Belly Dancers Giving Back

Highlighting New Mexico Belly Dancers who help the community at large, beyond our dance community.

Shimmy Mob

New Mexico Belly Dance proudly supports Shimmy Mob, a global flash mob with a purpose. Shimmy Mob is about the transformative power of dance to bring people together, to raise awareness, and to make a real impact. Founded in 2011 by the visionary Francesca Anastasi (aka Sabeya), Shimmy Mob is more than just a dance event—it's a global movement dedicated to supporting victims of domestic violence and promoting a message of empowerment and community. NMBD provided two scholarships for New Mexico dancers to participate in 2026.

May 9, 2026

Shimmy Mob in Rio Rancho was a tremendous success, led by Team Leader, Theresa. The Shimmy Mob event was the highlight of the World Belly Dance Day celebration at Brew Lab, with nine participants in the performance and 11 team registrations. The event supported Haven House, the only domestic violence shelter in Sandoval County. The celebration included dancers from Santa Fe and Albuquerque, as well as Farfesha Belly Dance and Rosetta Student Troupe. The event raised $530, not including Shimmy Mob's proceeds. Additionally, Brew Lab 101 gave a portion of their beer sales during the show to the event and studio time for rehearsals was donated by All Around Fitness, highlighting the tremendous support of our community here in Rio Rancho. We look forward to collaborating more with Haven House for events and classes. 

The Shimmy Mob ABQ Team performed twice on World Belly Dance Day, raising awareness of Shimmy Mob and its mission to provide funding for local domestic violence survivor resources. Six of the seven team members performed with their Team Leader, Emily Richards, at both Plaza don Luis in ABQ and at the World Belly Dance Day Hafla in Edgewood, raising funds for S.A.F.E. House of New Mexico. Additional performers showed off their skills with swords, fan veils, and balancing pots.

The Portales Shimmy Mob team, led by Yogini Yoli and The Hipslingers, performed for their community in support of CasaKids. CasaKids is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering and supporting vulnerable children and families in Southeast New Mexico. Shimmy Mob was able to raise $275 to help this great organization.

Shimmying For Seniors

Shimmying for Seniors is an ongoing project by Cynthia Koenig.

This project was inspired by the SEEDS (Self-Esteem and Education Through Dance) program at Pomegranate Studios in Santa Fe, NM. Myra Krien, Director, had her program participants spend time at local Assisted Living Facilities, to perform, and also to connect with the residents.

Most Assisted Living Facilities are lacking the sparkle and fun of live dance, and we have the opportunity to share this with those who would benefit from smiles and shimmies! Shimmying for Seniors is a project that involves volunteer dancers of all experiences and skills, to perform at local Assisted Living Facilities, and to bring the joy of belly dance to the Elderly.

Here are some suggested ideas for how to start your own project in your community:

  1. Speak to the Activities Director of local Assisted Living Facilities, and introduce the idea of offering a 30-45 minute performance for the residents. You may need to introduce it as transnational style dance and have a few flyers or video clips to email, to address concerns about the appropriateness of belly dance for their residents. If they are interested, you can request that they consider their activities budget as a way to compensate your dancers for their time. Otherwise, this would be a donation of time and heart.

  2. Have a number of dancers, at least 5, who would be willing to participate. This type of venue is perfect for dancers who are just starting out in performance, or who would like to try out a solo. Please be sensitive to our Elderly audiences and consider music, choreography, and costuming as appropriate.

  3. It is also a wonderful way to join forces with other local volunteers, such as vocal groups or musicians, to create a longer event that includes a variety of performers. Whatever you decide to create is up to you!

  4. If you would like to provide any feedback or have questions, please feel free to reach out to Cynthia at 505-577-8718 or ckoenig06@gmail.com. Thank you for your contribution to our community!

Ongoing

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