2017 SHIMMY MOB Breaking the world record: Dancers aim to make Belly Dance History record again in 2017, raise funds for
Women’s Shelters
MEDIA RELEASE
11 May 2017
Belly Dancers across the world are gearing up to make belly dance history once again, all for a great cause. On
Saturday, May 13th, 2017 “Shimmy Mobs” will be appearing randomly at various locations across 172 cities to promote World Belly Dance Day and
help raise awareness and funds for domestic abuse victims’ shelters.
What makes Shimmy Mob different from other flash mobs are the two main goals: 1. Promote bellydance and raise awareness
of World Belly Dance Day, Saturday May 13th.
2. Raise funds for local Women’s and Children’s shelters in participating communities.
Of course, we also aim to entertain! Shimmy Mob represents various styles of belly dance and audiences will be treated
to a show full of fun and variety. Shimmy Mob broke the record in 2015 and we aim to break it once again in 2017 by being the largest event of its kind over a huge geographical territory covered in one day.
Auckland based dancer, Candice Frankland of Phoenix Belly Dance, is the Team Leader coordinating the efforts for her
students and the local dancers joining forces to raise funds for the North Shore Women’s Centre. Phoenix Belly Dance is
sponsoring rehearsal venues, equipment and tuition. 100% of funds raised go directly to the North Shore Women's Centre.
LOCATION & SCHEDULE DETAILS:
12:30pm - Public square next to Milford Shopping Centre and New World. (141 Kitchener Rd) 1:15pm - Takapuna Beach (The
Strand) 1:30pm - Hurstmere Green in front of Movenpick (33 Hurstmere Rd, Takapuna) 2:15pm - Aotea Square 3:15pm Taksim
Turkish Kitchen and Bar - 373 Manukau Rd, Epsom **Times/Locations subject to change slightly About Candice Frankland and Phoenix Belly Dance - http://www.phoenixbellydance.co.nz The Phoenix Belly Dance Group are the winners of the Viva Eclectika Asia Vision Cup, Best Nationwide Entertainment
Company Award at the Corporate Events People's Choice Awards, and Candice, the Director and Principal Dancer, has been
invited to teach and perform in Spain, Turkey, Norway, Fiji, Australia, South Africa, and across NZ.
These multi-award-winning performers are made up of women of various different training and backgrounds, and their aim
is to share the rich cultural experience and entertainment of Middle Eastern dance.
They have been invited to perform at events ranging from SkyCity Breakers, Breakfast News TV show, Rugby World Cup 2011,
Coca-Cola Christmas in the Park 2011-2016, and high profile clients such as Vince Harder, Tamati Coffey, Atif Aslam, Len
Brown, Marley Sola, and Julian Savea.
Candice Frankland has shared her bellydance classes with women from abused backgrounds, and has found that dancing was a
wonderful tool to allow these women to gain back confidence and power that had been taken from them. This realisation
has lead to some of the underlying principles of the Phoenix Belly Dance company (empowering women, and making them feel
confident), and raising funds for the North Shore Women's Centre on an annual basis.
About the North Shore Women's Centre
For 25 years, the North Shore Womens Centre has delivered high quality services to vulnerable women and their children,
especially for those experiencing domestic abuse in the community. Their services are free or low cost and include: free
legal clinic, family support service, low cost counselling, clothing exchange, and an information and referral service.
They also offer a range of courses and services including school holiday programmes for young women, massage, healthy
eating, Tai-Chi, creative art, and drop-in and telephone services. North Shore Women’s Centre is funded by various
philanthropic trusts and Child Youth and Family, Funding programmes that benefit women and their families in our
community is an on-going challenge, however, and all donations are gratefully received.
Shimmy Mob is produced by Francesca Anastasi
ENDS