First dance of 2026, baby! Come revel and play in this fresh new year to the joyful, heartfully-crafted, bone-shaking beats of Columbia‘s own DJ Topknot! If you are new to ecstatic dance, be sure to read the principles included below the schedule.
Community New Years Potluck - 5:30 - 6:30 - bring a dish or side to share!
Dance lab - 6:30 - 7:00 - please join us for an intentional opening of the space, group grounding, and opportunity for collaboration and play. We will wake up our bodies and souls with meditation, guided movement, and a fun group game! Join in, or simply relax and observe, the healing power of connective movement and playful expression.
Ecstatic Dance! - 7:00 - 8:30 - CED is ecstatic to welcome Columbia’s own DJ Topknot (Courtney Heberlie) to the pulpit this January! Inspired by melodic bass music, layered synths, organic textures, and movement-driven rhythms, Topknot crafts sets that unfold as a narrative, giving dancers space to explore personal emotion while also amplifying connective energy for the community of dancers.
*You’ve got to meet this sister; last set I caught was an absolute BANGER! Stay tuned for more Topknot deets in the bio to come.*
Sound healing and close - 8:30 - 9:00 - Syd Hemwall will offer her one-of-a-kind sound healing to bring us back down to earth and integrate the dance medicine into daily life. We always close with an optional sharing circle. ✨
CED is a safe, judgment-free sanctuary for you and your body to be exactly where you are, supported by intentional community and expertly crafted music to guide your dance journey. No prior dance experience necessary. All ages, genders, abilities and backgrounds are welcome in this carefully cultivated container for healing, connection, and authentic expression.
This is a drug and alcohol free event. Please come with a clear vessel to support natural elevation and connection.
Location:
Unitarian Universalist Church of Columbia (UU), main sanctuary
Address:
2615 Shepard Blvd. Columbia, MO
What to bring:
*water bottle
*comfy clothes to move in
*clear, clean body
*open mind and heart
*mat or pillows if you’d like to relax between dancing
Payment:
Sliding scale $15 - $30 - We are taking a leap of faith and trying something new. All proceeds go directly back into CED to cover costs of rent, artists, speakers and other equipment. We would love to break even!
cash at door
or Venmo @lauren-holland-77
**NO ONE WILL BE TURNED AWAY FOR LACK OF FUNDS! It is most important that we show up and get the good dance medicine.**
*KIDS 12 and UNDER are FREE!*
3 SIMPLE PRINCIPLES
1. We Dance without shoes (or: We Dance Barefoot)
This allows us to connect more fully with the Ground (socks are OK).
If you have a physical condition that you need dance shoes, then OK.
2. We Dance without words (or: We Dance with Body Language)
This makes it easier to be in a Meditative State.
No Verbal Instruction from the Facilitators during the dance.
No conversation on the dance floor (verbal connection in the foyer and outer spaces OK)
3. We Dance as We Are
No Drugs/Alcohol, No Phones, No Camera/Video, No Scents, No Expectations, No Judgements, No Shoulds, No Oughts… Just Be Yourself; With Respect for Ourselves, the Space, and One Another.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF ECSTATIC DANCE:
Ecstatic Dance is a beautiful freeform dance movement that started on the big island in Hawaii in the year 2000 and is now global. The above guidelines are universal to the ecstatic dance movement and help to ensure a safe and effective experience for all participants.
My name is Lo 💛 The sacred expression of dance as medicine has saved my life in more ways than I can list here. It is my honor to offer my energy, in return, to the facilitation and service of the dance. Ecstatic Dance is an intra and extrapersonal journey through which we come to fully honor, inspire, and actualize our highest authenticity, from right where we are at. There is no limit to our co-creative capacities!!
From the bottom, to the top, to the reverberating bass drop of this heart wave, GRATITUDE, dance family! ✨♾️ See you on the floor 💛
Also check out other Kids events & activities in Columbia, Food & Drink events in Columbia, Health & Wellness events in Columbia.
