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Ladies’ night out raises funds for the PES playgroun

Ladies were decked out in their finest for a belly dance fundraiser to help with the Ponoka Elementary School playground project.
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Belly dancers lit up the third Belly Dance Fundraiser Gala Saturday

Ladies were decked out in their finest for a belly dance fundraiser to help with the Ponoka Elementary School playground project.

The third Read My Hips Fundraiser Gala was held Saturday, Sept. 19 at the Kinsmen Community Centre with the hope to bring the playground project even closer to completion.

It was ladies only with belly dance troupes from around central Alberta, including Ponoka’s Read My Hips, performing dances to entertain attendees.

Read My Hips troupe leader and co-organizer Andrea Ramage said the evening is a celebration of femininity and an opportunity to bring women in the community together.

“The feel of the evening was so positive and fantastic between the audience and the dancers,” said Ramage.

She added the mood of the evening was uplifting from the start and it showed in the fun atmosphere and by the almost $3,000 worth of silent auction sales.

A favourite performance of the night was by the Read My Hips troupe who danced together with young girls. This was the second year of bringing the young girls alongside the older dancers, explained Andrea.

“So many of the dancers in my troupe have little girls,” she added.

She said it is a positive bonding experience between the mothers and their daughters. The performance, a crowd favourite, also gives moms a chance to pass on positive personal image to the girls.

There were several factors in the fundraiser that helped increase more money being raised, said Ramage. The Town of Ponoka waived the hall rental fee, Vold Audio donated speakers and lights and sponsors were eager to donate items to the silent auction tables.

“Many of the sponsors sought us out to donate,” explained Ramage.

She added that the Read My Hips troupe intends to continue hosting the fundraiser galas and to continue promoting women’s issues.

 

The full total money raised was not available at press time