Ecstatic Dance - Blindfold Trance

Ecstatic Dance is a conscious movement practice that invites people to drop out of their minds and into their bodies to unwind and open to inner wisdom. Dance and Music are the center point of these ceremonies catalyzing ecstatic states, where conscious mind limitations dissolve, opening the doors to the vast subconscious intelligence. It is an opportunity to connect deeply with self and others in fun ways words cannot express. A gracious experience to meet yourself as you are and open a space where you can see beyond who you think you are... It’s about you, freedom, joy and honesty. This journey will offer a space to develop self-awareness, be moved by deep emotions, expand your intuitive awareness and align your actions with your intentions. Ecstatic Dance is a moving meditation that allows us to observe not only our thoughts but also our habitual actions in a social context. Most of our actions are performed automatically without conscious awareness of what we are doing. The unconscious behaviors are controlled by our primitive (limbic) brain. By using the same methods practiced in many traditional cultures, Ecstatic Dance allows us to enter a modified state of consciousness between awake and dreaming in order to access this part of our brain and change behaviors. Blindfold Trance By blocking the visual stimuli, the mental chatter in our head subsides, and we can experience moments of clarity sourced in our own wisdom. We tap into our own subconscious repository of information that contains everything we have experienced since we were in our mother's womb. Only you can access that part of yourself, release what is not useful anymore and plant a new seed aligned with your conscious intention. We close our eyes when we sleep, but also when we cry, when we imagine things or when we kiss... because the most beautiful things in the world are inside of us - in our feelings. These feelings are a mixture of sunshine and rain, teardrops and laughter, pleasure and pain. The Music is always present inside, along with your feelings, either happy or sad. There is a melody for every moment in life. Music is a gift that lifts you up when you are down and calms your soul when it's all too much. Music can take you anywhere in the Universe. It's all about listening close enough and letting the melody take you where you need to go. What kind of music is played? And what do we do? We play music that encourages movement. Our sonic journey is a fusion of world music, electronica, dubstep, tribal house, classic remixes and more! In this space, all are welcomed into radical self-expression and acceptance. - 6:30 PM - Doors Open - 7:00 pm - Opening circle – it’s a chance for you to get to know who is in the room and if you want to share a bit about yourself. If you don’t feel like talking, just pass the feather. - 7:20 pm - Prepare to enter trance state (warmup) - a few exercises and techniques selected from various shamanic traditions that can help you in winding down, connect with your senses and the people around you. All exercises are optional. - 7:30 pm – We will put on the blindfolds (except the facilitators) and the music will start with trance-inducing beats. The facilitators will be making sure that everyone is safe while moving around with the blindfold on. The rhythms will progressively go deeper and more layered to support the inner journey. Once the room starts to move and the rhythm accelerates, a gong will mark the move towards the second part of the dance. You can either remove your blindfold and dance with more energy or continue to dance with the blindfold on with less outside expression and journeying more inside. The rhythms will slow down to conclude with a smooth landing back to stillness at the end. - 9:20 pm - Music stops and we have a wind down meditative moment. Depending on the event – there will be Singing bowls, Didgeridoo, Flute or other traditional acoustic instruments to help in this process. - 9:30 pm – Closing circle – we clap together three times and the fourth time back to the earth to close. - 9:35 pm – Non-verbal time is over - have a chat with the people you shared the space with during the dance. - Occasionally we have a Kava ceremony or Hot Tea during the cold months and hang out for some time. Arrive and leave whenever you want but be mindful not to disturb the other participants. Ecstatic Dance Agreements This is a Free-form Movement Temple To maintain ultimate freedom we agree to the following: 1. No talking on the Dancefloor (or at the Altar). - Please whisper off of the dancefloor only 2. No street shoes on the dancefloor. No showing up drunk or drugged, no pictures, video, or wearing of scent (please be clean). 3. Respect the Space - Others' Space and the Collective Space. When Approaching others: - Listen for a Yes (get eye contact first) - Respect any No (like when they are ignoring you) - Respect the Solo Dancers' Right to their Space - Hands in prayer at heart means: "I see you, and thank you for the dance (that just ended)." This is a Transformational Space for Healing, Prayer, and Freeform Movement. You will be asked to leave if you do not follow these agreements. Thank you! No dance experience required*** Street parking around the venue. *** The Cacao Ceremony is scheduled on the first Friday of each month. Here is a sample of the music we are playing: https://www.mixcloud.com/dancingfire/ecstatic-dance-brisbane-20318-cacao-ceremony-playfulness/ About the organizer: Adrian traveled and worked in a wide variety of places from the most alternative and unstructured to the rigid high end corporate and government environments for the last 20 years. From camp counselor in upstate NY and gardening in off the grid communities in Northern California to engineering telecommunication systems for the aerospace industry and Federal Emergency Management Agency. As an expert engineer, he taught technical classes for major corporations and the White House Military Office during the Obama administration. Living in such different environments required constant adjustments - pushed him out of the familiar, breaking habits and challenged his beliefs. This rhythm became overwhelming and his body started to lose vitality and get sick. During a trip to California, he encountered a great community of people that helped him reconnect with his inner wisdom using music, dance and Native American practices. He quit his job and moved to California for more than 2 years to learn how to live again. In 2011 Adrian encountered one of his most influential teachers Samantha Sweetwater at Burning Man Festival in the Nevada Desert and he started the Dancing Freedom Facilitator training shortly after that. He became a certified Dancing Freedom Facilitator in 2012, held classes in North California until the end of 2012 when he and his partner continued their journey to Australia. Since 2013, they are facilitating weekly Ecstatic Dance journeys and a monthly Cacao Ceremony in Brisbane. Looking for similar events? https://www.facebook.com/EcstaticBrisbane/events