They'll shimmy, shake, dance, and boogy down by the waterfront next weekend.

But the dancers in the Shimmy Mob won't be doing traditional mob dancing; these dancers will be belly dancing.

A group of Tauranga dancers will take to the waterfront on May 13 to shake and shimmy for crowds, and to raise money for the Tauranga Moana Women's Refuge, as well as perform in Whakatane.

Tauranga organiser Raffaella Veneziano Cruickshank says dancers will be dressed up in their Shimmy Mob T-shirts and coin belts, and they'll be part of a global phenomenon.

'The Shimmy Mob is a global event, which takes place every year all over the world. Shimmy Mob is a global annual belly dance event, where women and girls come together and perform a kind of belly dance flash mob in various towns across the world.

'We will let people know about World Bellydance Day on May 13, share our passion for the dance and at the same time, we will do something fun that gives back to the community.”

Money is raised and donated to a local women's refuge centre of a charity, which supports women and children in crisis. Funds raised from this year's Tauranga event will be donated to Tauranga Moana Women's Refuge.

Tauranga performances will take place near the new tidal stairs on the waterfront at about 2.15pm on May 13, then again at 2.30pm at the Dance O'Mat, on The Strand.

For more information on how to get involved, visit: www.shimmymob.com.