Ecstatic Dance

A place to move your body, dance freely and express yourself in a non-judgemental space with likeminded people. Music/Movement/Mindfulness

1 9:00 Warm up

1 9:10 Opening Circle

19:20 Ecstatic dance

20:50 Closing Circle

2 1:00 Session close

Ecstatic dance is a form of dance in which the dancers, sometimes without the need to follow specific steps, abandon themselves to the rhythm and move freely as the music takes them, leading to trance and a feeling of ecstasy. Dancers are described as feeling connected to others, and to their own emotions. The dance serves as a form of meditation, helping people to cope with stress and to attain serenity.

Ecstatic dance sessions take you on a transformative journey through the different rhythms and genres played by the DJ and circle leader.

Dance of Awareness™ (DoA) is a new approach to working with movement, dance and awareness, developed by Tim Brown and Clare Osbond. It has five main streams of influence: Neo-Reichian body-centred psychotherapy; Five Rhythms dance; Authentic Movement; Dance Movement Psychotherapy; and the experiential exploration of Awareness itself. It is a group movement practice that aims to increase self-awareness and self- acceptance. Practiced regularly it can be a resource for continuing wellbeing on physical, mental, emotional and spiritual levels. DoA has been growing since 2003, and is based on experience gained through over 1500 hours of DoA classes, groups and workshops.

The DoA cycle - sensing, grounding, expressing, releasing, connecting and completing - follows an energetic wave, charging and discharging over the course of a session. The cycle is based on psychodynamic theory and developmental psychology. The phases of the cycle follow themes of human development from pre-birth through to around five years. This is the time period associated with the growing sense of self which becomes embodied through early experience, and which sets the patterns for adulthood. This gives the mover the opportunity to re-experience their formative years of early development, explore old imprints, and discover new patterns of moving and relating.

Music is an important element of the process guiding the group through six sequential phases which together form a continuous wave of energy. The phases are:

Sensing the body directly – arriving into ‘being’ with an internal focus on physical sensation and an external focus on the five senses;

Grounding our bodies in relation to the earth and others, receiving support;

Expressing the shapes, patterns and movements that are ready to take form;

Releasing the energy that is ready to move in the body;

Connecting deeper into ourselves – and outwards with others and the world;

Completing the journey and returning to our true nature.

Throughout the process there is strong emphasis on body awareness which provides the ground for our experience.

https://www.embodiedtherapy.org.uk/dance-of-awareness1

1 . No drugs/alcohol.

2 . No talking in the dance space. There will be a chance to say a few words during the closing circle at the end.

3 . Phone-free zone. A chance for us to take a breather from our phones and be present.

4 . Respect for each other's personal space.

5 . Barefoot dancing helps us ground our energy and brings us closer in connection to mother earth. You can wear soft soled trainers/shoes or socks if you feel more comfortable doing so.

Bring a large full water bottle, a healthy snack for after, a pillow, yoga mat and a blanket.

Wear loose comfortable clothing, something you can move freely in.

We currently don't offer any refunds, but we can transfer your ticket to a future date if given 48 hours' notice. Email- [email protected] for enquiries.

Very Yoga Reigate, Focus house, 23-25 Bell st, Reigate, RH2 7AD

£15

Please note that by purchasing a ticket you agree that Ecstatic Dance Surrey is not liable for any injury or harm that you may incur at this class & you agree to take full responsibility of yourself, your health, and your well-being. Thanks

Billy Harding's passions lie in mental health and dance/body movement. He was part of a street dance group called DXT in his twenties and performed in competitions and at schools during his time with them. He ran a men's mental health group called warriors stand united in Sutton for a couple of years and he uses his social media platform to raise awareness for those experiencing difficulties with mental health issues. Billy stopped dancing for many years but decided it was time to start moving his body again and began to attend 5 rhythms and ecstatic dance classes in South London. Billy found a joy that had been lost by beginning to dance again and he loved the idea that performance didn't matter in these classes, it was just about you being yourself, and moving however you felt right whilst connecting with likeminded people.

Billy has completed dance of awareness training in Brighton which is a new approach to working with movement, dance and awareness, developed by Tim Brown and Clare Osbond.

Instagram: @ecstaticsurrey @billypharding

Event Venue

Very Yoga Reigate, 23-25 Bell Street, Reigate, United Kingdom