When was the last time you truly felt the ground beneath your feet? Not just walked on it, but felt it support you, hold you, remind you that you belong here?Earthbound isn't just another dance night. It's a descent into our bodies, into the beating heart of what makes us human. Here, we strip away the performance and find the movement that lives in our bones. Ancient, instinctive, alive.
Through dance, we remember. As we move together, we reconnect with something older than words. The primordial pulse that has moved through generations before us. The bass becomes our heartbeat, the rhythm our breath, and slowly, beautifully, we remember - we are not separate from this earth. We are of it.
No expectations. No right way to move. Just you, the music, and a room full of people finding their way back to themselves. Feel your feet press into the floor and know you are exactly where you need to be. Come home to your body, to community, to the earth that has always been waiting.
This isn't about escaping reality. It's about arriving fully in it. Rooted. Present. Alive.
Expect to be carried away by deep tribal beats that speak to something primal within. Live drumming and percussion will guide our journey, creating rhythms that resonate with our collective heartbeat.
This is a space for community, for connection, for remembering what it means to move together as one tribe while honouring each person's unique expression.
Let the music bring you back to yourself. Let your body remember what your mind has forgotten.
Doors open at 6:30pm, giving you time to settle in, connect, and enjoy a complimentary cacao. Whether you choose to socialise, stretch, or simply arrive in the space, you'll ease into the experience at your own pace.
By 7pm, we'll gently transition into an unforgettable dance journey, guided by our live DJ and drummer duo.
The night will then culminate with a special 30 minute closing performance designed to help integrate your experience before you return to the world.
Tickets on sale now including limited first and second release early bird options.
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WHAT IS RITES OF DANCE?
Rites of Dance is a conscious dance event that captures the energetic pulse of club culture while creating something deeper and more intentional.
Imagine walking into a space where the music instantly moves through you, but without the toxic energy that often comes with nightlife. Instead, you find yourself in a sanctuary where freedom, expression and genuine connection thrive.
This isn't just about dancing. It's a journey through movement, music, and self expression that transforms into a modern rite of passage.
At Rites of Dance, you'll experience sober dancing with a live DJ who blends bass-heavy electronic tracks and hard hitting EDM you’d find in a club alongside tribal rhythms, downtempo grooves, and ambient soundscapes. A live drummer accompanies the entire journey, creating a fully immersive experience that reaches far beyond the surface.
Here you can explore the intensity and joy of movement without substances or chaotic surroundings. It's about going deep, feeling the full spectrum of human experience from the murky depths of life's chaos to the ecstatic highs of cosmic connection.
The space welcomes you to express yourself fully, to move without judgment or expectation, and to experience the freedom of being truly present in your body.
Whether you're looking for an alternative to typical nightlife or seeking deeper connection with yourself and others, Rites of Dance creates a bridge to a more authentic relationship with music, community, and yourself.
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ABOUT THE MUSIC
At Rites of Dance, music is the central force and it is as diverse and dynamic as the journey itself, blending the energy and beats you might expect in a club environment with a deeper, more intentional feel.
You’ll hear everything from bass-heavy EDM, trap, and drum and bass to techno, house, and tribal rhythms, mixed with downtempo, atmospheric soundscapes, and even nostalgic dance tunes thrown in on occasion.
The music ranges from heavy, driving bass to ethereal ambient soundscapes, creating an emotional and energetic experience that taps into the full spectrum of human feeling.
Our approach is about pushing creative limits, and going to places other conscious dance events won’t.
The sets are carefully constructed to take participants on a transformative journey, with the energy rising and falling throughout the night—it pulls you into the depths and then lifts you back into lightness, allowing you to dive deep into your own experience, guided by the music through moments of intensity and release.
A live drummer accompanies the DJ, weaving in primal rhythms on the djembe, dun duns, and bongos, amplifying the energy and bringing a raw, tribal element to the electronic beats. The synergy between the music and live drumming creates a deeply immersive atmosphere, amplifying the energy and pulling you deeper into the experience.
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COMMUNITY HUB
There is a dedicated community hub at the back of the hall where you are invited to display any promo matierial you have for your upcoming offerings, events etc.
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MEET THE TEAM
MARK SANKHARA - CREATOR, DJ & FACILITATOR
For the past six years, Mark Saṅkhāra has been a driving force in the Gold Coast conscious dance scene, holding it down with Rites of Dance – a pivotal pillar of the community. His events have created a sacred space for movement, connection, and deep transformation, making an undeniable impact on the local scene.
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/
GARETH COHEN AKA DRUMMINGAZ - LIVE PERCUSSION
Gareth Cohen, a South African drumming virtuoso, boasts over two decades of global experience.
From heavy metal kits to djembe rhythms, his music transcends boundaries, uniting cultures worldwide.
Gareth, affectionately calling music "Mother Music," believes in its ability to cultivate unity, peace, and love in any space.
Witness his transformative beats on stage and embrace the undeniable truth - in music, unity prevails.
CONNECT >>> https://www.instagram.com/drummingazz/
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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
1st Round EB - $39 (10 only)
2nd Round EB - $49 (20 only)
General Admission - $59
Door - $70
*EB - Early Bird
*The only difference with ticket options is the price, all tickets grant you access to the entirety of the event. The next round of EB tickets starts when the previous one sells 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 Arakwal people, the Minjungbal people and the Widjabul people of the Bundjalung Nation.
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.
Event Venue
A&I Hall, Charlottes Parlour, Bangalow NSW 2479, Australia,Bangalow, New South Wales, Byron Bay
Tickets
