Cedar Rapids belly dance troupe raises money to fight domestic violence

CEDAR RAPIDS — A belly dancing group is shimmying to raise awareness of domestic abuse and help support women’s shelters, performing in a May 14 flash mob in Cedar Rapids.

The group is looking for dancers, sponsors and volunteers to participate in Shimmy Mob, an international event that takes place on World Bellydance Day, the second Saturday in May. For the last 11 years, teams of belly dancers have performed on this day to support survivors of domestic abuse and raise money for women’s shelters. The Cedar Rapids chapter is raising money for Waypoint Services, a nonprofit in Cedar Rapids that offers housing services, domestic violence victims services and child care.

In an article Monday, The Gazette reported that instances of domestic violence in the Corridor have been surging.

READ MORE: Domestic violence cases growing in Cedar Rapids, Iowa City

From 2019 to 2020, domestic violence cases in Iowa City increased from 704 to 869. In 2021, the reports rose to 958 cases, according to the Iowa City Police Department. In Cedar Rapids, domestic abuse cases categorized as aggravated assault and listed under the violent crime category increased from 91 in 2019 to 94 in 2020, and then jumped to 132 in 2021. Domestic simple abuse cases went down from 2019 to 2020 in Cedar Rapids, but increased again in 2021.

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, many pointed to forced isolation at home as a factor. But in 2021, as vaccines became widely available and public spaces began opening up again, domestic violence numbers still continued to rise.

“What has been shown is that (domestic violence) has continued to rise and that it will continue to rise,” Alta Medea-Peters, the director of community engagement for the Domestic Violence Intervention Program in Iowa City, told the newspaper.

Shimmy Mob fundraiser

Shari McDowell, of Cedar Rapids, established a local Shimmy Mob in 2019. Since then, the Cedar Rapids Shimmy Mob has raised about $500 for Waypoint. Around 15 people participate, but McDowell is hoping to grow the group this year.

Participants can register with the Cedar Rapids team at shimmymob.com by March 31. The cost to register is about $40, and includes a T-shirt and beginner-friendly choreography.

Cedar Rapids participants can learn the choreography together and rehearse for free at McDowell’s studio, 102 Third Ave. SE in Cedar Rapids. Men, women and children are all encouraged to learn the choreography and participate. The performance will be less than four minutes. The performance will take place about 2 p.m. May 14 at Greene Square in downtown Cedar Rapids.

McDowell began belly dancing 20 years ago and has invited her friends to join in on the hobby. “I danced my way through two pregnancies and a divorce and made lifelong friends,” she said.

Colleen Brown, who is participating in Shimmy Mob for the fourth year, said belly dancing also has helped her make friends, especially when she was raising children and felt “isolated.” It’s also “great exercise, graceful, and helps maintain your core.”

“Belly dancers historically have a reputation of being racy,” Brown said. “That’s not what it’s about.”

The Shimmy Mob is a “nonthreatening way to get started” in belly dancing, Brown said. The dancers wears their Shimmy Mob T-shirt and black pants when performing.

“Even if a person is afraid to dance in public, that’s OK,” Brown said. “You can donate and still practice with us, or if you’d like to shake a leg in public, you can do that too.“

April Keltner, who is participating in Shimmy Mob for the second year, never imagined being a belly dancer “because I’m heavier,” she said. After working through the “silliness and awkwardness” that can come with trying belly dancing for the first time, Keltner said she grew to love it.

“I’ve never been super feminine, but it makes my inner woman come out, and gives me more confidence,” Keltner said. “I know traditionally belly dancers are known for showing a lot of skin. What I love about Shimmy Mob is we don’t wear revealing clothing.”

Laura Jackson, who is participating in Shimmy Mob for the second year, said belly dancing may look and sound intimidating, but Shimmy Mob is beginner-friendly and a way to “keep in touch with your body” and “stay active.”

“It helps me get out of my head and focus on how all the pieces of my body are feeling today,” Jackson said.

For those who don’t want to dance, they can participate by donating and raising awareness about domestic violence, Jackson said.

“It’s for a great cause,” Jackson said. “Domestic violence touches a lot of people, including survivors and loved ones of survivors. This is just a good thing to help make that conversation more accessible.”

Comments: (319) 398-8411; grace.king@thegazette.com

Emily Andersen of The Gazette contributed.