BRATTLEBORO — Three local women - Kelsey Captolia Indziniak, Cyndal Ellis, and Shanta L. Evans-Crowley - join collaborative efforts to organize “Goddess Rising: A Bellydance Benefit” for the Women's Freedom Center and Heart Thoughts Midwifery on Saturday, Jan. 18, at the Stone Church, 210 Main St.
This day will be filled with workshops and end with performances and live music starting at 7:30 p.m. Suggested donation for the evening entertainment is $10 to $14 at the door. This event is also in partnership with IBIT Dance Company and Building a Better Brattleboro.
Belly dancers from across New England will be joining the trio with unique and inspiring performances, with styles ranging from Cabaret to American Tribal Style.
Featured artists include BodyWave Bellydance, the Sahidi Sisters, Shakti Tribal Dance, Ismalia, Attar, Amati, Shanta, Kelsey, Tamsyn, Cyndal, Aerynn, and Toni Nagy.
The show begins with an invocation ceremony and live music provided by Bada Raga, but come early for two workshops:
From 3:30 to 4:45 p.m., Tamsyn presents “To Infinity and Beyond! Expanding Space and Confidence in Middle Eastern Movement.”
From 4:45 to 6 p.m., Cyndal and Toni offer “Hip Hop Bellydance Choreography” to feed one's feminist self.
Belly dance has had a long history and tradition of solidifying community, especially among women. According to a few stories about its origins, it was a dance that was connected to fertility and aided in the birthing process. It has gone by other names, such as Arabic dance or Egyptian dance, and has roots in the Middle East and Greece.