Aalíah began her career at the age of 4 as inspired by her mother, Cristina Ponzo, a prestigious ballet teacher, who -in addition to introducing her to this beautiful art- transmitted to Aalíah the gift of teaching. Aalíah took ballet lessons with her mother for 12 years, and participated in the annual dance festivals she prepared.
Over the years, Aalíah pursued her dance training in other forms of dance such as jazz and contemporary dance. At the age of 16, she had the chance to take her first bellydance class at SAIDA’s school. Having no idea of bellydance at all, Aalíah decided to give it a try and found out she was charmed by this magical dance. Led by the great master instructor Saida, she began to walk along a way would turn into an amazing career full of success.
After 2 years with Saida, she called Aalíah to be part of her RAKKASAH ballet. Some time later, Aalíah had become one of the most outstanding and renowned dancers and Saida decided to introduce her to the Master Percussionist Mario Kirlis, who began to invite her to dance with his orchestra. Since then, she has performed with Mario Kirlis’ orchestra at the most prestigious hotels in Buenos Aires, and in many shows with Saida. In 2003, Aalíah became a dancer of the Parque Temático Tierra Santa (Holy Land Theme Park) of Buenos Aires where she continues to work.
Aalíah has been a teacher for many years, but it was in 2009 when she opened -with her mother- her first dance academy located in the residential neighborhood of Olivos. She is the Director of the RUBAIAT ballet established in 2005 which is nowadays one of the best ballets in Buenos Aires in view of its visual quality, harmony, neatness and coordination.
In 2008, she participated in the Certamen Interamericano DANZAMERICA (DANZAMERICA International Dance Competition) held in the province of Córdoba, Argentina, together with her RUBAIAT ballet. Aalíah’s ballet was awarded a gold medal for each choreography performed and a special award was granted to creativity for the LAYALI AL SHARQ choreography, which was also performed at BDSS SONIA’s Gala show (the video of Layali’s performance has over 16,000 visits in Youtube and a version of such choreography can also be seen there as performed by Korean belly dancers). Aalíah was also awarded the most important prize granted by the Danzamerica organization − the Jorge Tomín prize, a real GOLD medal awarded to the Best Dancer in the competition.
At present, Aalíah is part of the teachers staff at SAIDA’s school and is in charge of the advanced courses when Saida is touring. Aalíah is also part of the teachers staff at Yamil Annum’s school, where she gives special classes for advanced students. Aalíah is a permanent dancer with the Syrian-Lebanese Club of Buenos Aires, located in the Recoleta neighborhood, where she performs her show every week.
Aalíah is praised wherever she goes because of her teaching method, her very particular and unique way of explaining with detail every step, making anyone understand where movements come from allowing them to flow easily.
Nowadays, Aalíah has become internationally renown and is called to teach in workshops and perform throughout the Argentina and abroad.
‘I’d like to thank every single person who has been and continues to be part of my career for every single contribution though small, for every smile, for every praise, for every applause; to my students who have always been with me, and to all the people who trust me and share with me this unparalleled passion.
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