Itzpapalotl (1999).  Pencil. By: Cassandra Strand.

I created Itzpapalotl because of the possible connection between the pyramids of Egypt and South America.  Scientific evidence may support the theory so this is a what if... Mayan Bellydancer... hey, don't forget Selma Hayak in From Dusk Till Dawn.Khaleegi Dance, Cassandra Shore (1999).  Pencil. By: Cassandra Strand.

Freehand drawing from the cover image of Yallah! Dance and Music in the Middle East.Bast, Isis, and Hathor (2000).  By: Cassandra Strand

This is just a cute little cartoonish drawing of my three favorite Egyptian Goddesses.  Bast because she is the goddess of home and (my personal favorite) cats.   Isis because she is Goddess magic, and Hathor because she is the Goddess of Dance.Nawaar Dancer (2000).  Pencil. By: Cassandra Strand.

Nawar is Arabic for a blossoming flower.  Nawaar uses her body gracefully and her hands are like two flowers opening to praise the sun.  She is my fantasy rendition of a gypsy from India.Caberet Dancer (2000).  Pencil. By: Cassandra Strand.

Just a drawing of a modern day cabaret style dancer as she tosses away her veil so she can start on her drum solo.Middle Eastern Woman (2001).  Pencil. By: Cassandra Strand.

There was just something about the girl that I couldn't help but stare at her.  She looks so calm and serene and yet she stared at me in a mysterious way and you could see in her eyes there was some sort of secret that she held.Turkish Dancer (2001).  Pencil. By: Cassandra Strand.

This is a freehand drawing from the cover of Best of Belly Dance from Turkey by Esin Engin Orkestrasi.  I wanted to practice drawing cabernet costumes and this was the only thing I had with me at the time. Faery Dancer (2001).  Pencil. By: Cassandra Strand.

I love faerie's and I know that faerie's like to dance so I figured there's probably some faerie's out there who do Middle Eastern Dance.  Especially the ones in the Middle East(where they are called peris{like pair e's}).Mata Hari (2001).  Pencil. By: Cassandra Strand.

Although Mata Hari was really just a glorified stripper, I still feel that she played a small part in the popularity of Middle Eastern Dance.  Even Hollywood copied the type of clothes she wore and labeled them as Middle Eastern.Mid East Fairy (2001).  Pencil. By: Cassandra Strand.

I've done another faery before but I felt like drawing another Middle Eastern Fairy.  This one I think feels more like a Middle Eastern Gypsy Faery.Spinning (2002).  Pencil. By: Cassandra Strand.

I wanted to do some experimentation with figures in motion.  So, here's a dancer spinning around fringe and all.Hip Drops (2002).  Pencil. By: Cassandra Strand.

I wanted to do some experimentation with figures in motion.  So here's a dancer Performing Hip Drops.  I was not as pleased with the result as I was with spinning but... oh well.Veil Dance (2002).  Pencil. By: Cassandra Strand.

I just felt like drawing a dancer with a veil and this is what emerged onto the paper.  The costume is actually based on one I own... unlike most of the images I create in my drawings.Isis Dancing (2002).  Pencil. By: Cassandra Strand.

Bellydance is magical and powerful and possibly even a dance of fertility and childbirth, so who better to perform it than Isis, Egypt's Mother Goddess, the Goddess of Magic and Mystery; for she shares all of these qualities.Floor Work (2002).  Pencil. By: Cassandra Strand.

Floorwork is one of the best parts of bellydance.  It requires strength and control.  It's amazing to watch and if it's done well and I felt I had to draw it because of this.Renewal (2002).  Marker. By: Cassandra Strand.

Because I feel a connectedness with the universe when I dance, I wanted to somehow express this in my artwork.  I truely feel renewed as if all the energy of the universe is coursing through my veins and empowering me.Caberet Cassandra Shore (2002).  Pencil. By: Cassandra Strand.

This is another one of Cassandra Shore of Jawaahir Dance Company.  She really is inspirational to watch and so I drew another one of her from a picture off a donation form that Jawaahir sends out.Folkloric Cassandra Shore (2003).  By: Cassandra Strand.

This is Cassandra Shore again.  This image I got off another donation form from Jawaahir but it's also used on their flyer from when they did a show called "Laylet al-Tarab : Night of Enchantment".Isis (2003).  Pencil. By: Cassandra Strand.

