February always seems to bring the heart a little closer to the surface.
Not in a neat or tidy way. Just in the way it does when we’re a bit more aware of what we’re carrying, what we’re missing, what we’re grateful for and what still hurts.
Heartbeats is a night dedicated to that place in us.
Not as a big dramatic “journey into love”, and not as a performance of how open or healed we are. Just a space to move, to feel and to spend a few hours in the body with music that knows how to speak to the heart.
Some of us will arrive full. Some a bit tender. Some somewhere in between.
That’s perfect.
This is an ode to the human heart in all of its shapes. The strong parts. The tired parts. The parts that still hope. The parts that are learning how to trust again.
You don’t need to come with a story. You don’t need to come with a partner. You don’t need to come feeling any particular way.
You just come as you are and let the dance do what it always does.
Open. Move. Stir. Soften. Strengthen. Remind.
Doors open at 6:30pm to settle in, connect, and enjoy a complimentary cacao. At 7pm, we’ll circle up, drop in, and begin the night’s journey led by Mark Saṅkhāra.
The night will culminate in a live closing performance to integrate before we return to the world.
Tickets on sale now, including limited early release options.
Heartbeats is simple. Honest. Physical. Emotional. Human.
Just like the heart itself.
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WHAT IS RITES OF DANCE?
Rites of Dance is a sober, intentional dance floor for people who love music, movement, and real experience.
It blends the energy and sound system culture of a club with a very different atmosphere. No drugs. No alcohol. No performance. No pressure to be anything other than in your body.
This is not about getting it right or dancing in a certain way. It’s about showing up, moving what’s there, and letting the night unfold.
Some nights are light and playful. Some go deeper. Some are challenging. Most are a mix of all of it.
People come for many reasons. To move stress. To reconnect to themselves. To feel something real again. To be part of a room where nobody is trying to impress anyone else.
Rites of Dance isn’t a workshop. It isn’t a ceremony. It isn’t a club night. It’s a space that sits somewhere in between, and over time, it becomes something you build a relationship with.
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ABOUT THE MUSIC
Music is the backbone of Rites of Dance. It’s not background. It’s the thing that carries the night.
The sound moves through many places over the course of an evening. You’ll hear everything from bass-heavy electronic music, drum and bass, techno and house, through to more spacious, atmospheric, and downtempo moments. Sometimes even the occasional unexpected or nostalgic track finds its way in.
The sets are built like a long arc rather than a playlist. Energy rises and falls. Things get heavier, then lighter. You’re invited into intensity, and then back out again.
The intention isn’t to keep you in one state, but to let you move through many.
On some special nights, guest musicians or live elements may join the journey and add another layer to the experience. These are occasional and intentional, rather than a fixed part of every event.
At its core, the music is there to support your own process, not to distract you from it.
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COMMUNITY HUB
At the back of the hall there is a dedicated community hub space where you’re welcome to share flyers or information about your own upcoming offerings, events, or projects.
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MEET THE TEAM
MARK SANKHARA - CREATOR, DJ & FACILITATOR
For the past seven years, Mark Saṅkhāra has been holding Rites of Dance as a consistent part of the Gold Coast conscious dance and movement community. The events have grown into a space many people return to again and again for movement, music, and genuine connection.
Saṅkhāra is a master at sculpting soundscapes that take dancers on a journey inward and outward - deep into the womb of the earth and soaring into the cosmos, unlocking the raw expression of the soul. His sets are an intoxicating fusion of tribal rhythms, deep bass, world beats, and groove-driven melodies, weaving together a hypnotic, high-energy experience.
Saṅkhāra is an ancient Buddhist term meaning formation and fabrication – the process of fashioning and the fashioned things that result. It’s a fitting name for the way Mark works a crowd, "fashioning" the atmosphere on dance floors into an irresistible, soul-stirring experience, full of, but by no means limited to, alluring mid-tempo, bass-heavy, tribal, funk-infused, melodic pieces.
Originally from New Zealand and now based on the Gold Coast, Mark has been DJing for over a decade, playing across clubs, competitions, parties, weddings, and conscious dance events in Australia and NZ. With a Diploma in Audio Engineering and 20+ years of guitar experience, his devotion to sound and movement is woven into every set he plays, creating not just a dance floor, but a rite of passage for those who step into his world of rhythm and resonance.
CONNECT >>>
https://www.instagram.com/mark_sankhara/
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IMPORTANT INFO/WHAT TO BRING
You’re in for a big night and it’s good to be prepared.
Please bring:
- Drinking water
- Sweat towel
- Light, comfortable clothes and something warm to wear as the night cools
- Cash/card for purchases
- Cushion/pillow to sit on
- Yoga mat/something to lie on for the sound integration (and something warm to wear)
*Strictly no drugs or alcohol
*No previous experience needed
*Not suitable for children, however, if you have a mature teenager that would like to attend, please reach out to discuss with us.
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TICKETS
Early Release - $44 (Limited to 20 tickets)
General Release - $54 (Limited to 30 tickets)
Final Release - $59 (Until sold out)
*If you're struggling financially, reach out and we will work something out - money shouldn't be an issue stopping you from attending.
*There's also an option to donate further if you're feeling abundant.
REFUNDS
No refunds, but you’re welcome to on-sell or gift your ticket if you can no longer make it or keep as credit for a future event (valid for 6 months).
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ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO COUNTRY
We acknowledge and respect the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land on which we gather, the Kombumerri families of the Yugambeh Language Region.
We pay our deep respects to their Elders, past, present, and emerging. We recognise their enduring connection to this beautiful land, its waters, and its cultural heritage.
Also check out other Music events in Tallebudgera, Entertainment events in Tallebudgera, Workshops in Tallebudgera.
