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Once A Taleebite..........
Always a Taleebite.....Alumni
Always a Taleebite.....Alumni
Zweena bint Asya
Ambriehl Saroj
Ambriehl has been involved with Middle Eastern dance since 2000, and was a member of Troupe
Taleeba for four years, from 2003-2006. Currently she is performing regularly as a soloist at the
Acropolis Greek Restaurant , and teaching belly dance in Shelbyville, IN. She is also director of
Shelbyville's first professional dance troupe Cairo Technics. Ambriehl is also a belly dance
merchandise vendor, and a custom costume designer. Contact Ambriehl
Taleeba for four years, from 2003-2006. Currently she is performing regularly as a soloist at the
Acropolis Greek Restaurant , and teaching belly dance in Shelbyville, IN. She is also director of
Shelbyville's first professional dance troupe Cairo Technics. Ambriehl is also a belly dance
merchandise vendor, and a custom costume designer. Contact Ambriehl
Zweena is a former member of Troupe Shalimar (Oregon), Cosmic Vaudeville (Boston), and is the founder of
Troupe Scheherazade (Boston). She has performed with ensembles and as a soloist at restaurants and
nightclubs throughout the US. She is the founder of Fort Wayne's own Troupe Taleeba and is a Middle
Eastern dance teacher for the Sunriver Dance Academy and Central Oregon Community College. In 2003,
Zweena choreographed the Lyric Opera of Chicago's production of Thais to outstanding reviews and, along
with Chicago dancer Angelina, performed in the production as a principal soloist. Zweena holds a BA in
American studies from Wellesley College and a masters in education from Harvard University.
She is a member of the American Guild of Musical Artists and of High Desert Bellydance Guild.
Troupe Scheherazade (Boston). She has performed with ensembles and as a soloist at restaurants and
nightclubs throughout the US. She is the founder of Fort Wayne's own Troupe Taleeba and is a Middle
Eastern dance teacher for the Sunriver Dance Academy and Central Oregon Community College. In 2003,
Zweena choreographed the Lyric Opera of Chicago's production of Thais to outstanding reviews and, along
with Chicago dancer Angelina, performed in the production as a principal soloist. Zweena holds a BA in
American studies from Wellesley College and a masters in education from Harvard University.
She is a member of the American Guild of Musical Artists and of High Desert Bellydance Guild.
I have been studying the art of belly dance since 2002. Zweena bint Asya was my first teacher I was a
member of Taleeba for about two and a half years before I relocated to Muncie to attend Ball State . This is
where I had the wonderful opportunity to study with Carenza bint Asya, when she was still teaching through
the YWCA in downtown Muncie . She has come a long way and I am so proud of everything she has
accomplished. After Muncie I relocated to Indianapolis where I now reside. In 2005 I was lucky enough to
study with Jaleela Saleem now Stella. Although to me she will always be Susan, not only talented but one of
the nicest people in the belly dance community you will ever meet. She started the tribal dance troupe Black
Rose Caravan of which I am still currently a member. BRC has been yet another gift in my belly dance journey.
I did not think I would ever recover from the loss of the lovely Taleeba ladies from my life. Although my
taleeba homies are irreplaceable I have made some amazing new friends and found a new dance home with the
BRC girls. To contact Chyanne punkybelly@aol.com
member of Taleeba for about two and a half years before I relocated to Muncie to attend Ball State . This is
where I had the wonderful opportunity to study with Carenza bint Asya, when she was still teaching through
the YWCA in downtown Muncie . She has come a long way and I am so proud of everything she has
accomplished. After Muncie I relocated to Indianapolis where I now reside. In 2005 I was lucky enough to
study with Jaleela Saleem now Stella. Although to me she will always be Susan, not only talented but one of
the nicest people in the belly dance community you will ever meet. She started the tribal dance troupe Black
Rose Caravan of which I am still currently a member. BRC has been yet another gift in my belly dance journey.
I did not think I would ever recover from the loss of the lovely Taleeba ladies from my life. Although my
taleeba homies are irreplaceable I have made some amazing new friends and found a new dance home with the
BRC girls. To contact Chyanne punkybelly@aol.com
I was first introduced to belly dancing through the Society for Creative Anachronism, a medieval
reenactment group. I chose the name Carenza, "bint Asya" came later from my first belly dance teacher
Zweena bint Asya. I began lessons with Zweena in 2000 when my family and I moved from Muncie to Fort
Wayne. I took private lessons, classes and worked my way up to assisting and then teaching classes. I
became a member of Troupe Taleeba in April of 2002. In 2004, I returned to Muncie where I began teaching,
vending and building my own troupe. In April of 2006, I opened my dance studio Carenza's Caravan.
www.carenzascaravan.com
reenactment group. I chose the name Carenza, "bint Asya" came later from my first belly dance teacher
Zweena bint Asya. I began lessons with Zweena in 2000 when my family and I moved from Muncie to Fort
Wayne. I took private lessons, classes and worked my way up to assisting and then teaching classes. I
became a member of Troupe Taleeba in April of 2002. In 2004, I returned to Muncie where I began teaching,
vending and building my own troupe. In April of 2006, I opened my dance studio Carenza's Caravan.
www.carenzascaravan.com
Carenza bint Asya
The muse....the creator...the amazing Zweena!
