Bellydance culture celebrated in Langley

Bellydancers from around B.C., including a male dancer, will gather in Walnut Grove for a hafla on Sunday.

The halfa, which means party or get-together, runs 6-8:30 p.m. on Feb. 23 and is being organized by Nicole Whitney.

She is the local woman who was asked to drop out of the Langley Has Talent competition. The event is run by the Rotary clubs of Langley but they use a local church, which objected to her dancing.

She had planned to do a double sword dance which she will now perform at the hafla.

“Troupes and dancers from the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island will perform,” she said. “Discover what the world of bellydance is really about – dancers of all levels, ages, shapes and sizes – even genders – will perform a variety of styles of belly dance at Nicole’s upcoming Hafla.”

The event will include a male dancer from Victoria who was one of five judges at Star Bellydancer Canada.

Nath Keo is the artistic director and choreographer for the Sacred Centre Dance company and was a featured instructor and performer at the International Bellydance Championships hosted in Soeul, South Korea.

Tickets are $10 and must be purchased in advance through the website www.shimmyforthesoul.com.

The event is at the Dancing for Desserts studio, 20279 97th Ave.