Shimmy Mob is the brain child of Sabeya https://www.facebook.com/francescasabeya?ref=ts&fref=ts She lives in Vancouver but is from Italy. She is a Dance, Business Mentor, Consultant, Coach, Speaker, Choreographer who with her dance friends created Shimmy Mob, the most amazing way to connect dancers everywhere. Shimmy Mob is a chance to share the dance more, not wearing a traditional belly dance costume ( for a change) to be part of (supported by) a world belly dance team. Everyone dances locally ,learning others choreography, teaching the dance to anyone who wants to learn.
I had no idea the first year what challenge I was signing up for. I was quite shocked that no other studio in RI or it seemed anywhere in New England was as excited as I was. My studio is tiny compared to a ballet or modern dance studio that I am most familiar with. Though I have danced all my life I have never been in a studio like it though I would have loved to. Surprise for me was that The little Dancing Spirit Studio, carpet on the river,http://www.thedancingspirit.com was the only dance studio in New England to sign up to present Shimmy Mob the first year. I am so glad I did. When I first saw the pictures of big group mobs I thought it would be easy to gather a group of dancers. It wasn't.I became worried about having enough a big group to matter. The group size doesn't matter. What matters is learning the dance and stretching yourself because you never know what might happen - it truly is the fun if you can wrap your head around not worrying about every step being perfect.
Both the first and second years choreography was a combination of three choreographers, three studios, completely different dancers and teaching styles. The dance felt a bit like a crash course in a combo of tribal, cabaret and egyptian smooshed together. I was grateful I knew enough about the different styles so I could learn the dance and teach with knowledge because some of the transitions were challenging even for long time dancers. The beautiful slow section of Shimmy Mob challenged every dancer I talked to,even long time belly dancers, but we all learned it and it was great.
The first year was definitely challenging to teach beginner, non dancers. Both years grew me as a teacher since I had to break each movement way down to the simplest forms of weight shifts etc. Each Shimmy Mob team member in so many wonderful ways. None of of us had ever done anything like this and some had never Belly Danced at all. I feel that first year I got my angel wings because everyone looked great dancing shimmy Mob and some over came very difficult challenges to learn and perform the steps. It was hard but also alot of fun to be so challenged by the dance we love in completely new and unexpected ways
When you are teaching basics but have a performance goal such as shimmy mob, not just attached to your studio but connected to many studios and dancers everywhere that gives a different twist to classes and PR. I became a PR hound more than I ever imagined because of Shimmy Mob to get the word out to everyone.
The Shimmy Mob community of dancers on FB were all beginning and sharing their adventures and journeys all over the world in big cities, small towns with every size group and challenge. It was and is amazing to be connected to so many dancers all focused on the very same steps, music, project and goal.
For the last first two years I spent most of my energy on lining up dancers, spreading the word, explaining the idea, learning the dances, teaching students the steps over and over again wanting to make sure the dance was good. The fundraising efforts although educational were not successful. I hope this year is better as I am starting everything early with more experience
Shimmy Mob #1 2011, Ten dancers performed at the studio, not in a flash mob although it felt like a flash mob. We were local dancers, two from Providence, one by bus from Boston, two joined us from New Hampshire. It was amazing to meet dancers for the first time at the studio who all came together to dance one choreography we had learned together and separately all wearing the same costume - red tshirts, jeans and hip scarves. We danced shimmy mob at the studio, put on a show and performed a final run thru with everyone in assorted costumes( my favorite part of both years). Part of the fun of the first year was that though we had all learned the same choreography I had, had to simplify some of the steps to accomodate beginning dancers. When we performed I put the more advanced dancers on the outside of the group. It was very nice to dance an unplanned contrapuntal version with different learned steps happening at the same time
Shimmy Mob #2, 2012 year our group began the first flashmob dancing on Main rd., in front of the studio. We then caravaned to meet with Anam Cara's SM dancers. Eighteen dancers performed Shimmy Mob in four very different Providence locations, all within walking distance which were the State House, across from the Mall, over the Water Fire Bridge and Kennedy Plaza.It was GREAT. The Dancing Spirits back in Tiverton put on a studio show and performed Shimmy Mob for the 5th time that day, in assorted costumes for the finale.It was a great dancing day of days.
