BellyBlog / Shimmy Shake News

We are getting together for a blast! 😊

Hello Shimmy Shakers, new and old friends, and all interested persons,

Hello! Happy days – here, at long last, is a message from Shimmy Shake! Since our last message a rest and recuperation period was needed for our already retired Gail Pilgrim. However, it seems a lot of you are missing us, and we miss you too! So, we will start up again. Fresh, in a new form AND with a new board.

Dear Shimmy Shake fans! Here is a long-awaited update on our activities. Sad to say, over a period of one and a half years andafter putting very much energy into getting our very special project I AM WOMAN off the ground, we have had to give up. Such a pity! Such a missed opportunity for theaters, the cultural world, and the general public!

We are happy to announce that Shimmy Shake is preparing something brand new. As you may know, Gail, the producer of Shimmy Shake has taken a step backwards from ‘active service’ and the festival will not take place anymore. Fortunately Gail has trouble sitting still and thus has started working on a new project...

After a break, Shimmy Shake is reinventing itself. As you know, the festival is not taking place again. But Shimmy Shake is still alive! Gail has decided it's time for something new. We will not tell you just yet but something new is cooking and we're taking things in a slightly different direction. Still tribal fusion of course.

Hereby we are letting you know that the Shimmy Shake Organisation as it has been until now: Talent Search, Talent Carnival, Hafla, Flash Mob, Dancers Dealings, Next Level and our Festival, will officially stop at the end of this year. The Golden Girls project will continue – we have gifted it to Renate Bakker, along with all the costumes and props. Currently discussions are taking place about the possibility to pass along some elements of Shimmy Shake to others.

In recent weeks it looked as if we could organize a corona-proof Shimmy Shake Festival - despite all the measures. It was therefore a huge disappointment to hear that all theaters have to close their doors for two weeks.

SHIMMY SHAKE FESTIVAL 2020 WILL GO DUTCH!

Big change to report: with all the travel difficulties for people from the USA, April Rose has decided to postpone her world tour until next year. You can look forward to the amazing April Rose giving her 12-hour Bellydance Cohesion in Shimmy Shake Festival 2021. OPPORTUNITY: we are now programming a 3-hour intensive on the Friday with none other than – TJARDA VAN STRATEN. Yes, she is back! Followed by dinner with the workshop participants and visiting dancers, and our annual meeting.

Unfortunately the Maas Theater told us we cannot do the festival live there, due to Corona restrictions. But we have found a new theater, TR Witte de With, who will welcome us. Stay tuned for more information about this new location and how it will work within the regulations for safety.