Ecstatic Dance @StarLite

About the Event Come dance freely, while enjoying incredible music in an art gallery full of good neighbors.How Ecstatic Dance works:We arrive into a big circle with deep breaths with a collective prayer for the dance.

 We then fly into a freeform dance journey, riding The Merchant's 90-minute musical wave, mixed live through a variety of genres and tempos for our ecstatic delights.The music ultimately fades into the blissful harmony of singing bowls and chimes. Deep relaxation. We close back in circle for the opportunity to witness shares and reflections. 

 You may arrive anytime during the journey, but we HIGHLY suggest you get there before the music starts to familiarize yourself with the space and ease your way into the dance.

Who's coming?

All kinds of folks! We welcome all ages, genders, religions, and ethnicities to respectfully enjoy the space together. As a non-denominational community, we support a wide variety of intentions. Some people come simply for the exercise, some come for the social connection, and some come to use the dance as a form of therapy, spiritual practice, or prayer.Whatever your reason for wanting to move, you are welcome here.

What happens on the dance floor?

People dance however they please... or maybe not at all. It's ALL good here. The dance is funky and groovy....chaotic and beautiful. Childlike revelry weaves with cathartic healing. Truly, it's a wonderful experience that must be participated in and felt to be understood.Here's how we honor the shared space and one another:

1) Refrain from speaking on the dance floor

2) Honor the no drugs/alcohol policy

3) Do not take pictures or video on the dance floor

4) Only touch when clear consent is grantedWe take these guidelines seriously... as they keep the ecstatic dance floor intentional, sacred, and safe for all. Any observed behavior to the contrary will be met with an appropriate response, ranging from a polite reminder to a request to leave the event. We appreciate your upholding the Ecstatic ethos with us.

More on the Music

The Merchant will deliver the goods... aka a heart-sending, soul-stirring, body-enlivening tapestry of global rhythms and sounds. Expect a melodic journey that starts softly and builds to an ecstatic high, slowing down near the end to invite rest, reflection and gratitude. This will be a live DJ set played over a bumpin' sound system.

And what is freeform dance exactly?Freeform dance is an invitation to move however you please in each moment. No rules. Any shape, any speed, any rhythm, any expression. There is no right or wrong way. The dance floor is a space for you to explore movement and be carried by the music. We'll invite you to listen to your body and flow with your emotions.

What to bring/wearDress to express and sweat... We'll be heatin' up the dance floor. We recommend you wear clothes that allow you full range of uninhibited motion. Note, we'll ask that you remove your shoes when dancing, unless they are necessary to support the health of your particular body.Please bring your own water bottle so we can minimize waste. Water will be available for top-ups - please hydrate! Other beverages/snacks will be on sale (by donation) during and after the dance.

 There are no facilitated dance excercises"When we step on the dance floor, we include our whole selves, even the frightened parts that want to hide. We dance through pain and sorrow. We dance with joy until our hard edges soften and our masks fall away. We meet other courageous dancers, weaving unbreakable threads of connection. Our friendships transcend the boundaries of time and space. And it all melts together - beat, movement, breath - into a swirling vortex we call community. As the throbbing pulse of the dance floor matches our own heartbeat, we know, without a doubt, we are not alone" - Words by Donna Carroll, founder of Ecstatic Dance InternationalAbout The Space