Experiences in Ecstatic Dance

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Emily Headley on March 29, 2009 at 12:43pm

As with so many deeply meaningful things in life, my experience with ecstatic dancing is a paradox. In losing myself to the music and movement I then find and become one with who I truly am....someone who adores moving her body however it feels like moving when some great music is playing. Someone who feels at peace and at home when I'm not worried about what other people on the dance floor are thinking. I guess a fully enlightened being could dance anywhere, like in a casino to a cover band, and feel free and uninhibited in her movement, but I'm not there yet. Until then, ecstatic dance events provide a lovingly sacred environ in which to both lose and find myself.
I've had many friends ask me how, exactly, to lose themselves. The best I can offer up is of course directly from my own experience: every time you become aware of a little dialog going on inside your head, like "Dang, I feel stupid" or "Geez, look at him (her), I hope I don't look like that" or any of the thousands of things we say to ourselves that feel yucky, just tune back into the music - as fully as you possibly can. You might have to do it a thousand times during the session, but just be relentless if what you're saying to yourself doesn't feel good. If you don't give up, if you stay true to your goal of losing yourself (translate: losing the self-talk that doesn't feel good) then you'll find yourself experiencing longer and longer "lost" periods on the dance floor.
It's the lost periods that allow your true self to burble up to your awareness, and the burbling leads to the ecstasy after which this practice is named. For when you give it a chance, your true self, like Cyndi Lauper, just wants to have fun. It doesn't need a reason, it's where and what it wants to be. So you feel that ecstasy and really start to shake your groove thang, and then oops! "Yikes, I must look ridiculous!" your intellect shouts at you. Time to clean house again - just go back to the music. Slow down your movement if that helps, just sway or stretch or whatever, and tune back in to the music. See if you can get lost again, and again, and again. Getting lost is an instantaneous worm hole to being found, which means you were never really lost, Dorothy. Just click those ruby slippers together and join us as we hoot, holler, embrace, laugh and love one another on the bliss express of the dance floor. You are ALWAYS welcome!

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Steve Bollinger on March 29, 2009 at 1:49pm

Beautiful, just beautiful!!
-DJSource

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Dinny Evans on March 29, 2009 at 6:24pm

I am aware that to some people, the term Ecstatic Dance stirs up a bit of fear, possibly some intimidation. The idea of quietly and with intention, feeling the music and expressing it through movement might just be a bit of a stretch to one's comfort zone.

I propose taking a look at this incredible aerobic exercise as a way to open up many aspects of the physical body and the spirit while at the same time enjoying and moving to some beautiful music not often heard on the radio.

Let me tell you why I love the dance: there is an energy exchanged in a room full of people who are moving to their own inner rhythm. I have often heard that it is "dancing like nobody is watching." Well that term is true, no one is watching, but that is not where I find the beauty. That phrase sounds as if there would be something wrong if someone would be watching when in fact it is really about dancing like you know you really want to. That has a positive spin…dance like you want to and know that the beauty found in that movement is shared by everyone else in the room. We are all sharing an inner smile as we hear the music and safely move with it and celebrate it.

Music is an art to be appreciated. Ecstatic Dance puts me in a place of such appreciation for this art. Sharing with the artist their love for the tones they have created and the beat that resonates with my soul. It is invigorating, it is exhilarating, it is great exercise and it is unbelievably freeing. There is joy in the dance, there is spirituality, there is joining and there is hope. It is an amazing and beautiful experience.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Laurie N. Martin on April 22, 2009 at 4:49pm

I discovered Ecstatic Dance last August, just prior to my first experience at Burning Man. I have been on a "celestial" trajectory ever since. I have always loved dance in its many forms as an observer and participant - ballet, jazz, modern, african - and danced with my daughters when they were young. I did not however experience the freedom, the joy, the divine connection that is embodied in Ecstatic Dance. The week at Burning Man, dancing at the Rhythm Wave Camp was transformational. I experienced Raising the Vibration, for myself and in community with others. The release and renewal was amazing! Since then I have not missed a Friday ED session with my "Sangha". I have devoured "Sweat Your Prayers" by Gabrielle Roth, her music and DVDs and aspire to share with others the power, beauty and opening of the Wave approach to movement. I am also committed to NIA, integrated martial arts, yoga and dance - joy in movement! Deepest gratitude to DJ Source and my fellow dancers. We share such sweetness and openness together and are building an incredible community! As one of our wise dancers shared the other night, we are dancing in the NOW, Naturally Open Way. Let's continue to grow and share in movement, rhythm, connection... living JOY!
xoxoxo DJ in training, LoDoll

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Steve Bollinger on April 22, 2009 at 5:10pm

Beautiful!!! Just Beautiful.

