Chintimini Wildlife Center will benefit from Saturday event

CORVALLIS - This Saturday night at the downtown Beanery, they'll shove the tables back a bit in order to make way for a shimmering, shimmying parade of local bellydancers.

Siobhan VanLanen, a local bellydance instructor and performer as well as a Middle Eastern singer-songwriter, is hosting her third fundraiser this year with a bellydance showcase from 8 to 10 p.m. Saturday, April 4, at The Beanery, 500 S.W. Second St.

The show will benefit Chintimini Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, which works to treat and rehabilitate an average of 700 injured and orphaned animals each year, as well as giving wildlife education classes.

Previous fundraisers benefited Heartland Humane Society and were held in June and November 2008. A packed house at the fall fundraiser brought in $750 in donations, according to VanLanen.

"It's a great thing, there is a lot of energy put forth," VanLanen said of the atmosphere in the intimate venue at past shows.

"It's a very communal experience," VanLanen said.

Performers will include dancers from The Corvallis Belly Dance Performance Guild, VanLanen's Galactivate Dance Troupe and at least one member of the Florence Dance Guild.

The Corvallis Belly Dance Performance Guild is celebrating its 20-year anniversary this year.

"I'm just excited to be able to bring together the dance community to support a good cause," VanLanen said.

A member of numerous wildlife and environmental organizations, VanLanen has used her music and dance as an instrument for change since her very first CD project in 2002, from which she donated 10 percent of the proceeds to Chintimini Wildlife Rehabilation and other wildlife groups.

"They brought two live birds to my CD release party," VanLanen recalled.

This Saturday night, VanLanen's Middle Eastern-style band, which includes her partner, Wesley Stoker, on drums and good friend Melanie Sorenson on flute, will collaborate with dancer Erin Brown for a piece.

VanLanen, who studies Arabic and is an enthusiast in oriental, folklore and tribal-style bellydance, is just about to embark on yet another trip to Egypt, this time to attend the Nile Group Conference in Cairo. At the conference she will perform, attend workshops, network with other instructors from around the globe and "get inspired."

In particular, VanLanen is very excited about meeting Aida Nour and Mahmoud Reda, two icons of the bellydance world.

"It's really an honor to learn from these people," she said.

The next eight-week session of classes at VanLanen's Galactivate Studio (located inside Stoker's VitaWorld Health Store at 215 S.W. Third St.) begins the week of April 26 and costs $65 per person.

Information is available at www.siobhanbellydance.com.

CHECK IT OUT

WHO: Corvallis Belly Dance Performance Guild, Galactivate dancers and others.

WHAT: "Isis of the Nile" Bellydance and music showcase

WHEN: 8 to 10 p.m. Saturday, April 4

WHERE: The Beanery, 500 S.W. Second St., Corvallis.

DONATIONS: $3-5 suggested donation. All proceed will go to Chintimini Wildlife Rehabilitation Center (www.chintiminiwildlife.org).

INFO: www.siobhanbellydance.com and www.corvallisbellydance.org.