Story: Kirstin Daly
Friday 13th March saw Sophie Mei, renowned belly dancer and Burngreave resident, break the world record for the most people simultaneously belly dancing, all in aid of Comic Relief.
The event took place at Embrace nightclub and the new record of 585 people belly dancing at once is in the process of being approved by Guinness World Records. Sophie shot to fame after reaching the semi-finals of ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ last year, but has been belly dancing since she was 14.
“I originally saw belly dancers at the Abbeyfield Park Multicultural Festival, and then joined the Christchurch group and got obsessed from there! I ended up doing workshops all around the country and getting as much training as I could.”
Sophie’s talents have taken her not only around Britain, but across the world.
“Last year was so crazy, I’ve found myself down South, in Egypt and then Italy, which was all amazing, but though it sounds cheesy, there’s no place like home! No matter where I’ve been I just could not wait to come back to Sheffield.”
Even though Sophie had never before heard of a belly dancing world record she was happy to break it back in Sheffield and for a worthy cause.
“Everyone was so friendly and down to earth; everybody just had a laugh, it was good fun. People had a little bit of an idea what belly dancing was but I tried to show them the proper stuff! I’ve always been really in to supporting charities, I always think it’s important to give back.”
