The Express-Times
Category: Features
Published: 04/11/2002
Page: C1

There are trying moments in every woman's life when she doesn't feel beautiful or graceful. Sometimes she doesn't even feel like a real woman.

Recovering from breast cancer is often one of those times. To have even a part of a breast removed is traumatic, almost violent, and the recovery from surgery can feel just as harsh, some cancer survivors say.

Over the last few years, however, there has been a new movement toward movement. Fluid hand gestures and arm waves of ancient times are being practiced to help women increase their range of motion and to become more in tune with their bodies.

"Tahya" has been involved in Danse Orientale since 1977 and has taught in the area for more than 10 years. Recently she began to gear some classes toward breast cancer survivors and their special needs. She starts with gentle arm movements and moves slowly until the whole body is incorporated in a form of what was once called "belly dancing."

One of her students and sometime member of Troupe Bannat Tahya, Jean T. Clay of North Whitehall Township has come back to "the dance" several times in her life, specifically during times of trouble.

First, Clay was told by doctors in the early 1980s that her back was in such bad shape she could not avoid surgery and was directed not to lift anything more than five pounds, she says.

Rather than accepting that fate, Clay took a doctor's recommendation to exercise regularly. That was when she found belly dancing.

"I loved the beat of the music," she says. The non-impact, relaxing workout improved her flexibility and continued gentle movement in her back.

Her doctor approved of the regimen and though she won't be entering a strength contest, Clay says she can move freely and lift more than five pounds.

Once she overcame her back problems, a more dangerous health threat appeared.

Clay was diagnosed with cancer in her left breast in 1985. She had already seen her mother and other women in her family die of the disease, but she was unwilling to accept a death sentence. In fact, she was unwilling to accept traditional treatments.

Hers was one of the first lumpectomies in the area during a time a full mastectomy was considered the only foolproof treatment of the disease, she says.

During the surgery, 17 lymph nodes were removed. Lymph node removal often contributes to most of the pain during recovery and that is what happened to Clay.

"They had to dig so far, there was muscle and nerve damage," she says. "There are nerves in my back that were severed and will never grow back. They are completely numb."

With her recovery, Clay says she was diligent in her physical therapy. But traditional breast cancer recovery exercise programs left Clay feeling emotionally empty.

Names of those traditional moves, such as where the arm crosses the body, recall swords and other hard objects or tools of war, Tahya says.

The movements of Oriental dance are more luxurious, gentle in name and spirit, the instructor says. Instead of focusing on the physical recovery, the dance also looks for emotional repair.

"The self-expression connected to the dance then lends itself to elevating self-esteem," she says.

Clay agrees.

"I realized I needed to not only heal physically, but emotionally, too," Clay says. "You find yourself unique and I found the movements were quite similar to what the physical rehabilitation involved."

Clay says her favorite moves include opening her arms and full extensions. If she wasn't diligent with her exercises - with the dance - she would have never regained that type of range of motion after her surgery, she says.

She is also known for her veil work. Behind a sheer veil, Clay exudes sensuality and femininity. Twirling around with the light sheet, she looks almost airborne as she dances.

"What makes the exploration of the dance so different is ancient tradition mixed with the adornment, music, costuming and design," Tahya says. "There is a creativity and confidence tapped by the dance - all of a sudden there is an explosion of personal creative power."

After seeing the success of the dance for many of her recovering students, Tahya started work on a video "Healing Dance." The tape is an introduction to Danse Orientale and is available during her appearances and through her Web site.

In addition to Tahya, the tape includes Clay and another success story, Easton's Monica McAghon. After a bout with breast cancer, McAghon received initial classes as a gift from a close friend and has continued with the dance for several years.

The American Cancer Society Breast Cancer Support Group will sponsor Tahya's presentation on how the dance can help during recovery at 7:30 p.m. May 6 at Epworth United Methodist Church in Bethlehem. Clay will be a part of the presentation as an example of the difference the dance can make in someone's life.

As a breast cancer survivor, Mimi Gelbman, New Jersey regional patient family services coordinator for the American Cancer Society, says she took a mind/body connection class during her recovery and found it to be quite enlightening and freeing.

The idea of using dance to regain self-confidence and femininity is something Gelbman says she would be quite interested in researching.

The American Cancer Society continues to look for innovative ways to help people battle the disease. A "Look Good, Feel Better" program was recently presented at the Hunterdon Medical Center.

The program will be offered again June 10 and invites women who are suffering with cancer to come in and learn how to mask hair loss and apply make-up, which nearly always lift the patient's spirits, Gelbman says.

"It's like a makeover for the spirit and that's a beautiful thing," she says.

An introduction to the circular movements of Danse Orientale and how they can help with recovery will be presented by Tahya 3:15 p.m. May 18 at the Macungie community's Relay for Life.

Ongoing classes include Wednesday mornings at Lehigh County Senior Center in Allentown for relaxation and healing for women over 40. For more information call the center at 610-437-3700.

Tahya also teaches at Northampton Community College. For more information visit tahya.com/currentclasses.html or call 610-776-7045.

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Reporter April Helmer can be reached at 610-258-7171 or by e-mail at ajh@express-times.com.