Ahmen is a Seattle native who started dancing at the young age of 4 with her father’s African dance troupe. At the age of 8, Ahmen joined TTAAPP Central (now known as Northwest Tap Connection) where she has performed in over 30 of their productions throughout the years. 4 years later, she was asked to join the performance company. As a company member, Ahmen traveled to numerous tap festivals including the Twin Cities Tap Festival, the Chicago Human Rhythm Project and the Debbie Allen Dance Academy Summer Intensive. She has trained with tap legends Chester Whitmore, Diane Walker, and Harold Cromer.

Ahmen has perfected her love for tap by also training with Shaina Mitchell, Chloe Arnold, Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards, Jason Samuel Smith and Sarah Reich; just to name a few. Her first professional job was in 2004 with Seattle Theatre Group. She was hired as one of the child dancers in the production called ‘A Maafa Experience’. Through Maafa, Ahmen had the pleasure of working closely with choreographers Jamel Gaines and Cabby Mitchell.

Ahmen was later reunited with Seattle Theatre Group in 2006 with the production of ‘DANCE This’. She participated in ‘DANCE This’ every year from 2006 to 2015 where she has performed African, Hip Hop, Afro-Brazilian, Tap, Afro Peruvian, Stepping, and Lindy Hop. Through ‘DANCE This’ Ahmen had the opportunity to work with Tabitha and Napoleon D’umo, Daniel Cruz, Dora Oliveira, Hallie Kuperman, Sonia Dawkins, and Lora Lue Chiorah-Dye; just to name a few. Ahmen has taught tap dance at Spectrum Dance Theatre, Cornish College of the Arts, Northwest Tap Connection and Seattle Urban Academy.

She is excited to be returning to Allegro this year!