Jawaahir Company Biographies

Cassandra Shore (Cassandra) began performing Middle Eastern dance in 1975, and her intensity, musicality and technique quickly set her apart from the average performer. She has made over a dozen research trips to the Middle East, exploring virtually all North African countries as well as Turkey and Greece in her search for cultural understanding, authentic techniques, and inspiration. In addition, she has studied with the finest teachers and choreographers of Middle Eastern dance, including Mahmoud Reda, director of the Reda Group, Cairo, Egypt, and former Under Secretary of culture; Mohammed Khalil, director of the National Folklore Group of Egypt; Vivian Hamamjian, former member of the Caracalla Ballet, Beirut; Raqia Hassan, choreographer to Egypt's top dance stars and former member of the Reda Group; Ibrahim Farrah, director of the Near Eastern Ensemble, NYC, the first professional US performing company in Middle Eastern dance.

In 1978, Cassandra opened The Cassandra School, which now offers over 15 classes weekly in Minneapolis and St. Paul, from beginning to professional levels, in technique, choreography, performance skills, dance conditioning, and Arabic language and culture studies. She formed Jawaahir Dance Company in 1989 as a vehicle for her unique choreographic vision. Since then, Jawaahir has been recognized for its groundbreaking repertory of traditional, modern, and fusion works of Middle Eastern and contemporary dance.

Today, Cassandra is known as a master teacher, star performer, and creative artist in the field of Middle Eastern dance. Her work has been rewarded with grants, commissions, and awards. She offers workshops, concerts, and master classes worldwide, teaching and performing regularly in locations such as Finland, Great Britain, Germany, Austria, New Zealand, and throughout the United States and Canada.

More About Cassandra

Tatyana Butkova started studying Middle Eastern Dance with Tina Shokri while visiting her home city of Minsk, Belarus in 2002. In 2004 she started classes at The Cassandra School and fell in love with spectacular performances by Jawaahir Dance Company. Tatyana performs at the Guild of Oriental Dance Festivals, Pratt Haflas, and the Renaissance Festival.

Laura Crocker (Lahlia) was lucky enough to wander into her first Middle Eastern dance class with Cassandra at the University of Minnesota while studying linguistics there. She was immediately captivated by the music and movements of the dance, and soon realized that the interplay between the two was her new favorite language. Laura has been involved in dance and music in many different ways since childhood. She joined Jawaahir in 2007.

Peg Deppe has been a student of Cassandra's since 1988. She first danced with Jawaahir from 1996-2000, then took some time off to enter graduate school. In 2007 Peg returned to the Company, and completed her PhD at the University of Minnesota in spring 2010.

Eileen Goren (Risha) began her modern dance education at an early age, studying with former members of the Martha Graham Company and at the Graham School for over 10 years. She also has many years of training in ballet, jazz, tap, international folk dance, ballroom, and Savoy-style Lindy Hop. She discovered Middle Eastern dance in 1987, and joined Jawaahir at its inception in 1989. She has continued her study with Cassandra as well as with internationally recognized teachers. Eileen is a member of the Board of Jawaahir and the Jawaahir Office Manager.

Sarah Jones-Larson (Toha) performed internationally as a child with Philadelphia's Ballet Des Jeunes and New York's Ecos De Espana. Locally, she performed with Zorongo Flamenco and Theatre de la Jeune Lune before joining Jawaahir in 1994. A student of Arabic and a voice-over artist, Sarah made her Arabic singing debut with the Georges Lammam Orchestra in Cassandra's solo show “Orientalia.” In May, 2007, Sarah returned to Jawaahir after a year in Philadelphia hosting a radio program on WJJZ (under the name, Salina Jones.) In Philadelphia, she danced with Habiba’s ensemble.

Theresa Kane began studying Middle Eastern dance in 1998 after attending a performance of "Shoma" and being struck by the beauty of the movements. She performs regularly as a soloist, teaches, and continues to study extensively with Cassandra as well as dance instructors from around the world. She joined Jawaahir in 2004.

Leslie Kennedy (Aliyah Sahar) started dancing when she was 3, but it wasn't until 1989 that she discovered her love for Middle Eastern dance. She studies with Cassandra as well as traveling around the US and Egypt to study with other renowned Middle Eastern dance instructors. Leslie teaches and performs locally and in the Midwest and is also Co-Director of The Sisters of the Sahara dance ensemble. In 2010 Leslie became an Artist in Residence at the Cowles Center for Dance and the Performing Arts and in 2011 she joined Jawaahir.

Kathy McCurdy (Naima) studied ballet, jazz, tap, and modern before discovering Middle Eastern dance. She studied with Tara Auringer in Madison, WI and Dahlena in Chicago, IL before moving to Minneapolis to study with Cassandra. She is a founding member of Jawaahir, teaches at The Cassandra School, and is the general manager of Jawaahir.

