Twenty belly dancers will perform on the streets of Berkeley Springs, West Virginia on Saturday May 9, 2015 as part of Shimmy Mob and World Belly Dance Day.
Photo credit: Susan Harris
Shimmy Mob is an international dance event that includes over 2,000 dancers in 174 cities around the globe. The objective of the event is to raise funds and awareness for domestic abuse survivors.
The Berkeley Springs Shimmy Mob Team is led by Bellysima Bellydance instructor Angela Petry
The Shimmy Mob team will perform on May 9 at the Master Gardener’s Plant Fair in Berkeley Springs State Park at 10:30 am, on the steps of the Morgan County Courthouse at 11:30 am, outside Ambrae House at 12:30 pm and back at the Plant Fair at 1:30 pm.
The dancers are raising funds for Stepping Stones to a Brighter Future, a local non profit that provides financial, emotional and life skills assistance to survivors of domestic violence.
Last year, Berkeley Springs Shimmy Mob raised $2,500 for Stepping Stones to a Brighter Future. Donations can be made at the Morgan County Public Library or at Travel Berkeley Springs or at any of the venues on Saturday.
The group was in Berkeley Springs State Park yesterday, practicing their routine, drawing attention from tourists, and donating used purses and shoes to Stepping Stones to a Brighter Future. The purses and shoes will be sold to raise money for the organization.
So far this year’s business sponsors include: Ambrae House, Bridge Club of Berkeley Springs, Matt Close, CPA, Buddy Lou’s Restaurant, Community Garden Market, Dobyns and Martin Grocers, Georgie’s/Mountainside Restaurant, The Gypsy’s Shop, Lone Wolf Tobacco Shop, Mountain Laurel, Rita Renee’s Spa, River Bend Family Medicine, State Farm/Luke Christie, Tari’s Restaurant, and Eugene Weaver’s Painting and Staining.
Rehearsal space was donated by the MAC Ice House, Rankin Fitness Center and InMotion Dance Studio.