Deep felt gratitude to you and all you have done and are doing. I Am just thrilled to know you and bask in your sunshine!! :)
DJSource

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Trena Bristol on April 24, 2009 at 9:47am

Moving to music has always been an important part of my life. As a teenager, I was a total loner and moving to music was my escape from the pain and frustration of the present. I didn't dance; I wouldn't dare show my goofy tomboy self at the prom. I walked a lot but most often rode my bike; it was especially fun to go flying down mountain passes with with some 80s dance tune blasting on my walkman. In college, a group in my dorm would appropriate a large living room, set up a boombox, and everyone would dance into oblivion until the wee hours of the morning. No pairing off, people just did what they did. I still remember the wild enery of a student advisor as he spun away on the floor, sweat all over the place. Not only did I discover that I loved dancing, I understood I could do it away from the judgemental eyes and meat market of the bar scene. Ecstatic Dancing has been a natural fit for me most likely because of the circumstances of my life. To tell you the truth, I really don't reflect that much. I feel when I have connected with the dance and I know when I'm distracted. When I'm distracted I simply accept it feeling its something I need to go through at the moment..and the distraction passes.

My love of music never abated and I have a ton of it...songs which for some reason or another take me to special places. And I am always in search of a groove and will be sharing my discoveries with you as DJLyrica.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Steve Bollinger on April 24, 2009 at 1:13pm

I have known you a long time and never knew this about you. Thanks for turning me on to Afro Celt 8 years ago. That music really got me going in this genre!!

Many Thanks
DJSource

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Tysha Tinney on April 24, 2009 at 11:47am

I know first hand that Ecstatic Dance is not only great for the Body, mind, and soul, but also when Chris and I danced we felt a lot of emotional releases happen. I will be honest, chris and I had a little disagreement right on the way to the ecstatic dance. I had a little anger and while I was dancing I felt the anger surface. I almost sat down, but I decided to dance through it. I could feel the emotion release as I continued to dance. It was really cool. Then I went through "BLISS" and such love for Chris. We danced and it was more like we were children playing. Steve is such an awesome DJ and the way he guides everyone is amazing. Each dance is different and you don't talk while dancing, which I love because it allows you to just really get into your own groove. I know when we all get together, hope soon, with STEVE and dance together we are going to be even more connected. It seems it's all about deep connections these days, we are all longing for it. Trust me, Ecstatic Dance not only connects you deeper with yourself, but there is also a very deep spiritual connection that happens within the group. Even though we are not talking, we are bonding energetically. I could go on and on, which it seems I am, So I will just say this.........Ecstatic Dance is an experience everyone should have. Also Steve is someone everyone should know, he is just so cool. Love to all, see ya on the dance floor. Ty

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Steve Bollinger on April 24, 2009 at 1:09pm

What a beautiful experience in the dance. So glad to have you and Chris in our community!!

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Breeze Cross on April 24, 2009 at 11:36pm

I am so grateful for Dance. Five Rhythms, Sweat Your Prayers, Ecstatic Dance, Soul Motion, they are wonderful ways for expresssion to move through the body. This dance occurs on so many different levels. Of course, there are the physical and energetic movements but one also has an opportunity to explore much deeper terrain. There can be a letting go of the thought of dancing, the "I'm not or I should be" and just allowing the body to find its own response to the various rhythms in the music. Once in a while there is this incredible flow moving through, where every movement is in perfect synch with the music and everyone else who is moving through the dance floor. In those moments, it is like there is no one dancing, there is just dancing. Other times there is no flow at all and it feels awkward and uncoordinated, usually accompanied or preceded by some criticism or judgement about what should be done. Allowing awareness to just notice each of those things, and everything else that is moving through the body, can be very illuminating...very much a meditation and a powerful part of my practice.

Thank you Source, Polly, Taylor, Basin and all of the wonderful Reno-Tahoe Dance Sangha, for providing this incredible opportunity and container, which allows all of us to have this delicious experience.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Steve Bollinger on April 25, 2009 at 11:27am

Thank you Breeze, for this beautiful share. Thanks so much for helping build this Dance Sangha! Blessings

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Emily Headley on April 26, 2009 at 5:45pm

So beautifully put! Dance, sway, notice, live and breathe on, my friend. Look forward to our next dance together.......

▶ Reply to This