Cassendre Xavier (aka Amethyste Rah, and Amrita Waterfalls) coined the term "renaissance negresse" in 2002 to describe her work as a multi-media creating and performing artist. She is a first-generation American-born citizen of Haitian and Chinese heritage.

As a singer-songwriter/guitarist, Cassendre has released 9 albums of music described as “a cross between Tracy Chapman, Sade, and Enya” (Borders Music Expert Steven M. Wilson).
 
Her sound has also often been compared to that of Roberta Flack, Joan Armatrading, Joni Mitchell, Pheobe Snow, and India.Arie, among others. Her recording, “Live at Tin Angel” was honorably mentioned as #9 of “Top 21 Local LPs of 2007” (M.J. Fine, Philadelphia City Paper).
 
Under her self-assigned soul name Amethyste Rah and featuring music of light by Thaddeus (Sanaya Roman), she has a growing line of spoken word guided meditation recordings called “Affirmations for Survivors”, the first two being “Spirituality” and “Self-Love”.
 
Her “snappy and redeeming” (Karen Gross, Philadelphia City Paper) multi-genre writing has been published nationally in various literary anthologies and periodicals, as well as previously self-published chapbooks “secrets & lies: poetry and other words” and “Making of a Woman/Artist: a book for every black girl and every black woman who has ever wanted to be an artist” (http://artivistpublications.homestead.com/services.html).  New e-books here.
 
She wrote, directed, and starred in a 5-actor play called “Sex for Survivors” which ran for three days in the Philly Fringe Festival 2003.

Cassendre teaches classes and workshops about creative self-expression, personal growth, healing, spirituality, and more.
 
An award-winning cultural arts advocate, Cassendre is the founder and former director of several arts initiatives in Philadelphia including the Women’s Writing & Spoken Word Series (Est. 2003, Moonstone Arts Center/Robin’s Bookstore, and the Black Women’s Arts Festival (The Rotunda and other venues, 2003-present).


Cassendre is an ordained Interfaith Minister, and although she is credentialed to perform legal wedding ceremonies throughout the United States and many parts of the world, she specializes in commitment ceremonies and celebrations for polyamorous, LGBT and alternative/intentional families of choice. As a legally recognized member of the clergy, she also serves her beloved communities as a spiritual counselor, specializing in Angel Healings, certified Reiki attunements, crystal meditations, and various ancient wisdom practices.

 
She received a $15,000 Leeway Transformation Award in 2005 for her work in art and change.
 
A New York City native who has made her home in Philadelphia since 1990, Cassendre currently works as a multi-media artist and executive director of the Black Women's Arts Festival.
Cassendre Xavier
a.k.a. Amethyste Rah
a.k.a. Amrita Waterfalls
 
Musician
Author
Visual Artist
Teacher
Actress
Raw Foodist
Humyn, Being.
 All website contents (with some exceptions) Copyright © 2006-2009 Cassendre Xavier Enterprises.
Permission granted to copy and forward content as long as proper credit and www.cassendrexavier.com are included.
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