A dozen women shimmied, shook and danced by the waterfront this afternoon in a bid to raise funds for charity.

The ‘Shimmy Mob' is part of a worldwide event to celebrate World Bellydance Day. The annual event encourages women and girls to come together and perform a bellydance flash mob in various locations around the world.

All proceeds from the Tauranga event will go to Tauranga Women's Refuge. 'Next year the challenge is on, we'll up the bar,” says dancer Tanya Bamford-King, who dressed in her Shimmy Mob T-shirt and a coin belt for the occasion.

Anything earned today went to Tauranga Moana Women's Refuge. For more information on how to get involved, visit: www.shimmymob.com

SunLive photographer Tracy Hardy was there to capture some of today's action on the waterfront.