Ecstatic Dance & Conscious Movement (Saturdays mornings)

Ecstatic Dance is a freeform movement journey, held in an open, compassionate container...a place where we can be our unique selves, and share the bliss of being in our bodies, together.

Each morning is different! See event list to confirm dates & offerings.

Saturday Morning Offerings: Doors open at 10:30am

• January 11: Cacao Ecstatic Dance w/ Dave
• January 18: Dance & Meditation w/ Dave
• January 25: Guided Freeform Dance w/ Thomas
  
• February 8: Cacao Ecstatic Dance w/ Dave
• February 15: Dance & Meditation w/ Dave
• March 1: Guided Freeform Dance w/ Thomas
  
• March 8: Cacao Ecstatic Dance w/ Dave
• March 15: Dance & Meditation w/ Dave

...and much more to come, including evening live DJ & workshop offerings!

About Ecstatic Dance

Go wild! Be slow. Be bold. Be calm. Be exactly as you are in each moment. There are no expectations and no judgement.

• Kindly arrive on time and sober, with a clear mind and open heart
• Come dressed to move in comfortable clothing / layers
• Bring some drinking water!
• No experience required; all ages, bodies and peoples are welcome*
• We dance without footwear: you may dance in socks if you prefer

* toddlers welcome with supervision

Here's a sample of the music we danced to at previous Ecstatic Dances

I'm delighted to curate Ecstatic Dance sets from DJs around the world, featuring a mix of tribal beats, high vibes, groovy downtempo, sultry bass, funky electro folk, deep dubs, and global / shamanic fusion. The music is specifically curated to inspire a full body movement journey!
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Description of Offerings

Cacao Dance

We'll gather to share our intentions for the morning as we mindfully enjoy some decadent, artisanal, heart-opening cacao*.

Then we'll dance together for about 90 minutes, ending in a sonic savasana (a meditative soundscape during which you can sit, lay down, etc.).

We'll conclude with a closing circle, and you're invited to support packing up the space if you would like.

*If your body is happy and comfortable with a morning fast (eating minimal breakfast), the effects of the cacao will be heightened — however, please honour your body's needs :)

Movement Workshop: A Guided Journey into Yourself w/ Thomas

Thomas will guide us for 90 minutes of movement exploration, supporting us to explore the edges of our comfort zone as we settle deeper in our bodies and surrender our thoughts. The dance is for your body to express itself: the directions and guidance are suggestions to support your deeper embodiment. While pushing your comfort zone fosters growth, you can engage with Thomas's guidance as you feel called.

After the dance, we'll gather for a 15min meditation to experience and reinforce the greater sense of body awareness and embodied calm cultivated through movement.

Just Dance (and Meditate)

Music will start when the doors open at 10:30am, beginning with a slow, calm and melodic build-up, perfect for stretching, rolling around, meditating, and warming up your body however you are called.

We'll dance for about 90min, and then share a 15min lightly guided meditation. Combining movement meditation with seated practice is a powerful way leverage the bliss of movement to foster greater insight, and mind-body integration.

As always, we'll have a closing circle to connect before we depart.

Ecstatic Dance - Simple Guidelines

1. We Dance Barefoot

• This allows us to connect more fully with the Ground (socks are OK)
• If you have a physical condition or need and would like to dance with shoes, kindly do so (otherwise pls avoid shoes so as not to harm others' toes!)

2. We Dance without words

• This makes it easier to be in a Meditative or "flow" State
• Minimal Verbal Instruction from the Facilitators (at the beginning only, for newcomers), and the ecstatic dance itself is unguided
• No Conversations on the dance floor (Do express yourself vocally in any way you like WITHOUT using words: howl, shout, hoot, giggle, etc. with awareness for the space around you). If you need a conversation, kindly move to the entrance way or outdoors.

3. We Dance as We Are

• No: drugs, alcohol, cell phones or artificial scents;
• No expectations, judgements, shoulds or oughts… Just Be Yourself; With respect for ourselves, the space, and one another.
• Honour your own body and its needs: enjoy fresh spring water, fresh air, or little breaks to sit, stretch, etc.

4 . An Embodiment Practice

• For those looking to get the most benefit out of dance as a movement practice, you are invited to leave all thoughts off the dance floor (especially fears and worries!) and be fully present in your body and senses.
• Challenge yourself to find a movement expression in every moment, even when you don't think you like the music or song ... you might surprise yourself!
• To maintain the practice, try to stay in motion for the entire practice (it can be very subtle). That includes sitting and dancing softly with your arms, stretching, rolling around on the floor, etc... see if you can keep the energy moving throughout the entire dance!