This November, we return the holy to the holiday as we dance in the spirit of simple, grounded gratitude for our earth, our ancestors, and each other. Spotlight on indigenous wisdom, and our return to a more harmonious way of life!
Columbia is ecstatic to welcome St. Louis’ dynamic duo Wet Denum to the DJ pulpit! Wet Denum is comprised of multi-media artist Brandon Arnold and Dance for Your Rights activist Morgan Downes, “pushing tech house sure to soak through the toughest of denim.” Together, they create a playful interweaving of the musical masculine and feminine; bone shaking beats and feel-good grooves, with thoughtful incorporation of Native American instrumentals to direct thanks where thanks are due.
We are also thrilled to be supported by Columbia’s Tom Stevens, who is offering the newly famous Tea House to nourish our bodies and souls with the best herbal blends you’ve ever tasted (*BYO MUG!!). Lo Down will offer an accessible ecstatic yoga as our dance warm up, careful to hold space for all ages and body types (*BYO MAT!). And finally, big thanks to Syd Hemwall, who will continue to offer her one-of-a-kind sound healing to bring us back down to earth and integrate the magic of the dance journey. 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 cultivated container for healing, connection, and authentic expression.
This is a drug and alcohol free event. Please come with a clear body to support grounded meditation and natural elevation. If you are new to ecstatic dance, be sure to read the principles below.
Location:
Unitarian Universalist Church of Columbia (UU), main sanctuary
Address:
2615 Shepard Blvd. Columbia, MO
Tea and connection: 6:00 - 6:30 (Tom Stevens)
Ecstatic Yoga: 6:30-7:00PM (Lo Down)
Ecstatic dance: 7:00 - 8:30 PM (Wet Denum)
Sound healing: 8:30-8:45 (Syd Hemwall)
Closing circle and farewell: 8:45-9 PM
What to bring:
*mug
*yoga mat
*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:
$20 cash at door
or Venmo @lauren-holland-77
*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 Health & Wellness events in Columbia, Arts events in Columbia, Kids events & activities in Columbia.
