SIMZA CLEO SARACLI
DANCER | ARTIST | CREATOR
A passionate & focused young dancer with a remarkable range of movement, creative energy & technical awareness.
An Emerging Artist Training at Rambert School, London
Simza’s dancing has often been described as like water: an intuitive, lyrical flow grounded in strength and control. Now in her second year on the FD/BA Hons Ballet & Contemporary Dance programme at Rambert, she continues to refine the technique, presence and artistry that a professional career demands.
Her path to London was built on talent and initiative. Growing up in Bodrum, Turkey, where there was no vocational dance pathway, she trained in a local studio with a dedicated teacher from the age of nine, took online classes with international companies and travelled to intensives in the UK, supported by her family and a growing community. When her mentor left in 2023, she trained and choreographed independently, and the following year placed in the top ten at the Dance World Cup World Finals with her own solo.
Current Focus
Training is full-time, with class and studio work five days a week. This term Simza was invited by fellow students to perform in four new works for Rambert's Platform pieces in December, rehearsing alongside her timetable. In January, she and her year group begin working directly with internationally acclaimed choreographer Akram Khan during his residency, learning his repertoire.
Simza's training at Rambert is funded almost entirely by sponsorship: a £45,000 grant from a private UK arts foundation and a community of supporters, many of whom have followed her for years. Although British by birth, she is classed as an overseas student and does not qualify for home fees or student finance. She and her family are now raising funds for her third and final year: £8,885 in remaining tuition and £7000 towards accommodation. Donations are warmly welcomed, as are conversations with businesses, patrons and foundations interested in sponsoring her final year.
Recognition
In 2026, Simza was the subject of SIMZA, a film by Paris-based director Beki Mari set to Imogen Heap's What Have You Done To Me. Promonews described her as "an exceptional talent", and one of Simza's recent TikTok videos has passed 3.9 million views. In 2025 she received offers from several leading London conservatoires and accepted an unconditional place at Rambert School.
Before that, she represented Turkey internationally from the age of ten, winning seven consecutive national solo titles and placing 5th and 9th at the 2024 Dance World Cup World Finals. Her choreography was recognised early and she was named Best Young Choreographer at di Art International in 2025, and the young dancers she taught in Bodrum won top national results with her work.