We are excited to be hosting Ecstatic Dance Austin on the East Side at our new space at 1106 Smith Road.
Join us every Sunday from 9:30am - 12:00 noon for ecstatic dance. Whether you are brand new to dance or long time ecstatic dancer, we invite you to show up to celebrate your life and authentic self. We create a unique dance space that allows you to be vulnerable and real, move your body and feed your soul!
Location is 1106 Smith Road (near 183 and Bolm Rd). Parking is around the building and along Bolm Road...the entrance to the dance space is at the back left corner of the building. Doors close at 10:30am.
What to Bring: 1. Loose-fitting clothes that allow for free movement 2. Water to keep yourself hydrated 3. A towel or extra shirts :) 4. A positive attitude of mutual respect for yourself and others
$12 at the door (5 dance passes for $50 available at the door)
Please review our guidelines below:
Ecstatic Dance Austin Conscious Dance Guidelines
Basics: •Dance in bare feet, socks, or your dance shoes. Please no street shoes. •Please come with a clean, un-perfumed body. •Maintain appropriate dress at all times; dress in clothing that is safe and comfortable to move in. Dress code guidelines are similar to what would be worn in a hot yoga class. All dancers are required to wear tops/shirts and bottoms at all times. •Our dance is a drug and alcohol free space. •Please no photography or videotaping
Wellbeing and Safety: We love to dance and we need to be safe too. By taking part in the dance you acknowledge responsibility for your own safety. Be aware of your surroundings and your impact on others. Dance into the empty spaces. Drink water! If you are particularly sensitive to loud sounds, earplugs are available for yourself and for your children.
Sounds and Talking: Once the music begins it's mostly a nonverbal space. If conversation is necessary, please move off the dance floor. Feel free to make sound, but respect the silence in quieter parts of the dance. Please be mindful to turn OFF your cell phone before entering the dance space. And always, use your verbal "NO" loudly at any time if your boundaries are not being respected.
Participation: All who enter agree to participate. You are free to arrive anytime between 10 and 11 am. The doors will close at 11 am, as the opening and closing circles are important to the cohesion of the group. We encourage you to arrive on time and stay until the end whenever possible. If you choose to witness, practice taking in the whole room and everyone in it without staring, judging, or creating stories. Try to stay present in your own body even if you are not moving. Stillness is a part of the dance. As a witness you are not just a passive observer, but a part of the experience.
Boundaries and Consent: •Your personal dance exploration is the essence of this practice, dancing with others is secondary. •You have the right and responsibility to maintain your own boundaries. Boundaries may not be known until encountered and may change at anytime. • We are a culture of shared Awareness and Consent. Ask non-verbally and verbally for permission to dance with another. A YES must be communicated and is not the absence of a NO. A NO can be communicated verbally or through prayer position. Please be willing to get a verbal NO, no eye contact or perhaps no acknowledgement at all, especially if someone else is in their own dance. You dance in a community. We ask for your sensitivity to how your expressiveness impacts others. Please be aware of the dance we do between authenticity and community. Stay strongly connected to your choices to say YES and NO, non-verbally and verbally. Intend to not deliver a no with shame or blame and to not take a "no" personally. It is simply a part of the practice and we honor each other’s authenticity.
•If you want to dance alone, you can also wear one of the yellow wristbands that are available at the sign in table. This displays to other dancers, "I am dancing solo". Our dances are open to all and as a public activity; this is not a space for sexual touching. Your presence indicates that you honor this agreement. Please ask for guidance from a facilitator if you feel unclear about the difference between sensual self-expression and sexual engagement. If you are new to ecstatic dance, give yourself time to learn and understand the guidelines before dancing in a close contact dance with another. We want the dance floor to be a space of freedom, authenticity and joyful vibrant energy. Sexual predators and those who do not honor guidelines will be asked to leave.
Let the facilitators know if you need assistance at any time during or after the dance.
Children
SAFETY: There can be a lot of moving bodies. Although everyone is responsible for their own safety on the floor, you are also responsible for the safety and supervision of your child. Please keep small children with you or a designated caregiver at all times to prevent accidents. Chasing one another in the space is dangerous and not permitted.
RESPECT: There are three particular times when we ask that children be quiet, settled, and in your presence -- during opening circle, and while soft music is playing at the end of the program and during closing circle. If it is clear that their energy is physically or verbally distracting during these times, we ask you to please step outside with them and return when you can.
SOUND: The music can be loud. To protect tender ears, we recommend that you use the provided headphones or earplugs for your self and especially for young children.
Welcome to Ecstatic Dance!
Through dance, we believe everyone can discover, explore, unleash, and enhance their individual potential. By engaging our senses and listening to our bodies, we connect to others and shape a consciousness that extends beyond our own.