Chyanne/Moolana
Yasmeena has had a love of dance, music, and other cultures since she was a young girl. She
performed jazz, tap, and ballet in high school with her school's dance group, "Danceskins." In 2001
Yasmeena got involved in Middle Eastern Dance through her instructor, Zweena bint Asya, and has
studied with prominent teachers throughout the US, including Dalia Carella and Carolena Nericcio.
Her bubbly personality and love of hip moves are evident on stage, and make her easy to recognize.
Yasmeena is currently teaching Beginning Belly Dance through Fort Wayne Neighborhood
Connection.
performed jazz, tap, and ballet in high school with her school's dance group, "Danceskins." In 2001
Yasmeena got involved in Middle Eastern Dance through her instructor, Zweena bint Asya, and has
studied with prominent teachers throughout the US, including Dalia Carella and Carolena Nericcio.
Her bubbly personality and love of hip moves are evident on stage, and make her easy to recognize.
Yasmeena is currently teaching Beginning Belly Dance through Fort Wayne Neighborhood
Connection.
Anouri is living proof that you don’t have to be born a dancer to become one. With no prior dance
experience, she began belly dancing through a Neighborhood Connection class in September 2004 after
seeing the Veena & Neena infomercials on TV—the dancers looked graceful, and she figured it was her
only chance to prove to her family and friends that she wasn’t born with two left feet! Plus, it’s a form of
dance where every woman’s shape is accepted and embraced, and great exercise! The greatest benefit of
belly dancing for Anouri, though, is the strong sense of sisterhood with her classmates and fellow
dancers. Her first dance teacher was Zweena bint Asya; she has continued to learn from Jordana bint
Zweena, and joined Troupe Taleeba in April 2006. Although she has been honored to study with
renowned teachers, including Dalia Carella, Leila Gamal, and Asya, she is most inspired by her fellow
Taleeba dancers.
experience, she began belly dancing through a Neighborhood Connection class in September 2004 after
seeing the Veena & Neena infomercials on TV—the dancers looked graceful, and she figured it was her
only chance to prove to her family and friends that she wasn’t born with two left feet! Plus, it’s a form of
dance where every woman’s shape is accepted and embraced, and great exercise! The greatest benefit of
belly dancing for Anouri, though, is the strong sense of sisterhood with her classmates and fellow
dancers. Her first dance teacher was Zweena bint Asya; she has continued to learn from Jordana bint
Zweena, and joined Troupe Taleeba in April 2006. Although she has been honored to study with
renowned teachers, including Dalia Carella, Leila Gamal, and Asya, she is most inspired by her fellow
Taleeba dancers.
| Yasmeena |
| Anouri |
Asra Ma'is has been performing with Taleeba since 2004.
Her introduction to Middle Eastern Dancing, and first formal dance class, was with Zweena Bint Asya in 2003.
Foremost, it is a love of the music and its reflection of life that inspires Asra.
Through Zweena, she has developed a love of ethnic fusion dance...and performing!
The various styles embraced by Middle Eastern Dance theory support Asra's belief that every dancer must choose a
form that best expresses their personality and sensuality. To this end, she has studied under Dalia Carella of NYC,
specifically embracing her Dunyavi (world) Gypsy style, as well as performing with the Turkish Rom dance troupe
Svatura under the direction of Amani Ali of Goshen, IN.
Asra nurtures her love of dance and music with continued exploration of various cultures including Indian, the
Maghreb, Rom, and Andalusian Spain.
Her introduction to Middle Eastern Dancing, and first formal dance class, was with Zweena Bint Asya in 2003.
Foremost, it is a love of the music and its reflection of life that inspires Asra.
Through Zweena, she has developed a love of ethnic fusion dance...and performing!
The various styles embraced by Middle Eastern Dance theory support Asra's belief that every dancer must choose a
form that best expresses their personality and sensuality. To this end, she has studied under Dalia Carella of NYC,
specifically embracing her Dunyavi (world) Gypsy style, as well as performing with the Turkish Rom dance troupe
Svatura under the direction of Amani Ali of Goshen, IN.
Asra nurtures her love of dance and music with continued exploration of various cultures including Indian, the
Maghreb, Rom, and Andalusian Spain.
As soon as Azusena bint Zweena saw Troupe Taleeba perform, she knew she wanted to be a part of
this magnificent group of belly dancers. She started as a student on June 26, 2002 under Zweena bint
Asya, and has been a member of the troupe for several years. Azusena has studied under many
fabulous dancers, but none of them compare to the inspiration that she gains from her women in
Troupe Taleeba.
this magnificent group of belly dancers. She started as a student on June 26, 2002 under Zweena bint
Asya, and has been a member of the troupe for several years. Azusena has studied under many
fabulous dancers, but none of them compare to the inspiration that she gains from her women in
Troupe Taleeba.
| Asra Ma'is - Seamstress |
| Asuzena bint Zweena - Assistant Director |
| Ranya |
Ranya bio
Khadriya
