Doors at 6:30 PM - Show at 7:00 PM

Cafe Taqsim, formerly Cafe Bellie, is a Bay Area-based Middle Eastern and Central Asian dance benefit concert where novice and professional dancers can connect, perform, and share their art in service of the community.

Cafe Taqsim is a place for dancers from across genres to connect, appreciate, experiment thoughtfully, and share joyfully. Each Cafe Taqsim begins with a free dance class, and our vendors provide fun and fresh wares for you to enjoy. The cafe at Ashkenaz is a wonderful place to grab a drink or a bite before and during the show.

Cafe Taqsim is a multi-genre, open-stage, community-focused charity event, featuring the dances of the Middle East and Central Asia. Whether it’s American Tribal Style Belly Dance, Moroccan Guedra, Contemporary Persian, or classical Afghan, Cafe Taqsim provides a space for novice dancers to share their craft in a professional setting, and professional dancers to unveil fusion pieces, solos, troupes, and more.

As Cafe Bellie, Amy Luna, Lisa Tilton, and Gail Corrado raised over $10,000 for the Women’s Daytime Drop-in Center of Berkeley. In 2019, Cafe Bellie has re-branded as Cafe Taqsim, and we are expanding our charity partners to those that not only serve women, but also those that serve immigrants and refugees from the Middle East and Central Asia, and provide crisis support for communities in Syria, Palestine, Yemen and beyond.

Ticket Prices:

GA Presale: $15

GA DoS: $20