A multidisciplinary artist, performer, and cultural strategist, Konur’s work lives at the intersection of matrilineal memory, ritual, and the politics of representation. She’s a genre-defying global talent—unapologetically centering Black motherhood as an artistic framework and form of intelligence. Raised between Virginia and Istanbul, Konur draws from her Black Southern and Mediterranean lineage to explore migration, embodiment, and belonging. Her practice was shaped early by mentorship under Debbie Allen, Jazz Dance studies at Point Park Conservatory, and a decade of intercultural collaborations while living in Türkiye—where she developed her signature AfroTurk Soul, a sound and aesthetic that charted internationally. Her work has been documented in ALL Magazine, with notable performances alongside the Orchestra Italiana Del Cinema at the Auditorium della Parco in Rome. She’s also a fixture on the East Coast burlesque circuit—seamlessly blending performance, music, and cultural commentary. Konur earned her Master’s in Arts Management and Entrepreneurship from The New School for Social Research, graduating summa cum laude. She is also the Chairwoman-Elect of the Town of Leesburg’s Performing Arts Commission, where she advises local leadership and advocates for the performing arts as a vital cultural, economic, and community wellness driver. Melike Vivastine Konur continues to create spaces that balance intimacy, spectacle, and reflection—establishing herself as a steady voice cutting through the noise of modern culture.
