Welcome to Ecstatic Dance Devon’s first event. We are a group of friends, dancers and DJ’s.

Our vision is to bring people together to do all our favourite things in one place - dancing to incredible music on an epic soundsystem in a beautiful oak barn, eating delicious and healthy food, and hanging out with our friends as we sauna and chill on a gorgeous bit of land.

If these are your favourite things too - you should probably come.

The Arc of the Event

10:00 - Doors open - Settle in, get some cacao, and stretch
10:30 - Opening Circle and Guided Warm Up (Doors will close at 10:35)
11:00 - Ecstatic Dance Begins (No guidance)
12:30 - Wind Down with Sound
12:45 - Closing Circle
13:00 - Food, Sauna and Hanging Out
16:00 - Home Time

The Ecstatic Dance is a closed container, and we encourage you to stay til the end at 1pm.

Cacao, food and sauna are optional add-ons when you book - cacao must be booked in advance, food and sauna are best booked ahead (limited availability on the day).

If you’re new to ecstatic dance - scroll down for a description and guidelines of the space

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DJ and Facilitation


Guiding us through the Ecstatic Dance is empowerment coach, facilitator and DJ Gaia Harvey-Jackson. She has been playing the Ecstatic Dance circuit since 2018 and is known for her sensual, sassy and bassy music. Her facilitation is both deep and playful - creating permissive spaces that welcome the full range of human emotion, and celebrate the joy of being.

Gaia works privately with individuals and couples, holds wild women's retreats and training programmes on Dartmoor - Check out Gaia’s Website here to find out more.

Listen to her Soundcloud for a flavour of the music

Sound System

We are lucky enough to have one of the best sound systems we’ve ever heard powering our event, kindly provided by Josh (Rude Movements/ Beauty and the Beat).

Venue & Sauna

Paul’s Barn is a new venue in Ipplepen (15 minutes from Totnes). We’ll be dancing in a light and airy barn, with a professional dance floor and big double doors either side to keep the light streaming in and us cool, (and a wood burner if we need to be cosy). We’re surrounded by stunning nature with views of Haytor, and a wood-fired sauna and cold plunge.

Food

Nourishing our bodies post-dance is Food Artist and all-round-legend Faze. Each dance will be followed by a nourishing and grounding meal, inspired by cuisines and foods from around the world. Always with gluten-free/vegan options available. Pre-purchasing is highly recommended.

What to bring

• Wear comfortable clothes easy to move in. Bring layers
• Water bottle
• Towel (if using sauna)

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What is Ecstatic Dance?


Ecstatic Dance is a free-form conscious dance practice that was born out of Gabrielle Roth's 5 Rhythms - think of it like movement meditation. It strengthens the body-mind connection; it can be a form of catharsis, a way to connect with people around you, and for some, can lead to altered states of consciousness and spiritual experiences.

Ultimately, this is a place for you to move in a way that is authentic to you, free from judgement or convention.

We open and close the space together, staying in it for the whole ride. Unlike other forms of conscious dance which have a lot of guidance, the journey of an Ecstatic Dance is primarily guided by the music, which is typically a blend of eclectic genres, and rhythms from all around the world that move the body in different ways, and through a varied emotional landscape.

Guidelines

There are a number of guidelines that support us in this practice. They help us stay present and safe (enough) to really let go.

1. Sober Space - The music is the high! We reach ecstatic states through music, movement and awareness
2. Screen Free - We keep phones and photography out of the space to stay present with ourselves and each other
3. Non-Verbal - We communicate through movement rather than words, which helps us to stay in the practice and in our bodies
4. Barefoot - We take off footwear to feel more connected to the ground, and to prevent injury
5. Attunement - Dancing with others is emphatically encouraged, and we promote consent practices that help us attune to each other, so we can all feel safe and free in our movement.

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FAQ’s

The Dance

• ** I’ve never been to an ecstatic dance before. Can I still come?**
  Yes - absolutely. No experience is needed and we joyfully welcome newcomers to try it out.

• Can I come late?
  Doors open at 10:00 and close at 10:35. If you arrive after then you won’t be allowed to join. This is because we want everyone present for our opening circle where we share the guidelines, which helps preserve the integrity of the space

• Do I have to stay for the whole thing?
  If you’re coming for the dance we encourage you to stay til the end of the dance at 1pm. The food, sauna and hanging out is optional and very casual so if you have other plans you can scoot off then. (welcome to sit and be still within the space whenever this is what you need?)

• Do I have to buy tickets in advance?
  Please do - it really helps us plan, and capacity is 40, so we can't promise there'll be tickets on the door.

• Is it a family friendly event?
  Yes we welcome families but please be aware that some music may contain explicit language, and we permit nudity in and around the sauna area. It is your responsibility to take care of your children - provide ear protectors, and ensure that they are accompanied by an adult at all times.

Food and Cacao

• How do the add-ons work?
  Cacao, food and sauna are optional extras you can add to your basket when booking. Cacao is only available for to purchase in advance. Food and sauna can be bought on site, but we'll prioritise advance bookings and can't promise there'll be enough - so if you know you want them, book ahead.

• Can I bring my own food or cacao?
  Yes

• What will the food be?
  We will offer one main dish that will be vegetarian, and include vegan/gluten free options where needed.

• I have an intolerance or allergy - can I eat the food?
  We will provide food that is gluten free, and a vegan option. This is a small event and we are not able to cater for a more diverse range of allergies. If you have a severe nut allergy or are coeliac, we recommend bringing your own food.

Sauna

• What do I need to bring for the sauna?
  Bring a towel or sarong to sit on and a water bottle.

• Can I be naked in the sauna?
  Yes. Nudity is permitted, and you can wear a bathing suit if you feel more comfortable.

• How long is the sauna session?
  We will run 1 hour sessions in the sauna, after the dance for a max of 10 people at a time.