Bellydancing: a sexy fertility dance or family folk tradition? Either way, practitioners of this mysterious ancient art form will seduce Palm Beach with fluid movements and ripples of vibrant colors when South Floridas first international bellydance festival, The Sharqi Experiment starts today. Lets hope for clear skies for the free drum circle and fire dance at 8 p.m. Friday, just north of the Lake Worth Ocean Pier (Lake Worth Road and A1A, Lake Worth). On Saturday, the party moves to the American-German Club of the Palm Beaches (5111 Lantana Road, Lake Worth), where world renowned instructors and local professionals will express their creativity and talent through solo and group performances starting at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $25 ($22 in advance). A charity raffle will be held to support AVDA (Aid of Victims of Domestic Abuse). Nine instructional bellydance workshops are offered for $50 each ($48 in advance) beginning Friday at 9:30 a.m. and running through Sunday. Call 561-302-6174, or visit thesharqiexperiment.com.
Fri., Nov. 13, 8 p.m.; Sat., Nov. 14, 8 p.m., 2009