Jawaahir Dance Company

Specialties

Jawaahir, which means «jewels» in Arabic, is one of only three professional Middle Eastern dance companies in the Midwest, and has a worldwide reputation for excellence. The Company presents one-​of-​a-​kind artistic and educational programs that showcase the beauty and drama of Middle Eastern dance. The company’s diverse repertoire — from traditional folkdances presented in traditional costumes with traditional music to contemporary Middle Eastern ballets — sets the stage for a performance that is entertaining, enlightening, and engaging for audiences of all ages.

History

Established in 1989.

Jawaahir Dance Company was formed in 1989 by Artistic Director Cassandra Shore. Cassandra began performing Middle Eastern dance in 1975 and has since made over a dozen research trips to the Middle East. Today, she is known as a master teacher, star performer, and creative artist in the field of Middle Eastern dance. Cassandra offers workshops, concerts and master classes worldwide, teaching and performing regularly in locations such as Finland, Great Britain, Germany, Austria, New Zealand, and Morocco, as well as throughout the United States and Canada.

Meet the Business Owner

Cassandra S.

Business Owner

Cassandra Shore (Artistic Director) has been involved in the study, performance, and production of dance of the Arabic– speaking world since 1975. She began her study and performance career in San Francisco, relocated to Minneapolis, and due to demand, opened The Cassandra School in1978. In 1989, in order to fulfill her vision of placing the aesthetic of Middle Eastern dance on the theater stage to take its place with Western dance arts, to offer dances not commonly seen on American stages, and expand the creative boundaries of the traditional dance, she formed Jawaahir Dance Company. The Company has produced an annual concert season since 1991, always featuring live music. The concert series was co-​produced by the Southern Theater until 2010, when it was moved to the Ritz Theater.