The Mirabai Bellydance Troupe
The Fifth Annual Fringe Benefit, presented by local dance troupe Mirabai Bellydance, will be held on Sunday, Nov. 3, at Lindsay Street Hall in downtown Chattanooga. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the event begins at 6 p.m.
The Fringe Benefit combines a bellydance show, featuring the area’s talent, with local live music from Ganja James and the Roots Survivors. All proceeds will benefit victims of domestic and sexual violence served by The Partnership for Families, Children and Adults.
Mirabai Bellydance first presented the Fringe Benefit in 2009 as a way to feature the bellydance talent in the Chattanooga area, while raising money for local women in need. Each year, the benefit seeks to provide the Chattanooga area with quality, top-notch artistic talent, as well as provide much needed funds to local charities that serve women, officials said.
The Fringe Benefit is the brain-child of founding Mirabai member Miranda Cagle. “Bellydance is such an empowering form of dance and expression," said Ms. Cagle. "It gives so many women the freedom to love their bodies, find community with one another, and walk with pride and ownership of themselves. We created this event to try to share and nurture those feelings -- to offer the identity, strength, and grace we find in this dance to help heal women who are struggling in our area and hopefully help them rediscover and embrace their own power.”
The Fifth Annual Fringe Benefit will feature several local bellydance artists, such as Mirabai Bellydance, Alexandria and The Raqettes, Jules Downum, Emerald Hips Student Troupe, Lacy Jo and Tribe Zanzibar, among others. The benefit also includes local musical talent, and this year will feature Ganja James and the Roots Survivors, featuring original reggae jams. The Roots is the newest musical project from Jesse Jungkurth and features local music veterans Ivan Garcia, Brett Nolan and A.J. Lajas.
Visit www.mirabaibellydance.com for more information.