Belly Dance Dreams Midwest

Casandra provides a fun, family-friendly belly dance experience custom-fit to your special event. Bright and colorful, alternating between high energy and slow dramatic moves. Flashy veils, tinkling finger cymbals, and possibly other props like sword, cane, fans, Isis wings, and candles (no flame). There could be beautiful Middle Eastern orchestral music, a punchy drum solo, balancing tricks, and party songs to get everyone up and dancing!

*Base Performance Package for Private Parties: A 15-20 minute performance, crafted for your specific audience. Includes veil(s), finger cymbals, and 1 optional prop. $300+

*Add an extra 15 min set: Double your experience! An extra set with new costume & new music. Short break in-between. Veil(s) and finger cymbals. 1 extra prop included. $175

*Corporate Party Rates: Please Inquire

*Shimmy Party: A 10 minute performance plus a 30 min lesson. 1 dancer $300+

*Weddings: Wedding performance 15-30 min $400+, parties (excluding wedding day) $300+, additional 15 min set $150

*Classic American Cabaret Routine: 30-40 minutes, includes floor work. $375+

Props besides veil & finger cymbals include Fan Veil(s), Cane(s)/Stick, sword(s), Isis Wings, and Hand-Held Candles, Candle Tray.

Besides traditional belly dance, she is available to perform these folk dances: Egyptian Saidi (cane dance), Egyptian Beladi, Egyptian Shaabi, Khaleegi (from the Gulf region), and Kawliya (Iraqi). Please understand that folkloric dances require more prep time and should be booked far in advance.

**Casandra of Belly Dance Dreams does not entertain at private all-male bachelor parties, so please no inquiries.

Casandra has studied Middle Eastern Dance for over 14 years and has performed at various events including restaurant and theaters shows, weddings, corporate parties, expos, festivals, and birthdays. She received her early dance education primarily from Hawaii’s popular belly dance artist Malia Delapenia, and is a former member of Malia’s professional dance company Belly Dancers in Paradise. She has taken several live workshops from many famous belly dance performers and master teachers from various countries, including countries in the Middle East. She continues her education by studying with master instructors as they visit the Midwest.

Casandra entertained regularly at Kan Zaman Restaurant‘s two locations in Honolulu from (phone number hidden)7, before her move to WA at the beginning of 2018. She was a member of the non-profit organization Middle Eastern Dance Artists of Hawaii (MEDAH) and enjoyed working with the local dance community and entertaining the public. Starting Jan 2018, she entertained monthly at Petra Bistro Mediterranean Restaurant in Seattle until mid 2019, and she entertained every couple of months at Harissa Mediterranean Cuisine in Seattle with a live Egyptian band. She moved to the Midwest in 2022.

In 2019 Casandra partnered with Alyssa Jakum to create Belly Dance Dreams, an entertainment collaboration, with the intent of servicing the Kitsap WA area and raising local public awareness of the dance form. In September 2019, Belly Dance Dreams (Casandra & Alyssa) were awarded 2nd place for their performance in the Duets/Troupes category at the La Danse Orientale Belly Dance Competition in Renton, WA.

Before her dance career, Casandra obtained a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree focusing on character animation and illustration; becoming a Middle Eastern Dance Artist has been an extension of her never-ending study of movement and performance art. She enjoys teaching belly dance to others and sharing her knowledge, respect, & joy for this important cultural art form. She currently teaches in Wilmington and Plainfield, IL.

In order to perform Casandra needs a clean floor (indoor or outdoor) free of debris and anything one could trip over, a sound system with large speakers, bluetooth capability or an audio jack with a male/male cable. Also required is a safe place to change and store her things (like a restroom).