Angela is known for both her passionate dance performances and her work as a mehndi artist for her company Ancient Traditions Mehndi. It was the art of henna that led her to explore belly dancing. “Henna and dancing go hand‐in‐hand.” Depending on the culture and event, women doing henna for each other would also include music or dance as part of a celebration. “Listening to Arab music while I was doing henna got me thinking of dance. Henna turned out to be a gateway for other things.” 

Angela started teaching in 2007 and currently teaches Level 1 in the Minneapolis studio. In her classes, she likes to keep things light and fun while focusing on the basics. “I think a solid foundation is really important. I enjoy breaking down movements for my students, and working with them in class, in ways that actually feel like dancing.” In keeping with Cassandra’s philosophy, she recognizes that not everyone wants to perform, but she teaches the class with professional level standards.

This has paid off, and she really enjoys teaching and watching her students’ progress. “We recently did choreography for our winter session and it was fun to see how the students worked with what I gave them. To see them perform was such a fun experience.”

Angela’s also thrilled that some of her beginning students are now in levels 3 and 4. “I love that they’ve continued. I think that’s pretty cool.”

Text by Patricia Cumbie. Photo by Terra Sura.

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.

Helen has taught every level at The Cassandra School. She focuses on technique and encoures each student to be their personal best. Her goal is for each student to develop an emotional connection to the moves and music so they can
express their own interpretation of the music with depth and feeling. She has contributed choreography for many Jawaahir shows, and will be revisiting one of her favorite pieces for the Performance Adventures class.

Text by Helen.

Jenny has been teaching through The Cassandra School since 2001 and was a Jawaahir Dance Company member from 2000 to 2018. As a teacher, she is committed to breaking down movements so they are accessible. “I use a lot of imagery and metaphor. I really want students to understand the movement, not just copy me.” Her students get the added benefit of her background in movement and posture as a professional dancer who’s performed both ballet and belly dance.

She started her dance career in ballet at the age of seven. As an adult, women in her circle of friends encouraged each other to take belly dance and signed up together. After her first class she remembers thinking ‘oh yeah, I love this.’
Jenny never set out to be a dance teacher, but when she was asked to sub for another instructor, she found the opportunity exciting. “I love seeing the change in people, when they go from learning a movement to playing with it to make it their own.”

Jenny describes her way of teaching as both coaching and training. She likes to structure classes by practicing technique as well as giving students the opportunity to try free expression with the movements. Jenny’s classes are
always leavened with a little humor too. “My goal is to share my love for these movements. I want my students to feel it and express it, too. I like to engage people in an emotional connection with the dance.”

Text by Patricia Cumbie.

Lauren Olson Fraga used to play soccer for exercise before a friend introduced her to belly dancing. “I fell in love with the dance and just kept taking classes.” Her first teacher at The Cassandra School was Shari, a then Jawaahir Dance Company member. “She’s such a beautiful dancer and she was inspiring to me. So, I went from the beginning levels and beyond to experience so many other great teachers.”

Lauren now teaches levels 2 herself, and as a Jawaahir Dance Company member and teacher, it feels like she has come full‐circle. She nows what it’s like to come to dance late in life and wants people to feel comfortable in her classroom. “My teaching philosophy is to provide a supportive environment for students at different levels.”

Lauren’s first teaching gig, though, was not in the U.S. In 2015, she was living in Brazil with her husband (she was once an exchange student there and speaks Portuguese), and taking classes with Monah Souad. She also danced with Cristina Mendes and taught at her dance school. “Wherever I’ve been I’ve found community in dance.”

Yet she thinks The Cassandra School is special and it was something she missed while she was abroad. “Cassandra’s always had a mission. It’s really rare to find an instructor who is interested in preserving the history and culture of dance and passing on that knowledge in classes, especially to beginners.” As a teacher, Lauren wants to pass on that enrichment, too. “I think belly dance is great for people who like to learn over the course of their lives. It is an art form you can study forever.”

Text by Patricia Cumbie.

Margo Abdo O’Dell is a renowned teacher, performer, and choreographer of Middle Eastern dance. Noted for her polished technique and expressiveness, exceptional teaching skills, compelling theater productions, and informative articles, she has been a leader in the national Middle Eastern dance community.

Her local theatrical presentations portrayed an array of dances from, in, and around the Middle East as well as interpretive works grounded in traditional and contemporary movement genres, always inspired by her Lebanese heritage. She received numerous grants for her work from such funders as the Minnesota State Arts Board, Jerome Foundation, Travellers, Women’s Foundation, McKnight Foundation, and more. Her performance video,Tajdeed, has been reviewed and highly recommended.

Repeatedly criss-crossing the country to teach, perform, and share this vibrant, passionate tradition has been a profound honor and pleasure. The receptiveness of students and audiences to engage with Arabic culture provides much gratification, especially in difficult global times.

Margo’s early dance training encompassed ballet, modern, tap, jazz, and Middle Eastern dance instruction from the finest choreographers/instructors in the U.S. and Middle East. She also brings her experience as a certified Integral Yoga Hatha instructor to her teaching and coaching.

Each life phase brings new challenges, prospects, and modes of creative expression. Margo invites her students along for the ride, the opportunity to gain personal insights, and experince the elation of uniting body/mind/spirit through movement. Dance, like yoga, should be a joyful celebration, not a competition. Be prepared to have fun in her classes!

Cassandra is her long-time friend and mentor and Margo is grateful for her years of encouragement and support. Margo was an original instructor at The Cassandra School and is delighted to return.

Text by Carstens Smith.

Megan loves Middle Eastern dance - the movements, energy, music, history, and culture, and is excited to be sharing her passion with students at The
Cassandra School. She is mindful that we all have a variety of backgrounds, skills, experiences, and abilities, and hopes that everyone feels welcome, has fun, and is able to challenge themselves in class. Besides taking classes and teaching, Megan is a member of Jawaahir Dance Company, and dances at Ansari's Mediterranean Grill and lounge, as well as other local events.

Text by Megan.

Paula is a teacher for Level 1 classes at The Cassandra School. She has studied Middle Eastern Dance since 2006, when she took her first class at The Cassandra School with no previous dance experience. After overcoming the intimidation of a completely new art, she dug into learning more about the music and cultural connections of Middle Eastern Dance. After moving out of the state, and several years living and dancing in Michigan, she returned to the Twin Cities and again sought out Cassandra as a teacher.

Now a professional soloist as well as Jawaahir Dance Company member, Paula’s style is characterized by a focus on the feeling of the music and connection with the audience.  She is excited to share her love of Middle Eastern Dance with beginner students and to welcome new dancers into the art in an approachable and fun way. 

Text by Paula.

Theresa is a member of Jawaahir, and has taught all levels, but mainly the higher levels and professional level, at The Cassandra School. She is a student as well as a teacher, continuing to take professional level classes from Cassandra weekly. Although Cassandra is her main influence, she also credits Randa Kamel, Mercedes Nieto, and Virginia of Miami as dancers who have greatly influenced her style. She brings a passion and intensity for the dance to her teaching style, peppered with humor and fun.

Text by Theresa.