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Dance From the Heart: Project Haiti

March 20, 2010

Memphians Dance From The Heart for Haiti In December 2004, when the tsunami devastated parts of Asia, a group of local bellydancers decided to throw a benefit performance to help raise awareness and donations for the relief efforts. Word spread, and soon bellydancers across the nation were organizing performance fundraisers in their own cities. Before they knew it, Dance From the Heart was born." Dance From the Heart" is a 501 (c) (3), tax exempt multi-cultural corporation organized exclusively for charitable purposes, utilizing performing and visual arts events as a means to increase the global cultural awareness of the public towards human suffering and tragedy." (www.dancefromtheheart.org). The Memphis chapter of DFTH raised $1100 in donations towards relief efforts in Asia. Across the US, bellydancers raised over $12,000 to send to Oxfam, Unicef and other relief organizations. What started out as a conversation between bellydancers wanting to raise money for a cause turned into a nationwide movement.

In late 2005, Dance From the Heart resurfaced to send funds to Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. Now, it's time to Dance From The Heart again for Haiti. All 4 of Memphis' bellydance companies (Memphis Raqs, Desert Rose Dance, Pyramid, and Dance With Jasmine) are coming together to organize Dance From The Heart: Project Haiti, a spectacular performance to raise awareness about Haitian culture and lifestyle and the tragedy that is going on in the wake of the recent devastating earthquake. The performance will feature not only full-scale professional bellydance shows, but performers from all walks, including Maori-style poi dancers, live Arican and Middle Eastern drumming, hula hoop dancers, competitive ballroom dance demonstrations, modern dance and ballet, and more! Performers all over Memphis have been generously offering their time and talents, and the lineup is still expanding! The event will take place Saturday, January 30 from 4-6pm at the Fred Astaire ballroom dance studio in Bartlett (6252 Stage Plaza East, off of Stage Road at Elmore Park Rd), who have generously donated their venue to the cause. The performance is open to the public, family-friendly, and donation-based. Please mark your calendars and bring your donations for this wonderful cause. For more information about the event, or to donate your time and talent to our cause, contact Liz DiMaggio at (901) 605-5520 or liz@memphisraqs.com "When you dance from the heart, you can move people to make a difference"