This June, more than 50 dancers from across Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and beyond will converge on New Orleans for CHROMATICA: A Pride Belly Dance Show, which aims to be a landmark evening of movement, artistry, identity, and community. The performance takes place Saturday, June 20 (7-9:30 p.m.) at Cafe Istanbul, presented by Karla Marie Shimmy Soul and Studio Shakti NOLA.

Inspired by the full spectrum of the Pride rainbow, CHROMATICA takes audiences on a vibrant journey through color, each hue representing a different emotion, experience, and chapter of the human story. Through belly dance, fusion, theatrical movement, and contemporary expression, the show explores themes of love, joy, courage, transformation, grief, resilience, belonging, self-discovery, and liberation.

“This show is a love letter to the community,” said Karlita (as her students call her). “CHROMATICA is about showing up fully as yourself and creating something beautiful together. It is about creating space for taking space. Every color in the rainbow tells a story. Every dancer on that stage carries a piece of it. That is what Pride is. That is what art does.”

The evening features performances by some of the Gulf South’s most celebrated belly dance artists and troupes, hosted by Shimmy Shakti Troupe and Karla Marie herself, with special appearances by local New Orleans performers. Featured artists include Andrea Eggenberger, Catherine Roche-Wallace, Ditallu, Gina Kaos Kennedy, Gwenda Bourgeois, Habibi Hips, Iona, Katie Jane, Kiley Brinkman, Ilea Bizarre, Sacha Lynn, Sassy Belles, Toria Smith and Vega Belly Dance.

Tickets are available now by clicking here.