From BeFit to Alexander Stadium
This year, Bosch associate Melis Yazgin, Acquisition Manager Cross Domain Computing Solutions, performed in both the opening and closing ceremonies of the Commonwealth Games 2022 as a dancer after applying on a whim. She spoke to us about how she got involved, her passion for dance, and the positive impact that exercise has had on her life.
Melis has always been passionate about dancing, teaching Zumba in her spare time and performing at home in Cyprus, but until last November, she hadn’t found an outlet for her love of performing in the UK. Back home in Cyprus, Melis was an avid performer of mainly Latin dance styles, taking part in many shows but once she moved to the UK nine years ago, she didn’t know where to cultivate the performance side of her dance. When a friend suggested she applied to take part in the Commonwealth Games, Melis was, at first, sceptical that she would be accepted without much experience, but she said ‘that second of excitement’ was enough to motivate her into applying as a volunteer performer.
After being called in to audition, she was offered a place in the opening ceremony and began to undergo a gruelling rehearsal process leading up to the ceremony. Over a two-month period, she attended at least 15 rehearsals, practicing multiple hours a week for four hours at a time. Unable to practice at Alexander Stadium, the performers practiced in an old car manufacturing area, using co-ordinates, earphones, and radios as guidance. At first, she was scared about the idea of managing rehearsals alongside her full-time job at Bosch, studying part-time for a master’s and teaching Zumba, but her main takeaway from the process was: ‘Just go for it. Go after whatever you’re passionate about and it will all fall in place.’
For Melis, the hours of rehearsal were worth the community and sense of belonging she found amongst her wider team, as well as the chance to rekindle her love of performing. Having only recently moved to Birmingham, taking part in the event was a wonderful way for her to meet people in her local community and to immerse herself into the city. She was struck by the diversity of the team needed to pull off the ceremony, comparing the experience to her university fresher’s week. As the rehearsal process continued, Melis was asked to also participate in the closing ceremony in which she had three different roles and described the event as ‘absolutely amazing.’
Melis likened the whole experience of performing to her job at Bosch in many ways, suggesting that her job in sales was also similar to walking onto a stage. She drew specific attention to the communication skills required to both perform and work such as listening to people, working alongside different cultures, and understanding people.
Moreover, Melis is no stranger to the positive impact that her hobbies can have on the rest of her life. Not only has her performance ability assisted her at work, but the fitness element of dancing has also been instrumental in looking after her mental wellbeing. Melis has taken part in Bosch’s BeFit programme by hosting a Zumba session for associates and considers her Zumba sessions an important place for people to look after their mental and physical health.
You can watch the highlights of the opening ceremony highlights for the Commonwealth Games 2022 here.