Goodbye, Ammena

CURTAIN IS CLOSING ON DANCE COMPANY

Good luck, Lise-Anne Talhami! In case you missed it, as I did, the founder and creative force behind Ammena Dance Studio has staged her last performance.

Talhami opened Ammena in a second-floor downtown loft in the fall of 2006 and staged her first Explosion of World Dance and Music in the venue in April of 2007, showcasing the depth of cultural diversity in Lethbridge.

I met Talhami for the first time while doing an interview for her initial show at the Sterndale-Bennett Theatre. She was the new kid on the arts block, catering to an adult clientele interested in learning various forms of dance including Bollywood, belly and African.

Talhami, a University of Lethbridge graduate, started dancing at the tender age of three, studying classical ballet, folk and ballroom. But after being injured while performing with a ballet company, she changed direction by necessity and moved into other styles.

After little more than a year, her company grew from 18 dancers to more than 200 and she moved Explosion to the Yates Centre in 2008. She had such strong interest from performers who wanted to be part of her show, Talhami actually had to turn some away. Talhami told me several years ago that she would have been happy to fill half the seats at the Yates for that performance but instead attracted 450 people, just 50 short of a sell-out.

Over the years, her Explosion show gained in popularity with audiences and performers alike and became a staple of the downtown arts scene in late spring.

Initially, she told me Lethbridge women were hesitant about trying belly dancing but they quickly warmed up to it, realizing that classes in her studio were an opportunity to have a highenergy workout in a comfortable environment without intimidation.

In 2012, she moved her studio to a bigger location a few doors down on 6 St. S. to a location that had room for two studios — one of 1,000 square feet and the other 700 — to better cater to a growing clientele and courses, that by then included children’s yoga, hip hop, tap and even Zumba. Many years ago, Talhami actually took her first lessons in that same space when it was occupied by Studio One.

The last time I interviewed her back in February of 2014, Talhami’s annual show had grown from a one-night affair to two with 500 dancers being taught various styles by the company founder and her instructors. By then, her show had become a hugely popular one, selling out quickly.

Earlier this month, Talhami staged her last “Explosion.” With her studio being part of a major condominium project and Talhami’s own endeavours taking her in a different direction here, Ammena will soon be part of the city’s arts past with its doors closing in July.

During her time teaching dance in this city, Talhami has been an integral part of the city arts scene, one whose energy, vitality and creativity will long be missed.

Good luck, Lise-Anne. You won’t be forgotten and will always be remembered.