Page 13 - Issue 76 Online

MANEA MATTERS
MANEA MATTERS
WHAT IS ECSTATIC DANCE?

Ecstatic Dance is a type of free-form
dancing inviting people to connect to
themselves and to others through music • Respect of self and other. We ask
and movement without judgment. It’s a bit participants to take responsibility for
like dancing meditation through movement. themselves, but also to watch out for
It takes places over a 90-minute live DJ others and be mindful of their personal
set and starts and finishes with a short space.
opening and closing. We ask you to follow
a few points of etiquette: What happens during the session?
The session usually follows the following
It’s a bit like dancing meditation order over two hours:
through movement • Warm up - from doors open

• Opening circle - welcomes and
• No talking. Ecstatic Dance is a introductions for newbies to the practice,
silent practice - you are welcome to namaste
communicate with others with your body • Warm up set - afro beat, house set
language, but please keep words outside to get you moving (with some optional
the dance space guided movement)
• No shoes. Barefoot dancing helps us
ground ourselves through the embodiment • Ecstatic set - tech house, indie dance,
of music through movement techno, psy-trance embodying ecstasy
through dance
• No drugs/alcohol. Ecstatic Dance is a • Cool down set - minimal, downtempo,
conscious practice embracing mindfulness ambient, meditative and esoteric
• Phone-free zone. Encouraging safety & • Closing circle - thanks, reflections and
presence. Be here now announcements, see you next time!
• No touching or partner dancing
without consent. Consent can be Find out more at www.aya.dance and join
nonverbal or verbal. The gesture of prayer us on a Tuesday night in the village hall!
hands means "no" or "I’m done dancing” Rob Leeman

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