We recently had the chance to connect with Casandra Tanenbaum and have shared our conversation below.
Good morning Casandra, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: Are you walking a path—or wandering?
I am doing both- simultaneously. It’s possible to be on a solid path and still wander, ambling and whimsically skipping toward a vision. That’s exactly what I’m doing. My vision is a world of play, and I’m definitely dancing my way there, playfully.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Casandra and I created Flow Fests- festivals of PLAY in major cities across the United States. Flow Fests are cultural events celebrating Circus Arts, Dance & Yoga through workshops and performance, and they are free to the public in urban parks- Ft Lauderdale, Dallas, Denver, Seattle, Chicago and more! It is a total joy to elevate wellbeing for entire communities with Flow Arts and Circus. I’ve been producing Flow Fests since 2011, and I am extremely proud of our impact over these past 15 years. I’m thrilled to share that Flow Fests is GROWING and in 2026 we are producing events in two new cities: Indianapolis and Philadelphia.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
I remember learning about the power of generosity from both of my parents, but specifically from my dad when I was about 9 years old: a day of playing arcade games left me feeling underwhelmed at the redemption booth. “I don’t want any of this cheap plastic junk, ” I said. My dad replied, “Why don’t you give your tickets away?” At first I was offended by his suggestion: those were MINE. I earned them, why should I just give them to other kids? I worked hard for those tickets! But then, I thought about it, and decided that it might actually be FUN to give my tickets away, so I did! And it WAS fun- SO MUCH FUN! I enjoyed it so much more than I would have enjoyed whatever trinket ”trophy’ I might have otherwise received. I recently read the book “Infectious Generosity: The Ultimate Idea Worth Spreading,” by Chris Anderson and highly recommend it. This beautiful world is abundant with kindness and overflowing with joy, if we remember to look for it!
What’s something you changed your mind about after failing hard?
In 2016 I planned to produce Midwest Flow Fest in Madison, WI. I’ve always enjoyed the city of Madison, particularly projects coming out of the innovative Office for Multicultural Arts Initiatives at UW, and I’m quite impressed by the Madison Circus Space. Unfortunately. I encountered a number of obstacles, particularly in the venue selection, and chose to cancel the event. It was extremely upsetting- I had NEVER canceled a Flow Fests event before. And it forced me to re-evaluate the way I select cities. Ultimately this cancelation proved to be a blessing in disguise: a group of circus artists based in Chicago reached out to me and invited me to consider bringing a Flow Fest to Chicago! I would never have thought we’d be able to make it work in such a big city, but producing Flow Fest Chicago has been a pure gift- we started in 2017 and have grown there ever since! And it taught me a huge lesson about the nature of Flow Fests- bigger cities are better locations for Flow Fests events, and it’s been much easier to work with big cities in the permitting process. Now, I’m so grateful to have failed!!!
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
“Play is how kids learn, art is how adults play.” -Peter Gray
“Play is the only way the highest intelligence of humankind can unfold.” -Joseph Chilton Pearce
Play is essential for life. It primes our brains and bodies for ultimate wellbeing, putting us in a state of flow. Play provides a uniquely powerful pathway for learning, and we are still uncovering the myriad ways we benefit from time spent at play. While not necessary for life, play IS necessary for LIVING.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. Are you tap dancing to work? Have you been that level of excited at any point in your career? If so, please tell us about those days.
I really AM! It’s wonderful to do this work, and even when faced with a challenge I feel full of creativity and optimism. Flow Fests events have provided me a chance to embrace a bigger vision of myself as an artist than I ever expected. I call it the ‘Cosmic DJ’, this avatar or archetype I embody when I’m producing a Flow Fest. I pretend that I have access to these two turntables. One turntable consists of all the practical, logistical elements of the event: the insurance, the permits, the site map, the schedules, the wristbands, the sound equipment, etc. The other turntable includes ALL the intangibles or elements outside of my direct control, like weather, or the moods of our audience. As the Cosmic DJ, I’m mixing between both turntables the entire time, in a big creative production. That’s honestly what it feels like!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://flowfests.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/flowfests
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/flowfests
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/flowfests
- Other: ALL EVENT LINKS can be found on our Linktree!
https://linktr.ee/flowfests
