Who Supports Jawaahir?

I.A. O'Shaughnessy Foundation
Jawaahir received a $25,000 grant from the I.A. O'Shaughnessy Foundation.

It is difficult to express the gratitude everyone at Jawaahir feels towards the I.A. O'Shaughnessy Foundation for their generosity over the last 20 years in funding Jawaahir. The foundation is a large reason the dance company thrives today. Their funding carried Jawaahir through tough times and allowed dance students to experience the differences and sameness of the movements and music from other cultures. Their support allowed Middle Eastern dance and music--the joy and sadness, the ways in which we are different and yet the same--to be presented at the Southern Theater yearly. Education is the foundation of success, and we are proud to be following in the steps of I.A. O'Shaughnessy in educating our community. Thank you.

You can acknowledge the generosity of the O'Shaughnessy Foundation and help Jawaahir by sending them a thank you email.

Carolyn Foundation
Jawaahir received $5,000 grant from the Carolyn Foundation

Jawaahir Dance Company would like to thank the Carolyn Foundation for their generous grant supporting our artistic endeavors. We thank them for their financial support and, most importantly, for their belief in Jawaahir’s mission.                       

With the help of the Carolyn Foundation, we will continue to stage the best traditional and contemporary work our art form has to offer and to present educational and artistic programs that help promote understanding between cultures.

Target
Jawaahir received a donation from Target for $5,000 for the year 7/1/08 to 6/30/09. We are pleased that Target has chosen us to help carry on their mission of supporting arts organizations in our communities.

A mainstay of Target’s community commitment is the support of visual art, music, dance, independent film
and design programs. The arts have the power to bring communities together and help people see the world
from different perspectives, and Target is committed to making arts and cultural experiences more affordable
and accessible for families and children.

Jawaahir taught and performed at Target Family Day at the Minneapolis Art Institute in October of 2009. Video of the adults and children dancing can be found here.

Jawaahir's activities are made possible, in part, by funds provided by the 3M Foundation, Heidi Heffelfinger Todd and Steve S. Todd Fund of the Community Foundation, McKnight Foundation, Mosaic Foundation, O’Shaughnessy Foundation, Schwab Charitable Fund, Target, The Travelers’ Arts & Diversity Employee Committee, United Arts.

Our activities are made possible, in part, by funds provided by the Minnesota State Arts Board through an appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature and a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts

Companies and Organizations

Over the last year the following companies and individuals have donated items that have enhanced every Jawaahir event. From food for the Henna party and Cabarets, through donations of all kinds for the yearly fundraising Gala, to the paint on the walls, we couldn't do what we do without their generous contributions.

Anonymous, A Little Lingerie Company, Larry & Caryl Abdo, Accolades Salon & Spa, Aisha Ali, Alsadu, Inc., Amorfia Productions, Apogee Custom Gifts, Bonnie Berquam, Bibelot, Black Forest Inn, Bloomington Studio students, Blume Bauer Clothing Co., Sandra Bodensteiner, Aimee Brask at The HaireETic, Bryant-Lake Bowl & Theater, Mary Lynn Buss, Chanhassen Dinner Theatres, Chris Cherewan, Christos Greek Restaurant, Nancy Courteau, Matthew Croy, Dahlal Internationale, Fantasy Grams, Faten Salama, Gardens of Salonica, Jan Geisen, Giorgio’s Restaurant, Guthrie Theater, Laura Harada, Hauser Dance, Jawaahir Dance Company, Terry Joyce, The Jungle Theater, Beth Kendrick, Kenwood Pilates, Mary Kertzman, Nicole LeCorgne, Catherine Liska, Vicki MacNabb, Mediterranean Cruise Café, Judy Meisner, Minnesota Timberwolves, Minnesota Twins, Minnesota Vikings, Oasis Dance Camp, Tim O’Keefe, Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, Esther Ouray, Park Tavern, Ragamala Music and Dance Theater, Dianna Rawnsley, Hung Russell, Sebastian Joe’s Ice Cream, Sheepskin by Susan Bradford, Cassandra Shore, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Stages Theatre Company, Robert Webb Steib, The Southern Theater, Storganize, Tea Source, Theatre de la Jeune Lune, Udjat Beads, Walker Art Center, Lori A. Wilczek, Zenon Dance Company and School

