Born and raised in Sullivan County, NY, Ahleana has studied Middle Eastern dance for over 20 years. Initially, she was drawn to the exotic art form as a way to exercise and build self-confidence, but later she realized that teaching and performance gave her the opportunity to fund-raise for her favorite charity. All of Ahleana's proceeds from both her teaching and her performances go to help animals in need of food or medical care. Belly dancing, says Ahleana, provides not only body toning, but also an important connection to the dancer's inner femininity. There is the chance to bond with other women, to dress up, and to feel beautiful. There can also be an almost spiritual aspect to the art, although this is not the emphasis in her classes. Ahleana teaches at the Liberty Fitness Center on Thursday evenings, as well as in her own home, both privately and semi-privately. Some of her students have gone on to perform with their teacher after only a few months of study. Focus and discipline are necessary, says Ahleana, and she finds mature women to be the best candidates for this particular style of dance, although all ages are welcome to attend her classes. Research has shown that the history of this form of dance began in ancient matriarchal society, most likely as a form of worship - a kind of communication to and with the deities. It was closely tied in to the fertility religions of the time, when The Feminine as Goddess and Mother Earth was revered. Later, it was performed at the bedside of pregnant women and by pregnant women to encourage and assist labor. In some Middle Eastern societies, where mixed gender dances were forbidden, men learned and performed for others of their sex. This still holds true to present in some areas. Nowadays, both women and men enjoy dancing at family and community celebrations. Today, many Americans see Belly dancing as an exotic spectacle involving female performers and male viewers. Nevertheless, Ahleana notes that when she performs, the women in the audience appear more interested than the men, and frequently come up to her afterward to compliment or question her about her art. "There is something about it," she says, "which calls to them." Who teaches the teacher? Ahleana studies with Shantal in Saugerties, New York.
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