Najwah
Artistic Director
Karen McLane (Najwah) is Ancient Rhythm's artistic director. She is an interior designer in the D.C. area. She has been performing since childhood in ballet and modern dance. Her career in Middle Eastern dance began 20 years ago and she has since performed in hundreds of shows, including the World Bank, University of Maryland, the Egyptian Embassy, and in Tunisia. As an inveterate world traveler, she has collected music and material for choreography and costuming. She is currently on the faculty of DC Dance Collective, where the Ancient Rhythms dance troupe is in residence.
Charmaine
Lead Soloist
Charmaine Lee is the creator and director of SynergyDance, training teachers in the method as well as in the healing art of Polarity Therapy. A professional soloist in several major ballet companies in South Africa and London, her study and practice of many ancient cultural dance and healing arts forms are what led her to combine these in SynergyDance, and what brought her to become a soloist with Ancient Rhythms, which she enjoys for the strength, beauty and healing aspects of women united in such goals.
Charise
Soloist
Charise Hoge is an accomplished dancer, teacher, therapist and author. She has a Master's Degree in Dance Movement Therapy from New York University, and a Master's in Social Work from the University of Georgia. She is certified as a dance/movement therapist (ADTR), polarity practitioner (RPP), and SynergyYoga/ SynergyDance instructor. Based on her experience counseling other expatriates living in Thailand, she co-authored a book titled A Portable Identity: A Woman's Guide to Maintaining a Sense of Self While Moving Overseas.
Nina
Soloist
In addition to being a founding member of Ancient Rhythms and soloist with the company, Nina performs and teaches Lindy Hop internationally. She has won 25 national titles in this original form of swing dance and performed with Aretha Franklin. She is also a founding member of CZHI Childern's Theater and Renegade Theater with whom she acts, sings, choreographs and also does set and costume design.
Ishtar
Dancer
Suzy Seibert (Ishtar) is one of the youngest members of the troupe. She is currently a Junior at Walt Whitman High School, and has been dancing with Najwah for three years. She has also had training with Debbie Kanter for modern dance.
Laura
Dancer
As a curious newcomer to Middle Eastern dance, Laura has found her own confidence, sensuality and vivaciousness for life through the feminine energy of the dance. Her association with Ancient Rhythms began in 2005. Outside of dance, Laura is a 2006 graduate of American University with a degree in International Business.
Caroline
Dancer
Caroline Nuckolls has always loved dancing. She has an extensive background in ballet, having performed and studied intensively at the Arlington Center for Dance for 10 years. After choosing to pursue ballet less rigorously, Caroline began to experiment with other forms of dance. She found Middle Eastern dance a wonderful departure from the rigidity of ballet and soon fell in love. Caroline has been performing with Ancient Rhythms since August 2005.
Joanie
Dancer
Joanie Atkinson first began Middle Eastern dance in 2004 and soon after fell in love with the art. Joanie has danced with the Liz Lerman Dance Exchange, as well as the Maple School of Irish Dance. At present, she attends Mongomery Blair high school where she is a member of the Middle Eastern Dance Club.
Leah
Dancer
Leah began Middle Eastern Dance four years ago. She slowly became immersed in and accustomed to the Middle Eastern culture and grew to love it. She has experience in tap dancing and music including piano and choral singing. She is a senior at Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda, Maryland.
Carlyn
Dancer
Carlyn Rosenblum has experienced many forms of dance from ballet to jazz to ballroom. However the passion that exhibited in her early years was peerless to the joy she encountered from Middle Eastern dance. She first tried Middle Eastern dance in 2005 and immediately was intrigued by not only the natural and graceful movements but also the power the music seemed to have over her. Carlyn has recently become a member of Ancient Rhythms however has performed with the troop since March of 2007.
Daryl
Dancer
Daryl is currently in her second year at Walter Johnson High School in Bethesda, Maryland. She is 16 years old and has been taking belly dancing since the 8th grade. Carlyn Rosenblum, a fellow troop member, introduced her to Karen's dance class and has been taking them ever since. She loves photography and is a competitive tennis player for her school team.