Belly dancers from the Creston Valley will be among dancers from 201 other cities when they take part in the 2016 international Shimmy Mob on Saturday at the Creston Valley Farmers’ Market.
The dancers will present their 15-minute performance as a flash mob sometime between 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. at the May 14 farmers’ market, and repeat it at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. during the Creston Lions Club 11th Avenue street fair on May 21 during the Creston Valley Blossom Festival. Dancers will be selling tickets to five raffle baskets, which will be on display at the fair.
They’re having fun practicing for the event raises awareness and funds for a serious cause.
“It started in Coquitlam … as a fundraiser for raise funds for women and children who were victims of violence and abuse,” said Creston team leader Katie Hammer, who also owns the Valley View Studio, where she teaches belly dancing.
Her troupe, the Belly Fusion Dancers, are raising funds for the Kootenai Community Centre Society (KCCS), which runs Stopping the Violence programs, providing a safe and supportive environment for women and children who are victims of domestic violence or in crisis, operating a 24-hour crisis line and safe home for women. KCCS also runs day cares, advocates for seniors and people with low income, youth programs and New Life Furniture and Recycling.
“It's important that all victims of abuse and violence know that we do have a non-profit organization that does a lot for the community,” said Hammer.
Hammer moved to Creston from the Fraser Valley over three years ago, and started her dance studio in 2013 after taking lessons at the rec centre. It was a great way to get well, she said, after she and a friend survived breast cancer.
“After we went through it, our energy levels were really low and we wanted to find some form of exercise to up our energy,” said Hammer. “We met our teacher and got hooked.”