A KALEIDOSCOPE of colourful belly dancers will be teaching workshops and performing some dazzling dances in aid of the Arthur Rank Hospice Charity.

The event, called Shimmyfest and organised by local belly dance troupes, Shani and Sienna, will be held at The Brook in Soham on May 18.

Teaching at the event will be tribal-fusion specialist Bex; tribal, fire dance expert Horizon; American tribal style duo Akula and Elizabeth, Shani, a five-piece dance troupe, and Soham based trio Sienna.

The ladies share a mutual love of belly dance and all met at dance classes run by Shani member Caroline Lerrigo.

Caroline said: “The event will be amazing. We have some internationally recognised teachers coming to do workshops and we also have some brilliant dancers who will be performing in the evening.

“It’s a chance to see belly dance, including some of the modern variations such as gothic and fusion, up close on a scale not seen before in the Ely area.”

The event is being run in aid of the Arthur Rank Hospice Charity, Hospice at Home Service, which provides specialist palliative care for people aged 18 and older at the end of their life, enabling them to remain at home if that is their wish.

The cause is close to the heart of the troupe, as the father of one of the dancers was assisted by the Hospice at Home service before he died earlier this year.

Community fundraiser, Aisha Hunt, said: “I would like to say a very big thank you to Shani, Sienna and everyone involved. It sounds like it is going to be a great fundraiser with lots of fun to be had.”

Workshops are aimed at those with previous belly dance experience but the evening Hafla, which starts at 7.30pm is open to anyone. Information on workshops and how to book tickets can be found at www.shanidance.co.uk.