Shimmyfest Ready To Shake Its Thang

Belly dancing festival
to hit this weekend

By Richard Davis
TFW Staff Writer

(Photo: Lena Marshall) A dance during a past Shimmyfest in Fayetteville.

Shimmyfest will get some hips to shaking with belly dancing this weekend July 22-23 at the Clarion Inn in Fayetteville.

Workshops and more will take place Friday evening and Saturday with the event culminating in belly dancing performances beginning at 7:30 p.m. with featured guest Aradia of Las Vegas.

Terry Holland, Shimmyfest organizer, said this is the event’s 10th year in Fayetteville. Though she lives in Russellville now, Terry said she taught for 27 years at the Fayetteville Youth Center and had a belly dance troupe called Desert Fire.

“The really great thing about belly dancing and Shimmyfest is that it brings dancers together from surrounding states, of all shapes and sizes, who dance different styles from cabaret to Saiedi, Tribal and Tribal Fusion,” Terry said. “Anyone can learn to belly dance, and there are so many different styles that all who embrace the dance find their niche eventually. It is a great way to exercise and lets dancers become comfortable with their bodies, whatever size they are.”

The cost is $45 for the Friday workshops, $85 for the Saturday workshops or $105 for both. Shimmyfest evening show on Saturday is $10 for adults, $5 for children 12 and younger. For more, visit www.shimmyfest.com, call 521-1166 or email terry.holland@hotmail.com.

Aradia

Aradia’s interest in dance began at age 7. She has performed as a soloist throughout the United States, Egypt and Switzerland, and has danced at many of the top hotels, restaurants and clubs in Las Vegas, as well as performing for Celine Dion’s wedding. She is a well-rounded performer in Egyptian, Lebanese and Turkish oriental dance as well as the many folklore dances of the Middle East.

Friday, July 22

▲ 6:30 p.m., registration
▲ 7-9 p.m., Aradia’s “Theatrical Romany Gypsy” workshop

Saturday, July 23

▲ 8 a.m., doors open for shopping
and registration
▲ 9 a.m. to noon, “Passionate Tabla Solo” workshop
▲ 1-30-4 p.m., “Beautiful Arm Patterns and Sensual Slow Combinations”
▲ 6:30 p.m., doors open for evening show
▲ 7:30 p.m., Shimmyfest evening show