~ Ecstatic Dance ~
What is the purpose of Ecstatic Dance?
Ecstatic dance is a free form of dance with the goal to achieve ecstasy. This is a natural state in which your awareness shifts and you get to experience a meditative and happy state of mind through body movement.
Is Ecstatic Dance good for you?
A regular ecstatic dance practice has been proven to be successful in the treatment against anxiety and depression. After the dance, many participants feel a deep inner bliss, calmness, serenity and deep connection with oneself and surroundings.
Is Ecstatic Dance sober?
Ecstatic Dance is a completely sober experience. Since Ecstatic Dance is a form of movement, and because it gets the endorphins flowing, it’s not uncommon to experience a bit of a high during the dance... similar to a runner’s high.
Do not be surprised if the hangover of bliss and buzz leaks into your tomorrow.
What do you wear to an Ecstatic Dance?
Wear loose, comfortable clothing that allows for maximum freedom of movement. We recommend that you dance barefoot, but you may wear shoes if you need to. Some people enjoy wearing fun expressive garb to enhance their enjoyment of the dance. The important thing is to wear what’s most comfortable for you.
What are the guidelines to Ecstatic Dance?
There are some guidelines you should know about before stepping onto the sacred dance floor.
When we step on the dance floor, we include and wholeheartedly welcome our whole selves exactly how we are. Bring your happiness, your joy, and wild laughter. Bring the frightened parts you that just want to hide... your nervousness, your anger, and cries of sadness. We dance with and through all states of being. Emotional releases of all kinds are a natural human experience, and they are allowed to happen in this space. With that said, if someone is having ant kind of emotional release, please know they are in a safe space, and there is no need to try to comfort or fix them or their emotional state. They are exactly where they need to be in that moment. We understand that if someone is crying, that it is in our nature to want to comfort them when they are upset, it might even be uncomfortable for you to witness their release, and do nothing about it. Our hope is that you can find peace within yourself, knowing this release is a sacred part of their healing journey, and that really, it is an incredible honor to witness and dance alongside them in this powerful moment. With that said, we allow them to have the time and space to be with and process their emotions in whatever way that feels good for them in that moment.
We communicate without speaking, instead, we communicate with the language of our movement. Creating a space without speaking makes it easier for everyone to be one with the music and to remain in a meditative state with their dance. If you absolutely must speak, we kindly ask that you take your conversation far away from the dance floor.
Most of the time we will be dancing by ourselves, but sometimes we may find ourselves wanting to dance with someone else.
If you would like to dance with someone else, please make sure they are able to give their consent to dance with you before touching them or entering their field. If you are not sure, or their eyes are closed, it is a No.
Please respect any No, and do not to take it personally.
Examples on how to communicate a yes or no in an ecstatic dance space:
How to say “No” nonverbally: Hands at your heart space in a prayer gesture, turn your eyes, and move away.
How to say “Yes” nonverbally? Make eye contact, give a smile, raise of eyebrows. Turn towards them, move in a little closer, and perhaps extend an open palmed hand.
Ecstatic dance is a free form of dance with the goal to achieve ecstasy. This is a natural state in which your awareness shifts and you get to experience a meditative and happy state of mind through body movement.
Is Ecstatic Dance good for you?
A regular ecstatic dance practice has been proven to be successful in the treatment against anxiety and depression. After the dance, many participants feel a deep inner bliss, calmness, serenity and deep connection with oneself and surroundings.
Is Ecstatic Dance sober?
Ecstatic Dance is a completely sober experience. Since Ecstatic Dance is a form of movement, and because it gets the endorphins flowing, it’s not uncommon to experience a bit of a high during the dance... similar to a runner’s high.
Do not be surprised if the hangover of bliss and buzz leaks into your tomorrow.
What do you wear to an Ecstatic Dance?
Wear loose, comfortable clothing that allows for maximum freedom of movement. We recommend that you dance barefoot, but you may wear shoes if you need to. Some people enjoy wearing fun expressive garb to enhance their enjoyment of the dance. The important thing is to wear what’s most comfortable for you.
What are the guidelines to Ecstatic Dance?
There are some guidelines you should know about before stepping onto the sacred dance floor.
When we step on the dance floor, we include and wholeheartedly welcome our whole selves exactly how we are. Bring your happiness, your joy, and wild laughter. Bring the frightened parts you that just want to hide... your nervousness, your anger, and cries of sadness. We dance with and through all states of being. Emotional releases of all kinds are a natural human experience, and they are allowed to happen in this space. With that said, if someone is having ant kind of emotional release, please know they are in a safe space, and there is no need to try to comfort or fix them or their emotional state. They are exactly where they need to be in that moment. We understand that if someone is crying, that it is in our nature to want to comfort them when they are upset, it might even be uncomfortable for you to witness their release, and do nothing about it. Our hope is that you can find peace within yourself, knowing this release is a sacred part of their healing journey, and that really, it is an incredible honor to witness and dance alongside them in this powerful moment. With that said, we allow them to have the time and space to be with and process their emotions in whatever way that feels good for them in that moment.
We communicate without speaking, instead, we communicate with the language of our movement. Creating a space without speaking makes it easier for everyone to be one with the music and to remain in a meditative state with their dance. If you absolutely must speak, we kindly ask that you take your conversation far away from the dance floor.
Most of the time we will be dancing by ourselves, but sometimes we may find ourselves wanting to dance with someone else.
If you would like to dance with someone else, please make sure they are able to give their consent to dance with you before touching them or entering their field. If you are not sure, or their eyes are closed, it is a No.
Please respect any No, and do not to take it personally.
Examples on how to communicate a yes or no in an ecstatic dance space:
How to say “No” nonverbally: Hands at your heart space in a prayer gesture, turn your eyes, and move away.
How to say “Yes” nonverbally? Make eye contact, give a smile, raise of eyebrows. Turn towards them, move in a little closer, and perhaps extend an open palmed hand.
We dance with joy until our hard edges soften and our masks fall away. We meet other courageous dancers along the way, weaving unbreakable threads of connection. Our new friendships will transcend the boundaries of time and space, and as it all melts together inside a swirling vortex of beats, ecstatic movement, breath and sound, we call in community.
As the throbbing pulse of the dance floor matches our own heartbeat, we know, without a doubt, we are not alone.
We are one. We are love.
We only live once
but if we do it with love
fun, joy, play and purpose
once is enough.