We did it!!  We did it!!  We did it!!

Now that we've reached $15,000...
In less than one month you’ve helped us reach our goal of covering Cassandra’s medical expenses! Congratulations on your great work!  We are both amazed and grateful at the magnitude and speed with which you have responded!

Now that we know we can Get Cassandra Dancing, please consider supporting her during her recovery. Cassandra stopped teaching and dancing full time almost two years ago, and it will be many months before she is back up to full speed. With your help, she will have a bit of a cushion to carry her through this difficult recovery period.

As Zulaika says, “Let's keep it going by supporting Cassandra in recovery until she is back dancing! Love you Cassandra!!”

Again, thank you for your support!

P.S. Cassandra has scheduled her surgery for April 11. While our initial goal was based on an estimate of Cassandra’s medical expenses, we won’t actually know the full amount until the bills stop rolling in. Please keep up your good work.

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A dancer admired around the world is stuck in the wings — temporarily

Cassandra is loved and respected by thousands of people for her talent, teaching skills, and knowledge, but she has not been able to share these unique gifts for much too long. Cassandra has been living with a condition in her left hip which limits her mobility and puts her in constant pain. Because of this worsening condition, she has only been able to teach her regular classes in Minneapolis sporadically over the past year and a half, and currently is unable to teach any dance classes. Plus, she's had to pass up teaching workshops in the United States, Germany, Austria, and Spain.

Her students miss her. Her audiences miss her. We have lost a truly amazing and inspiring artist and teacher.

The operation Cassandra needs

Cassandra is suffering from osteoarthritis in her left hip. The cartilage in the hip socket is completely gone, and the bone is eroded and pitted. She cannot walk or sit without pain, let alone dance. The only way to alleviate this condition is a total hip replacement. Without this operation, Cassandra's condition will only worsen, until she is unable to walk.

(Here is a more detailed description of the condition and surgery.)

Please help get Cassandra dancing again — donate before March 31

A total hip replacement is very expensive. Cassandra is self-employed and self-insured, and her insurance will only pay 80% of the costs after a deductible of $10,000. We estimate her out-of-pocket costs for surgery will be $15,000. As you can imagine, without being able to fully work for nearly two years, this kind of money is something she simply doesn't have. Our goal is to raise $15,000 so she can have this surgery in the early part of April and inspire us all again with her talent and expertise.

Your donation will make it possible for Cassandra to get this much-needed operation. The amount you give makes a difference not only to Cassandra, but also to the thousands of people who are touched by her artistic gifts and memorable teaching. It allows her to share her knowledge and skill with hundreds of students around the world. It brings Cassandra's breathtaking performances to audiences once again.

Your donation will not only change one life, but the lives of everyone enriched by Cassandra's talent.