Review: "Orientalia" Concert
Cassandra
July 2001
Review: "Orientalia" Concert
When I heard Cassandra would be giving a solo concert
this year, and that Dalia Carella was going to be the
special guest artist, I knew I had to make the trip
to Minneapolis to see it.
I had to go the second weekend (I was in
Alabama
for the first weekend) and stayed with my friend Jan,
which delightfully coincided
with similar visits from Priscilla and Mary, more friends
I had originally met
at Oasis Dance Camp.
Our plans were to have dinner at the Beirut restaurant
Friday
(wonderful food, and a dancer named
Lila performed),
and see the show Saturday and the dinner show Sunday.
The show included an assortment of dance and musical numbers,
all to live music by the Georges Lammam ensemble.
It included an Andalusian-style suite (left) and
a "Melaya Leff" (right; and more
pictures here and
here)
which featured Cassandra along with members of
her dance company.
And of course
Cassandra perfromed an Orientale solo (which was especially
hot in the Sunday show)--pictures top and left.
Dalia did two numbers in the show,
Orientale (left and here)
and "El Mundo", her new fusion
of Flamenco, Carribean, and Middle Eastern
(right and here).
Dalia is a lively dancer with a unique and dramatic style;
I always enjoy watching her dance.
The Sunday dinner show included a pre-show fashion show of
Middle Eastern costumes.
Below:
Cassandra discussing a Bedouin costume; Tunisian;
and Ghawazee through the ages.
