Dora Sarikaya was born in 2001 in Istanbul. She began her dance education in 2004 at the “Yildiz Alpar” ballet studio, where she trained in classical ballet until 2014. She graduated from the Istanbul Conservatory. During her childhood, she spent six years as a state child dancer at the Istanbul State Theatre, performing in numerous productions. She completed her secondary education at the School for Contemporary Dance “Ana Maletić” in Zagreb, and later graduated in contemporary dance from the Academy of Dramatic Art.
As a performer, she has collaborated with various choreographers on the contemporary dance scene, including Ivona Grubišić-Pupić, Marin Lemić, and Nikola Krgović and Saša Božić. She has also worked in music production, choreographing for Vojko V, Macha Ravel and Vesna Pisarović.
She collaborated with the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb, where she performs in drama and opera productions (Don Juan, La rondine, La Bohème, Rigoletto, Stanac).
Her authorial dance film Yuva was featured on Nowness.com, a global platform dedicated to contemporary art and culture.
She joined Zagreb Dance Company in 2026.