On Dec 30, seven Dancing Spirits performed Shimmy Mob #1 again for the first time since 2011 for the finale of the Tapestry Belly Dance show with 2 sections in front of SM. We wore traditional costumes in shades of purple , in a gorgeous space and the band accompanied us which was extra special. It was really nice to dance Shimmy Mob #1 like that. It made me feel I was honoring a beautiful belly dance dream. Belly Dance is the dance that keeps on giving.
This year's # 3 choreography was put together by Star dancer Bozenka. I have begun learning and teaching the dance.It is beautiful and graceful to very nice music. For this year's SM I have a wonderful core group of dancers who can help me teach the dance. This year,just like the first two years we won't know where exactly we will be dancing which is part of the fun. I am hoping to connect other dance studios with a Martial Arts Studio also. Performance location possibilities can go from outside parking lots to inside museums and everything in between.
Learning someone else's choreography is something I have done over the years for a solo show but I have never taught someone's else's choreography to some one else, or for a cause.That is very special. Belly Dancers all know is a blossoming. Watching non dancers and dancers perform out of their comfort zones is amazing and wonderful. It is also really fun to be part of a dance team. My kids were always on sports teams .Being part of Shimmy Mob has made me feel the closest to being part of a team but it is a world extended dance team spirit - vavoom.
Some dancers balked at the idea of dancing in t shirts and jeans. I never wear tshirts but most of the dancers were creative. They cut, tied and excessorized making each shirt unique. My #2 year shimmy mob tshirt has become one of my favorite tops and I never ever wear t shirts. The first year we weren't really a mob but last year #2 it was so much fun ( Thanks to Anam Cara's organization ) to walk as a big dance team through Providence, put down the boom box and dance.
Shimmy Mob # #,2013. Join Us and help create the biggest Flash Mob wherever you are, dancing for a great cause helping others.
For the Fee to join of $35 you become part of the Shimmy Mob team. You can either join a team or become a team leader. You receive a t shirt with shimmy mob written on it, the links to the choreography, all the info you could possibly need to start, PR, etc etc. There are FB groups to belong to. All the dancers are posting questions, answering questions and being happy for all the great work everyone is doing. You as leader have to 1) learn, teach the dance 2) decide where you can, will flash 3) figure out how to raise funds 4) figure out who you will donate funds to 5) figure out if you will only shimmy mob or if you will also put on a show somewhere ( I like to - not everyone does) 6) delegate so you don't have to do all of it yourself ( challenge for me)
Being part of Shimmy Mob benefits your local belly dance community, studio and your town by raising awareness with dance, for the dance, for a cause.You connect to a good cause, you are helping an organization that is helping others, you are sharing the word about dance,you are bringing people together.
IF you want to connect to other dancers locally and globally, IF you want to share belly dance with more people, IF you want to be part of a FLASH MOB ( who doesn't ?) IF you want to be part of a global dance team, JOIN SHIMMY MOB.The sooner you join the better chance you have to feel really good for the flash mob day. Sign up for classes.
This year the shimmy mob date is the same days as world belly dance day - YAY. We are connecting more dance date dots!!!!!
If you have any questions ask me or just sign up or go to Shimmy Mob on FB and ask amazing Sabeya who is always helpful and answers all questions
Happy 2013. If you joined in NEW ENGLAND say HELLO
Thank you to Sabeya and her friends who started Shimmy Mob!!!!!
IF you live ANYWHERE on the planet you can JOIN SHIMMY MOB!!! If you have never Belly Danced that is not a problem. Because of my experience teaching non dancers and non belly dancers to dance Shimmy Mob and being familiar with some of the challenges I have decided to make short videos explaining some of the movements.IF you practice a little every day between now and May 11 You can learn shimmy Mob :) I promise. If you have questions about any of the moves, please ask. I really love breaking Belly Dance down because I had to break it down to learn it myself even though I have been dancing a long time :).
Winston Churchill said "Continuous effort, not strength or intelligence is the key to unlocking our potential ". The quote was on Sabeya's wall and now it's on mine :)
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