Newcomers Guide to Ecstatic Dance Corvallis

Ecstatic Dance is...
⦁ ​An experiential journey of music & movement for exercise, stress release, celebration of life, and community connection
⦁ A practice of movement meditation, where "every body" dances however they are inspired, in whatever ways feel great, like nobody is watching
⦁ A space free of booze, conversation, photography, and unwanted attention—where everyone feels safe and supported to go deep in their own personal experience
⦁ Where we dance to express, not to impress

What kind of folks attend Ecstatic Dance?

Our community is for people of all ages, all races, all creeds, all sexual orientations, all gender identifications, all body types, and all levels of dance experience. Many of us are completely new to dance ("I'm not a dancer"), and find so much joy moving our bodies in whatever ways feel good, regardless of how it looks to others. Some of us took dance lessons at one time or another, and are relieved to be in a space where there is no structure or "right" way to move. Some of us come from other movement traditions (yoga, spinning props, martial arts), which we get to incorporate into our freeform dance here. And still others just come for the great music and warm sense of community more than the dancing--it's all good and welcome!

What kind of music does the DJ play?

We encourage our DJs at Ecstatic Dance to play a wide variety of music in their shamanic journeys, drawing from the dozens of genres and sub-genres that are coming out of the Bass Music scene (such as house, breaks, electro-swing, hip hop, trap, future-cumbia, and ghetto-funk), as well as organic global beats (such as afrobeat, balkan, dub, reggae, R&B, soul, and blues).
​
Our particular approach to Ecstatic Dance opens with flowing music to warm-up the body, builds steadily in tempo & intensity to reach peaks of ecstasy, and eventually glides into meditative, heart-chakra stillness. If there's a song you don't prefer or that doesn't seem danceable at first, we invite you to be curious and try to discover it in your body. Or use it as an opportunity to work with the judgements that arise. Or hold witness for how others are feeling the music. Or take a break to have some water. Just know that the music keeps changing, so something different is coming soon.

What are the guidelines for participating?

Before You Arrive
  • Be clean. Please arrive fresh with a clean body and clothes, as some of us are sensitive to any scented products (including essential oils) or strong body odors.
  • Be clear-minded. We dance free of alcohol and illegal substances.
  • Dress to sweat.

Holding a Safe and Sacred Space
  • Dance and move however you feel it. There's no right or wrong way to be ecstatic!
  • Be curious, open, and accepting. Please suspend judgements of self or other.
  • Refrain from talking on the dance floor. It distract others who are in their meditation practice.
  • Move with care and awareness through the space.
  • Turn off your cell phone or put it in airplane mode. Cell phone use is a distraction to the other dancers.
  • No taking pictures or video. Photography tends to take people out of their deep experience and is a breach of privacy.