World Belly Dance Day magnet for the newly charitable

The guests that packed Euphoria by Ministry of Sound in Bandar Sunway last Saturday enjoyed an eye-opening experience as professional belly dancers from all over the world, including renowned French dancer, Yael Zarca, showcased their talent at the fourth Malaysia World Belly Dance Day.

It was a really great event for a worthwhile cause, as the proceeds from the sale of tickets at RM85 each will go to the Handicapped and Mentally Retarded Children’s Centre Selangor.

The evening saw top–class entertainment that amply displayed the grace and sophistication of authentic belly dancing.

Local and international belly dancers from Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, China, Ukraine, France, and more, showed a previously unimaginable range of expression that the just pelvis and hips can convey to applause and cheers from the audience excited to see the dancers performing in different styles, techniques and combinations.

“The charity belly dance is part of our commuity service and continuous corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme; we’re doing our part to reach out to the needy and contribute to the community,” said Celebrity Fitness managing director, Choi Kwangho, who co-organised the event with Belly Fusion.

Co-organiser Brancy Nekvapil, who is the director of Belly Fusion, added that, “We want to do our bit for charity and donating to the welfare home is a wonderful thing to do for the community and I think everyone should come forward and help the less fortunate.”

Brancy took up belly dancing in 2005 and is active in performing and choreographing belly dance routines for annual dinners and private functions.

Spotted among the celebrities were actor Kelvin Liew, 8TV host Baki Zainal, DJ Max of One FM, 8TV Quickie host Megan Tan, model Wilson Tan and many more only too eager to join in the cause.

“It was for a good cause,” said

Charles Chow, 30, who attended the show with his friends, adding that, “We enjoyed the entertainment and contributing to the less privileged. Giving to charity is a wonderful thing.”

Belly dancer, Serena, from Studio 23 Kuching enchanted the audience with her solo performance, “Istanbul Groove”. Serena and her husband, Albert, who was here to watch her perform, are co-owners of Studio 23, a popular dance and fitness centre in Kuching.

World Belly Dance Day is held concurrently in several other countries in the month of May, with the objective of promoting authentic forms of belly dace.

The Handicapped and Mentally Retarded Children’s Centre Selangor is a home for children and elderly people who are orphaned, mentally retarded, blind, handicapped in some other way.