Benefit Saturday for deceased belly dancer

The sisters in dance to a young Somerton woman who died last month in a car crash are honoring her life Saturday with a belly dancing fundraiser.

The dancers who had to unexpectedly say goodbye to Arlyn Alvarez were heartbroken by her loss, but they're coming together to make a fun show in her memory.

Fellow dancer Zarmineh Moody said there won't be any sad songs at the benefit to be held at Shots Club. “We'll make it a happy event for her because she was a happy person.”

Alvarez was a 23-year-old nursing student at Arizona Western College and a member of Yuma's professional belly dancing troupe, Banat Tabla. She died on Nov. 6 after a two-car collision at South Avenue C and West County 13th Street.

The benefit show runs from 5 to 6 p.m. at Shots, 2891 S. Pacific Ave., just north of the airport and across the street from Walmart. It's a family-friendly event, and children are welcome. Alcohol will not be served.

Admission is by donation of any amount. The club has supplied the space and staff free of charge, so all money will go directly to the Alvarez family.

The program will feature a performance by Moody and her students, a slideshow intermission then a performance by Lisa Manchester, her co-instructor and at least one of their students from AWC.

Manchester said when you're in a troupe, you devote a lot of time and energy to the craft, which includes rehearsal and much more.

“She loved every aspect of it, from the costuming and practicing to the performing and interacting with the audience.”

A show is something they know Alvarez would have enjoyed.

“We're celebrating her life through our dance,” Moody said.

Hillary Davis can be reached at hdavis@yumasun.com or 539-6857.