Photo by Erin Adams

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When Charlie isn’t putting together educational and outreach programs as program coordinator for the Georgia Historical Society, you can find him around town offering intricate henna tattoos, taking photographs—or practicing his belly dancing moves. Charlie studies tribal fusion belly dance, a modern form of belly dancing, and loves that it gives him a chance to explore another culture through folk dance. “

Guys belly dancing is not new by any stretch of the imagination,” he says. “I’m interested in experiencing new things. I never want to feel like I’m stuck, like I’m just doing the same old things. I don’t want to be an old fuddy-duddy.” The bonus, he says, it’s that belly dancing is fun, and it’s also great workout. “There’s no better exercise,” Charlie says. “I get to listen to really fun music and I get to shake my butt.”

What do you like best about wearing a skirt? “My favorite thing was that everybody seemed to think that I’d done it intentionally. So that was kind of funny.”

What about reading skirt!? “The features that you do on people locally. It’s nice to see people being acknowledged for things they do in the community. These are the people who aren’t looking for thanks, but it’s nice to give them thanks.”