Jenny Piper (Jemorah) began her dance career in ballet, contemporary, and pointe at the age of seven. During these years she learned from Frank Bourman, Loyce Houlton, Lise Houlton, Marcia Chapman, and Bonnie Mathis, and performed in Loyce Houlton’s Nutcracker Fantasy. She has studied Middle Eastern dance with teachers including Margo Abdo O’Dell and Cassandra Shore since 1995, becoming a member of Jawaahir in 2000. She now performs locally, tours with Jawaahir, and teaches at The Cassandra School.

Renee Szudy began studying under Cassandra in 1996 and joined Jawaahir in 2006. She was drawn to Middle Eastern dance after attending the UN Fourth World Conference on Women (Beijing, 1995) where she saw Arabic women perform social dances. She liked how they took their scarves off their heads and wrapped them around their hips in order to accent their movements; she was particularly inspired by their shimmies. Renee has a 12-year background in gymnastics.

Gabriel Benjamin Bartlein Szudy was born January 16, 2011, weighing 7 lb 9.8 oz. Although he arrived almost a month past due, he was not overcooked. He is eating well and growing fast!

Ben, Renee, and Gabriel

Helen Voelker has been a member of Jawaahir since 1990. She has performed with the Nancy Hauser Dance Company and the Continental Dance Theatre. Helen is a medical researcher at the University of Minnesota.

Heidi Waldron (Zahirah) began dancing with Nadia Sahar in Milwaukee, WI in 1995. Relocating to Minneapolis in 1998, she continued her studies at The Cassandra School and, in 2004, joined Jawaahir. Heidi currently performs at several Twin Cities restaurants and is an active member of the Guild of Oriental Dance. Her performance highlights include Milwaukee’s Symphony Ball and annual Arabian Fest.

Jenna Washnieski began studying Middle Eastern dance in 2003 at The Cassandra School. She never passes an opportunity to learn new types of dance and has dabbled in jazz, hip-hop and salsa. In addition to being a member of Jawaahir, Jenna performs in area restaurants and cabaret shows.

Malika Benachour has been a student of The Cassandra School since March 2009. Her introduction to dance was studying Latin dance and Afro-Cuban rhythms with René Thompson, and that has continued for 7 years. Malika joined Jawaahir in 2011.

Alisa Martodam (Aleesa) was first introduced to Middle Eastern dance in 1999 at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival. Captivated by the graceful movements and energetic expression of the dance, she has studied Middle Eastern dance ever since, attending classes and workshops taught by local and internationally renowned dance instructors. Alisa is also a member of the Sisters of the Sahara dance troupe and dances as a solo artist in local restaurants, open stages, and haflas. She joined Jawaahir in 2011.

Lauren Olson started taking classes at the Cassandra School in 2006 with a friend who came into town for the summer. After her first class she was hooked, and she immediately fell in love with the art form that is now her passion. Lauren starting performing locally last year, and has taken advantage of the many performing opportunities in the Twin Cities. The Dark Nightingale in 2010 was Lauren's debut with Jawaahir.

Angela Skrade (Angelina) attended her first Middle Eastern dance classes in 2001 with Julia at the now defunct Seven Bridges. After a year of learning with various local instructors, she moved on to classes with Cassandra, where she continues her studies to this day. Angela began performing locally as a soloist in 2004, and went on to join Jawaahir in 2011.

When Angela is not dancing, you can find her working as the administrative assistant in Jawaahir’s office, or practicing the beautiful art of henna through her business Ancient Traditions Mehndi.

Tamara Borchardt (Samira) studied gymnastics as a child and performed regularly in musical theater productions throughout high school. While working as a street character at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival in 1993, a friend suggested she take belly dance lessons. She enjoys teaching dance to newcomers, singing, and commuting by bicycle year-round. Tamara joined Jawaahir in 2004.

Shari Jeziorski has studied various forms of dance since childhood and began Middle Eastern dance in 1999. She has studied with many reputable Middle Eastern dance and music teachers from around the world. Shari joined Jawaahir in 2005, is an instructor at The Cassandra School, and also performs as a soloist. Not only does Shari teach and perform Oriental Dance, she also practices Oriental Medicine (TCM). Shari is a licensed acupuncturist and is nationally certified in Chinese herbal medicine.

Kay Hardy Campbell is a writer and musician with a long-time interest in the music and folk dance arts of the Gulf region. She learned the folk dances while an eight year resident in Saudi Arabia, and has been teaching American women the folk dances of the Gulf for thirty years. She co-founded and directs the Arabic Music Retreat at Mount Holyoke College. Kay has been on the Jawaahir board for 10 years.

Kay has an article in the Summer 2011 issue of Saudi Aramco World magazine. Listening for Al-Andalus is about Spain's Eduardo Paniagua and the music of al-Andalus.
 

Patricia Auch, Salah Abdel Fattah, Eileen Goren, Melanie Meyer, Eileen O'Shaughnessy

Jawaahir Dance Company & The Cassandra School - 1940 Hennepin Ave S, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55403    612-872-6050    | Contact Us |