Sassafras Bellydance Belly Dancer from San Jose, CA

Lara and Courtney are experienced professional bellydancers who will help make your event memorable and fun! Dancing as the award-winning duo Sassafras, Lara and Courtney enjoy working together to create fun, energetic performances that reflect the joy they find in dancing. Lara is an award-winning bellydancer whose exciting performances bring delight to audiences both on stage and in the more intimate restaurant environment. Lara was named the 2009 Headliner at the Personal Best Middle Eastern Dance Competition. In 2008, she won the Phoenix category of the Double Crown Bellydance Competition. In addition to studying bellydance several times a week, she also supplements her dancing education with classes in ballet, hip hop and tango. Lara's greatest inspiration is her teacher and mentor Sandra but she has learned a great deal from other influential dancers including Suhaila Salimpour, Aziza, Tamalyn Dallal, Tamra Henna, Bozenka, Zahra Zuhair, Tito, Rachel Brice and others. Courtney is also a multi-award winning bellydance performer and teacher. Courtney uses her previous training in classical ballet as an influence and foundation for her study of Middle Eastern dance. A student of Sandra, who is her mentor and constant source of inspiration, Courtney also draws on master classes with internationally renowned bellydance artists to further develop her elegant style. Courtney is a classically trained pianist, flutist and vocalist, lending natural musicality to every performance. Both Lara and Courtney perform regularly as solo artists and together as Sassafras in restaurants and night clubs in the South Bay. Sassafras will create a customized performance for your event that will excite your guests and help get the party started!