Name: Cultural Lecture Series by Cassandra Shore
Start: 2025-11-23T13:00:00-06:00
End: 2025-11-23T15:00:00-06:00
Location: Celtic Junction Arts Center

Cultural Lecture Series by Cassandra Shore
October 19, 2025, 1 PM CT – Cultural Connection
November 16, 2025, 1 PM CT – Region 1 Insights
November 23, 2025, 1 PM CT - Region 2 Insights
Location: Celtic Junction Arts Center, 836 Prior Ave N, St. Paul, MN 55104
Cost to attend: $30/ workshop
Register now: https://theguildofmiddleeasterndance.org/shop/
Sign up early, in-person spaces are limited. You may also attend via Zoom. Note that times are stated in Central Time Zone. Must be a current Guild Member to attend.
Early bird discount bundle: Sign up for all three by October 1 and receive the $90 value for just $75. Use Coupon Code: culture25
The dance we love comes from many social and folk dances from various middle and near east regions. It’s important for the dancer to know about these traditions and styles when dancing for ethnically diverse audiences.
The November presentations will provide insights into Middle Eastern regions and their styles of music, dance, and traditional costumes. The lectures will cover two regions per workshop: 1) The Magreb (North Africa), and The Levant (Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Israel); 2) The Arab states (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, The Emirates), and the Eastern Mediterranean (Turkey & Greece).
The October presentation: Why understanding Arab cultural connection matters: What, exactly, are we representing when we perform this dance in public? What cultural connections, aesthetic, props, presentations, and costumes should we use, or stay away from? What to present for different audiences? How do we explain the fantasy dances? That’s what we will discuss! Bring your questions and concerns!
This lecture series will be presented by Cassandra Shore, who is part of the living history of Raqs Sharqi dance in America.
More about Cassandra here:
https://www.facebook.com/TheCassandraSchool
https://www.jawaahir.org/Cassandra.html