At last! We can exercise outdoors together again!

It's been a long winter for many of us, but spring is imminent and our freedoms are expanding. A great time to connect with our bodies; to move, stretch and enjoy the rhythms of music that inspire us to awaken our physical senses and connect with the vibrancy of life within and around. Surrounded by nature and in a (distanced) group we connect with the simple pleasure of being in nature and community.

Ecstatic Dance is based in the ancient practice of following the free movement of the body to shake and awaken your being into higher states of awareness, to release stress and trauma and to reconnect with your inner truth, beauty and enjoyment of life.

Expect a gentle warm up guiding you into feeling more deeply rooted in your physical being, with plenty of warming sounds including hand pan, soul, lofi and afrobeat as well as taking us deeper into a trance state with drumming and deep rhythms. At times we lift into fun realms of popular and underground dance music which may include house, tribal, electro, electroswing, celtic, folk, rock and maybe a drop of drum & bass if the mood takes us! We will end with a grounding movement meditation.

The Practical Things

Outdoor exercise is on from the 29th March so long as it professionally arranged/ticketed, distanced and hygienic!

👉🏻I ask that all participants stay distanced by 1.5m for the duration of the dance from anyone outside their household/bubble. *This is essential for me to be able to keep running these dances.*

👉🏻 Headsets are fully sanitised beforehand, there will also be cleaning wipes you can use for an extra clean and hand sanitiser available.

Refunds/Exchanges

👉🏻Tickets can be fully refunded or transferred up to 48hrs before the event. In exceptional conditions I will consider refunds the day before.

Children

👉🏻Are very welcome! Headsets have their own volume control to make it a suitable sound level for each individual. Your child may also want to bring their own music to listen/dance to.

What to Bring/Wear

👉🏻Bring some water/a drink.

👉🏻You may want a scarf or hat to wear over the headsets so they stay on more securely while you dance.

👉🏻Wear comfy clothes you can move and dance in. If that happens to be pink sparkly hot pants go for it, but pyjamas are also welcome! Wear layers and bring a warm jumper or coat to put on after. I recommend dancing barefoot on the earth to release, heal & ground your energetics.

Weather

👉🏻Hopefully conditions will be bright & dry! But if it looks damp please bring anoraks or wet weather clothing including a waterproof hood/hat to protect the headsets. In the case of heavy rain I will cancel the dance and can either refund or transfer your ticket to another date.

Location/Time

👉🏻Please arrive up to 15mins early to get your headset and settled into the space.

👉🏻I will email directions & meeting point during the week before the dance.

👉🏻 Preston Park is a well used space so there will be others around! I have picked a more private/enclosed area to make it easier to go more deeply into the dance. Otherwise let's be happy to share our beautiful individual expressions with anyone passing by!

👉🏻You will be able to stay near or explore the natural area around. It does feel good to have some sense of togetherness so do keep connecting back in if you go exploring!

Headsets

👉🏻This is a 'silent disco' style set up! Please look after the headsets - they cost around £40 each to replace if damaged! Do not place them on the ground. I hire them from Hush Beats Disco.

Ecstatic Dance

👉🏻Is based in the natural understanding that our bodies know how they need and want to move themselves in order to heal, strengthen, release and be nourished. Our ancestors practised rhythmic dancing to drums and chanting for centuries. The dance is aimed at guiding you on a journey to connect with your body and to move, release and experience a shift in your whole being. I give some guidance to start and then you are invited to listen and move with your internal guidance. There will be a mix of slow, fast, playful, touching and many styles of music. You may have many different feelings, thoughts, experiences come up! Dance with them ALL! If you feel pain, tune in, is this something to gently move with and feel or do you need to change your movement or rest? If you feel tired, is this old, stagnant 'tired' feelings being released that you can keep dancing through, or do you need to slow down? There is no right or wrong way to move! Enjoy connecting with your body and the music and allow your journey to unfold.

AboutM e

Anna-Lisa spent lock down training as an Ecstatic Dance Facilitator and DJ, however has been leading inner and physical journeys for over 10 years including Taoist energy and physical wellness practices from 1-1 to groups of up to 80 participants. She pioneered and led workshops for adults, families and children including running in school wellbeing programmes and research. Anna-Lisa has loved dancing and music since childhood and performed in clubs, festivals and carnivals as a dancer. Her passion for movement, music and celebration is infectious, yet she also holds a nurturing and nourishing container for introspection and personal development. She is also a conscious mum, art therapist, tarot reader and recently co-formed the community and family networking and play space Conscious Fun Club which held a series of very popular events in summer 2020 including sunset Ecstatic Dance events.