Julianna was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin where she developed a passion for dance
in her youth and studied ballet at UW Milwaukee. She was first exposed to middle eastern dance
in the San Francisco Bay area but has studied primarily in Minneapolis with
Cassandra Shore, Margo Abdo O'Dell and in Miami with Tamalyn Dallal. She has also attended many seminars
with instructors such as:
 
Nana Candelaria , San Francisco, 
Suhaila Salimpour , San Francisco ,
Dahlia Carella , New York ,
Elena Lentini , N.Y ,
Bozenka , Miami ,
Dina , Egypt ( Miami ) ,
Faten Salama , Egypt ( Mn)    
  
and many more ... She continues to find inspiration and continues her dance education through
workshops , private lessons and exposing herself to a variety of dance performances  and theatre.
 
Julianna has performed at a variety of venues across the country in California, Florida,
Indiana, Wisconsin, Iowa,  as well as in Minnesota at events such as :
  
Rakkasah West , solo performance , San Francisco, CA .
Arab World Festival ,  Milwaukee , Wi  
"Orientalia 2005" Miami Beach, Florida  
 Southern Theatre solo performance , Mpls, Mn. 
 Minneapolis /St Paul Magazine at the Guthrie Theatre, Mpls ., 
" Emperors Ball" Landmark Center ,St Paul , Mn
" Beatles Bash 2007 " concert , Mantorville Mn
" Eagles Cancer Telethon " 2006, 2007 Rochester ,Mn  
" Rochester Womans Expo " 2005 and 2007" 
" International Association Annual Cultural Show " 2003-2007 Rochester , MN
  
as well as many dance seminars, corporate events, concerts, weddings, and private parties both
in state and throughout the Midwest. 
 
In 2004 Julianna started "Julianna and the Blue Lotus Middle Eastern Dancers" dance company
With the troupe, made up of both professional and student dancers, she has produced numerous dinner shows 
and theatrical productions. With her fine art background she has designed elaborate shows , flyer layouts,
writing detailed scripts , dance choreography and, costume design .
With the talents of her troupe and troupe coordinator Julianna and the Blue Lotus have created  unique and
creative theatrical productions to large enthusiastic audiences that have been  well received in the theatre and
dance community of Rochester , Mn  .

" Goddess of Magic and Sorcerer of Doom " 2004 
 " Show Case of the Gods " 2005 
 " Seasons" 2006  
 " Turn Up The Heat " Winter ,  2007
 " The Quest for the Jewel of the Sahara " Spring , 2007  
 " Danse Macabre " Fall , 2007  

 
Julianna has also tried her talents at dance competitions and competed at the 2006 Belly Dancer of the Universe
competition in Long Beach, CA where she won the "People's Choice Award" and "1st Runner-up" in the Universal
category that required skills in Turkish, Persian, and Arabic dance. She plans to continue her pursuit of dance
competition because of the challenge it brings and the evolution of her dance abilities and growth of her dance style.
 
Julianna performs regularly and is a favorite at the Mediterranean Cruise Cafe in Eagan, MN (www.medcruisecafe.com)
where she schedules and helps manage numerous dancers.  She also performs at The Falafel King in Bloomington, MN.
 
Julianna has a unique and graceful style with sharp technique and has a knack for the creative use of dance props 
including veil, sword, Isis wings, cane, fan, boa, and zils.
  
She teaches middle eastern dance and workshops throughout the year to large classes and enthusiastic students
who enjoy her unique teaching style and eagerly await her teaching video in production for the coming year.
   

If you are interested in taking classes or having Julianna perform at your event please contact
her at juliannabellydance@yahoo.com .