throughout the US and at home in NYC.
Kristina Melike has studied Turkish Romany dance extensively with Tayyar Akdeniz; she is now among the foremost performers of this style in the US. Other training also includes Oriental Bellydance most notably with Yousry Sharif and Elena Lentini, as well as Kawakeb, Nourhan Sharif, Ranya, and Rayhana; Balkan dance with Michael Ginsburg; Romany Cocek with Nursel; Salsa with Franck Muhel and Latin Dance at Sandra Cameron Dance Center; percussion classes with Tayyar Akdeniz, Amir Naoum and Rami El-Aasser; and many years of classical ballet studies at the Maryland Youth Ballet and the Joffrey Ballet School. She has traveled to Serbia to attend the Amala School for Romany dance & language.

At her performances she has been praised as "expressive," "compelling," "enchanting," and "totally triumphant;" dancing "beautifully, with grace and fire."

"Melike is a siren, captivating the crowd with snaps from her [zills]." -Wendy Zarganis, about.com

"It was a real pleasure to see such beautiful young talent that really cares about getting it "right"!!!" -Morocco

Notable Performances Include:

Guest Artist with: Kal at Joe's Pub ("NY Gypsy Festival" 2006), Husnu Senlendirici (Fenerbahce Party at the Marriot Marquis, NY; Concert at LeftBank, DC), Turbo Tabla's "Bellydance Overdrive" (Alwan Center), Laura Ligouri's "Art of Middle Eastern Dance" lectures at CUNY Graduate Center, The New York Gypsy All-Stars (Drom) .

With SSP: Barbes, Bowery Ballroom, Bowery Poetry Club, "Celebrate Brooklyn" Festival at Prospect Park (with Kronos Quartet), "Golden Festival" 2006-2008, Grace Church School, the Hook, Jazz at Lincoln Center's Allen Room (with Loser's Lounge), Joe's Pub, Kingsborough Community College, "King Gypsy Rocker Massive III" at the Knitting Factory, Maia Meyhane, Mehanata Bulgarian Bar, Mercury Lounge, "NY Gypsy Festival" 2005 at the Roxy, Satalla, Union Pool, "Tubapalooza" at Zebulon, "Women for Women International" Awards Gala 2006-2007 (all NY); Amherst College, Club Helsinki, Johnny D's (MA); HotHouse (IL); Northside Tavern, "Resonance World Music Festival" (OH); Gooski's (PA); The Birchmere (VA).

Oriental Bellydance: A La Turka, Chelsea Market, "Golden Festival" 2006 & 2007 (with Efendi), Cupping Room, Juilliard School, Kalivia, Kush Lounge, Lafayette Grill & Bar, Lailla, Le Figaro Cafe, Maia Meyhane, Mezzo Mezzo, "Raks El Amar Hafleh," St. Marx Cafe, Sultan, Tagine, Taj Lounge, "Taste of Times Square" Festival 2005 & 2007, Taze (all NYC); Marrekesh de Paris (MD); Khalil's II (PA).

Other: "World Dance New York" tv show, Sarah Skinner's photography exhibit in the Gallery at Lafayette Grill, Larisa Fuchs' photography exhibit "Live" at Chelsea Market; "Balkan Beats Volume 2" CD (Eastblok Records); and in the Costume Goddess book "Headpieces for Bellydancers."

Teaching: Egyptian Academy of Oriental Dance, Djoniba Dance & Drum Centre, Body & Mind Studios, and at NYU's Palladium Sports Club.

Kristina Melike has performed with the live music of such world class musicians as: Tayyar Akdeniz, Panagiotis Andreou, Souren Baronian, Lefteris Bournias, Paul Brown, Maurice Chedid, Soner Cicek, Raquy Danziger, Rami El-Aasser, Hamit Golbasi, Hasan Isakkut, Kal, Ali Kahya, Ismail Lumanovski, Haig Manoukian, Amir Naoum, The New York Gypsy All-Stars, Avram Pengas, Tamer Pinarbasi, Romashka, Romski Boji, Seido Salifoski, Elias Sarkar, Husnu Senlendirici, Gamal Shafik, Slavic Soul Party!, George Stathos, Michael Stoupakis, Polly Tapia Ferber, Omar Faruk Tekbilek, The Turkish Band Camp All Stars, Umut Yasmut, and Zagnut Cirkus Orkestar, among others.

New Year's Eve at Lafayette Grill. Photo by GFM.
Arabian Dance in "The Nutcracker." Maryland Youth Ballet.
Kristina's First Performance. Photo by R. Jorgenson.