Diamond ($1000+): Patricia & Fred Auch

Ruby ($500–999): Jeffrey Gegner, Eileen Goren & Terry Joyce, Theresa Kane, Eileen O’Shaughnessy, and Kristine Smith

Emerald ($100–499): Anonymous, Linda Brown, Mary Lynn Buss & Ron Simons, Tatyana Butkova, Kay Hardy Campbell & Gary Campbell, Ouahib & Gail Chalbi, Ralph & Betty Cooper, Nancy Courteau, Janelle Dachtera, Priscilla Dixon, George Ehrenberg, Salah Abdel Fattah, Jan Geisen – through United Arts, Christine Halverson, Donna Hanbery, Deborah & Thomas Hanna, Judy Hickey, Marian Hopkins, Jillina, Chuck Klinkner - through Allianz, Lamis, Sandra Jane Larson, Kathy McCurdy, Heather McMullen & Dirk Koenig, Judy Meisner, Melanie Meyer, Molly O’Shaughnessy & Mike Monahan, Mike Piper, Sherry Reardon, Susan Raatz – through United Arts, Ronna Schultz, Kathleen O. Shovelain, Gloria Simon-Kuza, Shirley Taramelli, Raymond Terrill & Gregory Grinley, James Wellman, and Rebecca West

Sapphire (up to $100): Anonymous, Hend al-Mansour, J.F. Angrist, Leo Bjorlie, Lois Bjorlie, Edward Boshears, Ann Cathcart, Kate Coon, Andrea Deagon, Dawn Doering, Janet Dray, Sol & Pearl Goren, Judy Greenwood, Don Habermas-Scher, Libbie Henderson, Katherine Howard, Jean Jarvis, Kathryn Johnson, Amy Kirkpatrick, Martha Koch, Rebecca Marquis, Marsha McDonald, Ruth Neuger, Catherine Petersen, Karl Schlotterbeck, Dr. Cheryl Wall, and Donna Rae Wendt

Thanks to everyone who made this year's Caravan Under the Stars on May 21 the most successful fundraiser in Jawaahir history. To all the staff, our MC Cathy Wurzer, our auctioneer Gary Kruger, the Mike Croy Jazz Trio, Ahmad Tharwat, current and past members of Jawaahir Dance Company, and the volunteers, who all turned out in force, then jumped in wherever the need arose, to solve problems and provide a grand experience for our guests. Thanks go to each of the over 100 individuals and businesses who donated items to this year's auction. Special thanks to the sponsors whose cash donations funded this years fund raiser: Oasis Dance Camp, the dancers of Jawaahir Dance Company, Jim Huonder of Mortgages West, Hanbery & Carney P.A., Eileen O'Shaughnessy, Alsadu, Brad Begley of Begley Law Offices, Jennifer Cleasby of From the Hip, Dianna Rawnsley, Turquoise International, and Anonymous. And a very special thanks to all our guests who gave to us their time and riches to help keep the spirit of Jawaahir thriving for another year.

Volunteers

The heart of any non-profit organization are it's volunteers. Unpaid and often overlooked, they keep the flame. While few in number, our volunteers are among the best anywhere. Passionate and committed, they continually go above and beyond to make everything they touch better, because they believe in the cause.
 

Patricia Auch, Zulalika to all the dancers, is another founding Jawaahir member who was also Administrative Coordinator until last year, when she followed her husband to Seattle when he was transferred. Left with a longer commute, Patricia travels back to happily donate her considerable expertise to all major Jawaahir functions, thus proving the adage that you can take the dancer out of Jawaahir, but you can never take Jawaahir out of the dancer.

