Belly Dancers Suing Pirate Festival for Money Owed

Belly dancers might not make it to the annual Pirate Festival if organizers don't pay up.

Rakhshanda Tribal Belly Dance  LLC has sued Port Washington Festivals Inc. for an unpaid balance of the $700 for their performance at the 2012 festival, reported the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The initial check that was given to the dance group bounced. 

The attorney for the group said the belly dance group may return to this year's festival if something is worked out. 

Port Washington Pirate Festival has hit rocky waters with city officials and vendors. Earlier this week, city officials said event organizer Kim McCulloch has not complied with a number of city requests and deadlines meant to coordinate efforts between her and the city as well as avoid problems from past years.

Also, the belly dancers aren't the only vendors who haven't been paid. The festival has a number of outstanding bills owed to vendors, and the city is upset by the number of calls its received from those parties hoping to be paid; many people don't understand the city isn't actually in charge of the event.

The disagreements between city officials and McCulloch have caused some to wonder whether the festival will even go on, but the Port Washington Pirate Festival Facebook page is already promoting this year's June 7-9 dates.