Hafla for Humanity

Woodstock, Killington and Mendon area folks who have shown an interest in welcoming our new neighbors from Syria might be interested in this performance on Sunday evening in Rutland, at 7 pm, hosted by Grace Congregational Church, 8 Court Street.

"Hafla" is Arabic for dance, and Middle Eastern dance is much more than our stereotype of "belly dancing." Traditionally performed at social gatherings, this hafla, featuring solo and group performances, will feature a wide range of cultural styles, including Egyptian, Lebanese and Turkish, with an unusually large number of dancers taking part.

This is a FAMILY FRIENDLY performance, with an opportunity for audience participation.

The event is free. Donations are welcomed, to benefit the Vermont Refugee Resettlement Program and the AMAR Foundation's Escaping Darkness Campaign, which rescues women and girls from ISIS captivity.

For more information, contact the dance organizer, Alaia, at alaiadance1@gmail.com or 802-236-2356.