Next week I might be a bit incommunicado.  I’d say it was another episode of real life butting in to steal my blog time, but it’s so much better.  For all of next week, I’ll be in Michigan getting general skills certified in American Tribal Style belly dance!  I’ll be learning from creator of the dance, herself!  And so I really can’t begrudge her taking away some blogging time because ZOMG– Carolena Nericcio!!!

Ahem, sorry about that.  I have a serious idol issue there.

Anyway, I wanted to share something with a deadline that is coming due very soon (last day to register is April 5!)  I probably should have mentioned it earlier, but there’s still time if you want to get involved.

It’s called Shimmy Mob.  Have you ever heard of a flash mob?  Well it’s sorta like like, except it’s organized by belly dancers and for a great cause.  This is only the third year that Shimmy Mob has operated, and this will be only the second time I’ve participated.

Essentially, what happens is across the world, groups of women (and some amazing men) get together to learn a particular choreography.  Then at the exact same moment across the whole world those people will spontaneously start dancing in a high visibility public space.

What’s the point?  Well, I’m glad you asked.  Shimmy Mob was established to raise awareness of abused and battered women.  I was going to post some statistics, but instead I’m just going to link to Shimmy Mob’s statistics page.  The numbers are just awful, and we’re going to do something about it.

When you register to participate in Shimmy Mob, you do need to pay a $35 registration fee.  For this, you get access to the choreography and a tee shirt that will identify you as part of the shimmy mob on the day of performance (May 11- World Belly Dance Day!)

I’ll be performing with the Baltimore chapter of Shimmy Mob under the direction of my amazing friend.  She has chosen House of Ruth as the charity we will be supporting with the awareness and donations we garner.  And all we have to do is make a spectacle of ourselves!  But to be fair, I do that most days without even trying.  🙂

If you’re interested in participating, you can register here.  No experience in dancing required!  Beginners are welcome!  All you have to do is get your shimmy on!

Once you have filled in your information, you’ll be able to look through a list of cities and choose which one you want to dance with.  Pretty much from then on you’ll be getting all the direction you need through email from your team leader and the good folks at Shimmy Mob.

I intend to take a billion pictures on the day of and will absolutely post them here.  I’m very excited to be a part of something as far reaching as Shimmy Mob.  If you do not want to dance, but would like to help by making a donation just shoot me an email by clicking here.  I will be collecting donations specifically for House of Ruth.

And since this is a flash mob, I can’t tell you where we’ll be performing or at what time.  That would ruin the fun!  But I’ll report back, promise!  Being part of a flash mob has been on my bucket list for years.  I am pretty stoked to be a part of such an important one.  😀

I’ll leave you with a mash up video from Shimmy Mob 2012!
(You can see the Baltimore team at 3:00)