Tatyana Butkova is a member of Jawaahir and a graphics designer. Seeing a need for better printed materials for ever more numerous Jawaahir events, she has taken to spending her days rooting thorugh the Jawaahir server for discarded photos, polishing them up, and creating wonderful, eye catching flyers and posters.

Christine Johnson The heart of any dance company or school is its floor. Our floor is 87 years old, and very fragile. Replacement floors being cost prohibitive, Christine has adopted the floors and works tirelessly to route, cut, glue, clamp, sand, and stain the over 200 patches that keep our dancers spinning and shin-splint free. It is Christine who keeps our floor one of the two best dance floors in the Twin Cities.

Terry Joyce is husband to Jawaahir member Eileen Goren. Enjoying taking things apart, modifying and rebuilding them better than before, he has found a limitless source of things that need improving in a 100 year old building. Over the years he has volunteered for projects too numerous to mention and lately, as self-titled Director of International IT Operations, Jawaahir Dance Company, he has taken on modernizing this website.

Dale Sulzen is a professional jack of all trades. Ceiling to floor, electrical to plumbing, Dale is the person who we all turn to for all things electro-mechanical. Dale is the one person you want stranded on a desert island with you. At one time or another Dale has modified, repaired or improved every light, socket, motor, air conditioner, plumbing fixture, theater lighting instrument, wire, cable, and circuit in the building. Maintaining a 100 year old building is an art, and Dale is our artist.

Cathy Wurzer, NPR radio personality and co-host of TPT2's Almanac, has volunteered her time to MC our yearly fund raising gala for the last three years.

Kito Young is the husband of Jawaahir apprentice Nadilia Gomez. Kito is a graphic designer and has applied his considerable talents to design a flyer for Cassandra's Cabarets. We hope you will be seeing more of his work around the web site in the future, new baby permitting.

Cassandra Shore, The Boss, is in charge of the vision and the strategy, overseeing the books, and making the big decisions. In short, the buck stops with her.

Eileen Goren took over as Administrative Coordinator early last year and is applying her passion for organization to running the office. To watch her keep 32 projects in the air at a time without dropping a single one is to be amazed. A lawyer and editor by trade, and a dancer with Jawaahir since the beginning, she will soon have property rights to the building as she seldom leaves it. She can be reached by email at booking@jawaahir.or, and with Skype video at Booking.Jawaahir.

Kathy McCurdy is building manager and one of the original Jawaahir company members. Kathy keeps the building rented, the rents paid, the light bulbs changed, the floors clean and the pop machine filled. In short, all things building. She can be reached at bldgmgr@jawaahir.org.

Angela Skrade is our administrative assistant, the glue that holds the team together, and we couldn't get along without her. She makes sure the database is up-to-date, lists are printed, CDs are burned, and shipments go out. When you think you need something, she has it ready for you. She can be reached at admin@jawaahir.org.

Lisa Bauch is a long time grant writer extraordinaire who will also be writing Beledi Beat starting with the Summer issue. Over the years Lisa has made sure the Jawaahir message to funders is clear and concise, honest and compelling. Without her help Jawaahir would be much poorer in so many ways.

Amy Kirkpatrick of Kirkpatrick Designs in St. Paul. Amy is single handedly responsible for dragging Jawaahir into the 21st century with her sense of design and style, turning our publicity postcards and flyers into true works of art. A dancer herself, she shares a passion for the art of dance.

Hilary Smith has spent a lifetime working in and around theaters. A non-profit junkie, she recently transitioned from the Guthrie Theater (yes, the days of free tickets are over) to the American Red Cross. Hilary and husband Pete are raising two kids and she still finds time to write grants for the dance company. In addition, she has been the lighting designer for all Jawaahir and Cassandra shows at our theater, as well as Guild shows, for longer than any of us remember.

Patricia Auch
 

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 30 years. She also helps direct the Arabic Music Retreat at Mount Holyoke College. Kay has been on the Jawaahir board for 10 years.
 

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 |