Belly dancers will shake it up at Adelphi

Women of all ages will shake and shimmy for a good cause Sunday to support a breast cancer center at Adelphi University that recently lost a large chunk of its funding.

The Adelphi New York Statewide Breast Cancer Hotline and Support Program, professionally staffed and run out of the college, was established 30 years ago and for most of that time was partially funded by the New York State Legislature.

But the organization, which provides services to women around the state, was cut from the state budget this year, said spokeswoman Lyn Dobrin, leaving a $300,000 budget gap.

To support the program, belly dancers from the Harem Belly Dance Studio in Baldwin, will perform at the university between 2 and 5 p.m., and owner Aviva Khadra will give an Intro to Belly Dance lesson during mid-day intermission.

The $20-entry fee will go directly to the breast cancer program.

Khadra said there will also be performances by other dance studios and belly dancers from out of state. Vendors will also be set up at the venue, on the second floor of the Adelphi University Center in Garden City.

Khadra, who organized Sunday’s event, said she has taught belly dance classes to breast cancer survivors at the Adelphi center for years, and when she heard the group’s funding had been cut, she wanted to help.

“I just found out by coincidence,” she said. “And we said, we’d love to do a fundraiser.”

Khardra said the belly dance fundraiser seemed appropriate because it has been a big help to the women she’s taught at the center at Adelphi. She said women who are in remission are told they need to exercise, and belly dancing is the perfect, no-impact workout.

“I’ve seen it do so much for these ladies,” she said. “They get so much out of it.”

Doors for the benefit open at 2 p.m. Sunday . Adelphi University is at 1 South Ave., Garden City.