Your Guide to the Hawai‘i Belly Dance Convention’s Shimmy Showcase
Photos: Joe Marquez
Hips sway and stomachs roll in the dance of the Middle East. Performers from around the country are about to gather on O‘ahu to share their craft of belly dancing with dancers and dance lovers. If you’re not looking to learn, you can still watch at this one-night show.
Here’s everything you need to know going into the Shimmy Showcase.
What It Is
The Shimmy Showcase is the main kickoff event to open the 13th annual Hawai‘i Belly Dance Convention. The convention partners with the Honolulu Museum of Art to bring dancers from Hawai‘i and across North America together to celebrate this beautiful part of Middle Eastern culture.
To really get into the spirit of celebration, the night will start off with a “red carpet” pre-show reception complete with food, drinks and entertainment.
Entertainment
Walking up to the reception, you’ll hear some traditional and modern Middle Eastern lounge music from DJ Rhombus as well as the snap of a camera at the step and repeat entrance photo shoot. There will be two henna artists from Hau‘oli Henna, Moroccan and Lebanese appetizers by Kan Zaman, and, as should be present at any celebration, a full cash-and-carry bar featuring Greek beer and Lebanese wine. You’ll also get to watch a few performers dance through the courtyard and a live Middle Eastern percussion show from Miko Ries and friends.
The showcase will feature Hawai‘i’s own Malia Delapenia, a professional dancer, instructor and choreographer; Casandra Corette, a dancer under Delapenia’s Belly Dancers in Paradise company; and Shakti Dance Movement, a tribal fusion belly dance company.
Other performers from the U.S. include Chudney Raks, Sadie Marquardt, Simon Lebanese, Silvia Salamanca, and IL Sey and Belly Dance Sisters.
How Much It Costs
General admission to the showcase is $40 while military and museum members have a discounted price of $35. This includes admission to the pre-show reception. However, you may also want to bring some cash, as the food, drinks and henna will only be available for purchase.
There is also a $65 VIP ticket option which includes the reception, the show, VIP seating, a glass of Champagne and a post-show meet and greet with the headlining dancers.
What to Wear
The Shimmy Showcase reception and show is a “red carpet” gala, so come dressed to impress in your best cocktail attire. Previous attendees have dressed in traditional Middle Eastern attire, evening gowns and even costumes as their favorite Egyptian goddess.
Where and When
The show will take place at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 13 at the Honolulu Museum of Art’s Doris Duke Theatre. The entrance to the theater is on Kīnau Street, at the rear of the museum.
The reception is at 6 p.m. at the Luce Pavilion Courtyard.
Where to Park
The museum’s Kīnau Street lot, located at 1035 Kīnau St., is free for the public from 4:30 to 11 p.m. and is the closest to the theater.
If spaces in that lot fill up, you can also park at the Honolulu Museum of Art School lot, across the street from the museum, until 11 p.m. However, you’ll have to pay $5 for five hours and $2 per each additional 30 minutes. Entrances to this lot are located on Beretania Street and Young Street.
Handicapped parking is available at the school lot through the Young Street entrance as well as five stalls at the main building through the museum’s entrance gates on Ward Avenue and Victoria Street.
Hawai‘i Belly Dance Convention Shimmy Showcase, Oct. 13, Doris Duke Theatre at the Honolulu Museum of Art, $40 general admission, $35 military or museum members, $65 VIP, hawaiibellydanceconvention.com/showcase.html