Isis is an amazing being, she has such power and mystery I can never get enough of drawing her.  Everytime she's new and different yet, exactly the same.Folkloric Dancer (2003).  Pencil. By: Cassandra Strand.

I love the more "folkloric" styles of bellydance and the more covered look so I drew it.Cassandra Shore #2 (2003).  Pencil. By: Cassandra Strand.Sensual (2003).  Pencil. By: Cassandra Strand.Margo Abdo O'dell (2003).  Pencil. By: Cassandra Strand.Stylized Dancer (2004).  Pencil. By: Cassandra Strand.Melaya Leff (2004).  Pencil. By: Cassandra Strand.Cassandra Shore #3 (2004).  Pencil. By: Cassandra Strand.Ghawazi (2004).  Pencil. By: Cassandra Strand.Tribal Dancer (2004).  Pencil. By: Cassandra Strand.Dancer+ (2004).  Pencil. By: Cassandra Strand.The Veil (2004).  Pencil. By: Cassandra Strand.Veiled Mystique (2005).  Pencil. By: Cassandra Strand.Red Series #1 (2005).  Acrylic on Canvas. By: Cassandra Strand.

This is an acrylic painting on canvas and is the 1st in it's series.  All of the images in this series feature red costuming and backgrounds.Tahiya Karioka (2006).  Pencil. By: Cassandra Strand.Bellydancer Doodle (2006).  Pencil. By: Cassandra Strand.Isis 2 (2006).  Pencil. By: Cassandra Strand.Forest Dance (2006).  CGI Render. By: Cassandra Strand.Gypsy Camp (2006).  CGI Render. By: Cassandra Strand.Temple Of Isis (2006).  CGI Render. By: Cassandra Strand.Harem Nights (2006).  CGI Render. By: Cassandra StrandBeware the Djinn (2006).  CGI Render. By: Cassandra Strand.1970's American Nightclub (2007). Pencil. By: Cassandra Strand.Raqassa (2007).  CGI Render. By: Cassandra Strand.Raqassa 2 (2007).  CGI Render. By: Cassandra Strand.Samia (2007).  CGI Render. By: Cassandra Strand.Naima (2007).  CGI Render. By: Cassandra Strand.The Lovers (2007).  CGI Render. By: Cassandra Strand.Raqassa al-Misr (2007).  CGI Render. By: Cassandra Strand.Snake Dancer (2007).  CGI Render. By: Cassandra Strand.Ghawazee Door (2007).  CGI Render. By: Cassandra Strand.Ghawazee Tea (2007).  CGI Render. By: Cassandra Strand.Turkish Dancer (2007).  CGI Render. By: Cassandra Strand.Orion Slave Girl (2008).  CGI Render. By: Cassandra Strand.Raqs fi al-Karkaday (2008).  CGI Render. By: Cassandra Strand
The Harem Dancer by Hans Zatka
The Harem Dancer by Hans ZatkaThe Harem Dancer by Hans Zatka
The Harem Dancer by Hans ZatkaThe Harem Dancer by Hans ZatkaThe Harem Dancer by Hans Zatka
The Harem Dancer by Hans ZatkaThe Harem Dancer by Hans ZatkaThe Harem Dancer by Hans ZatkaThe Harem Dancer by Hans Zatka
The Harem Dancer by Hans ZatkaThe Harem Dancer by Hans ZatkaThe Harem Dancer by Hans Zatka
The Harem Dancer by Hans ZatkaThe Harem Dancer by Hans Zatka
The Harem Dancer by Hans Zatka
The Harem Dancer by Hans ZatkaThe Harem Dancer by Hans Zatka
Middle Eastern Dance Inspired Art
If you have some middle eastern or dance related art or poems of some sort that you would like to add to this page you can submit it to me with your name, the title of your work, the date(optional), and anything you want to say about the piece.
email me
Please click on the thumbnail picture to see a picture up close.  I have changed all pictures to thumbnail size on this page so that you may load the page more quickly.
*Please do not use the images on this page without permission.  All artworks are the property of the artist and using them without permission is unlawful... it's stealing!*
Artwork of Eugenia Chao
Night Gypsy. 2004. By: Eugenia ChaoEmerald Zills. 2004. By: Eugenia ChaoLime and Rythym. 2004. By: Eugenia Chao.Snake Hips. 2004. By: Eugenia Chao.
Artwork of Cassandra Strand