Why do we dance? It’s been around for millions of years, pictures of ritual and dance around fires found in ancient caves. Born from the dawn of mankind, it is inherent in our nature. Many of us may feel the beat ‘take us’ as we subconsciously start a boogie in the kitchen or a foot tap listening to music in public. It serves a fundamental purpose, to embrace the beauty of life and togetherness and integrate flow into our lives. Ecstatic Dance serves to provide people a space to explore this.
Organised dances and prescribed dance moves – do these things take away from something instinctually human? Why is it we find in society the only ways to access dance is to be part of a prescribed dance class, intoxicated, or hiding in our rooms? When did we become ashamed of dance? When did it become impossible for us to let go and feel? To move with something greater than ourselves? We have lost the ability to surrender our bodies and minds to flow. And that is important.
What is Ecstatic Dance?
Ecstatic dance is a sober dance hosted by a live DJ where the only communication is through movement. It is usually a closed group, I.e no late comers. The group starts by setting individual intentions. Examples may be: ‘to have fun’ ‘to connect with others’ ‘to release emotions’ ‘to feel something’ ‘to relax’ ‘to release stress’ etc.
The music is then played, this is a range of EDM in a two hour DJ set. Genres include, house, wave, trap, tribal, psychedelic. Emotive, trance inducing tunes.
You are invited to let go of your inhibitions and allow yourself to move in any way that feels good and right. To release trapped emotions and feel the presence of the people around you. It can be whatever you make of it – it can be an incredibly cathartic, connective, liberating and fun experience.
Being able to move past the anxieties of being seen without drugs or alcohol is a birth rite we have lost, but we can reclaim it. We are allowed to feel unbridled joy and fun.
Why should I reclaim it?
1. Makes it so much easier to go with the flow of life.
It becomes easier to see the flow you find in dance is always available and directing our lives, putting down the fight and seeing where it takes you saves so much energy making you feel more fresh and vital day to day.
2. Better Sex.
Being able to move past self consciousness, anxiety, judgement, hiding and being fully present in your body, feeling the flow, presence of the other and connection makes for a mind blowing universal sexual experience. Performance anxiety prevents connection which is the core element of any intimacy.
3. Discharge Emotions.
Our culture doesn’t clearly teach us how to experience and discharge emotion. As such we tend to hold it in, bottle it up and down the line develop all sorts of medical conditions. Dance is a way to release stuck emotion through dynamic movement. Anger is particularly shamed in society (hence so much road rage and domestic abuse, where else can you discharge anger?) At Ecstatic Dance, all of you is welcome. You can stamp, YELL, throw your arms, shake, roll on the floor, whatever the energy needs to move through you.
4. More Confidence.
Being able to to show yourself, move past inhibition and self judgement in order to meet other people in flow is a fantastic confidence booster. Knowing you can relax, let loose and connect authentically in a world that demands perfection, is a super power.
5. Grow Empathy.
Spending any amount of time out of your shell in self exploration helps us understand the nature of human, living and the universe. Being able to do that in a shared environment with other people out of their shell gives real connection and exploration of the other. We may come to realise other people are the same as we are and our need to protect ourselves may lessen as we grow understanding and empathy.
(Bonus no.6) Feel Positive Emotion.
With so much bottling of emotion we can limit our feeling amplitude. Being able to move into our emotional body and release negative emotion, allows us to feel high vibration positive emotion – resulting in states of euphoria, joy, love, ecstasy. Hence names ecstatic dance.
Where can I find an Ecstatic Dance?
Ecstatic Dance is available all around the world. The official Ecstatic Dance website advertises local dances – click here. I will be hosting an Ecstatic Dance in Weymouth and surrounding areas. Sign up to my newsletter or follow my social media to keep updated. More information here.
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