Sunday Ecstatic Dance

Name: Sunday Ecstatic Dance
Start: 2024-07-07T10:30:00-05:00
End: 2024-07-07T12:30:00-05:00
Location: Des Moines Ballroom Dance Studio

Schedule

Sun Jul 07 2024 at 10:30 am to 12:30 pm

UTC-05:00

Location

Des Moines Ballroom Dance Studio | Des Moines, IA

DROP IN TO THE MEDICINE OF SELF EMBODIMENT, music, community, intuitive movement, mindfulness, dance, and connection.
WHAT HAPPENS?
Each Sunday for approximately 90 minutes, we move our bodies how our bodies want to move. Some people dance and sweat their hopes and desires. Others connect deeply with themselves or dance with others. We've seen people do yoga, take naps, meditate, and stretch. We hold space for authenticity and freedom of all movement.
MUSIC
Each playlist is an eclectic set of music arranged in a wave of The Five Rhythms (Flowing, Staccato, Chaos, Lyrical, Stillness) so that you may process and feel through your body as the music invites you move through the Rhythm of Life.
INTRO/ARRIVE 10:30 am
Shannon or Leah will meet you at the Ballroom at 10am. This is an invitation for you and your body to arrive and take time to listen, to stretch, to connect, or to skip this part entirely. This is optional.
GUIDED WARM UP/OPENING CIRCLE/START 10:45am
A guided warm up will be provided so you may deepen your dance, somatic embodiment skills, and begin to listen to what may want to move through you authentically this week. We may sit on the floor, stand, or stretch as we share with one another a brief word or sentence what is most present in the felt sense of your body that is desiring to come through dance. You can also pass sharing at the opening circle and stay in your own process. Once the circle has been opened - we will begin dancing.
CLOSING CIRCLE 12:15pm
We may close with sharing a bit about what came up as we danced. Sometimes we hum, sometimes we lay down and rest afterwards, sometimes we cry, sometimes we laugh and play - it's all okay and it's always welcomed.
END 12:30pm
Some folks may choose to chat and connect afterwards, some go and get lunch together, and some go directly home. It's all welcomed and okay. We have the space rented until 1pm.
WHERE
Des Moines Ballroom - 1925 High St. Des Moines, IA 50309
It's located just behind Gateway Market. You can actually get to their parking lot through Gateway's parking lot.
PLEASE ENTER THRU THE UPSTAIRS STUDIO
The studio that you can enter from High St. is being used for private lessons and we don't want to disturb their sessions.
PARKING
DSM Ballroom has 3 parking spaces on High St. and a parking lot up and around the back of the building. Just drive up the alley next to the building and around until you see the parking lot for 1925 High St. Others will be towed. This parking lot is a great place to park for Ecstatic Dance as we dance in the studio that is right there. You will see a sign as well.
COST/DONATION
$15-25 is the suggested donation. If you are experiencing financial hardship or a financial barrier that would keep you from dancing with us - you may pass on the donation and please still come and dance.
Your First time is Free.
Children (17 and under) are free with an adult.
TRANSPARENCY
Our space rental for 3 hours is $80/week and we would like to cover the cost of the space.
Shannon and Leah are Ecstatic Dance community members and will be participating along each week as both facilitators and participants. Neither Shannon nor Leah is offering facilitation with the intent to profit or provide business services. While Ecstatic Dance may be therapeutic - this is not a therapy. Shannon and Leah simply love Ecstatic Dance, would like to keep Sunday Ecstatic Dance going, and it would make us ecstatic to grow our Ecstatic Dance Sunday dances.
We have 3 SIMPLE GUIDELINES:
1. We Dance without Shoes
Being barefoot allows us to connect more fully with the ground. Socks are welcomed. If you need or and want to wear shoes or shoes would best allow you to participate - please do wear shoes.
2. We Dance without Words
We communicate with body language. Being nonverbal makes it easier to be in a meditative, mindful, present, and embodied state. We have no instruction or talking from the facilitators or dancers once the dance begins. And, we are all free to speak up when we need to say stop, no, help, or ____. Making an X with one's arms in front can also communicate "No."
3. We Dance as We Are.
This is a substance free event. We dance as we are - letting go of expectations, judgments, shoulds, oughts, or trying to be a "good" dancer. This is more about embodiment and self expression. Whatever that may mean for you. Respect for ourselves and others is essential to creating a safer space for all to dance and be. To help create a safer container, we invite you to stash away your phone and camera while in the space and be present.
FACILITY DESCRIPTION
The space has a hard floors, a restroom, a drinking fountain, windows, a place to hang your coat, and a couple of chairs. Please bring anything that would make you feel more comfortable in your body (yoga mats, meditation mat, a blanket, sweatshirt, etc.)
TRAUMA & DISABILITY ACCOMMODATIONS
If accommodations or adaptations would help you more fully participate in Ecstatic Dance - Please let Shannon or Leah know. You can also let us know anonymously by writing a note and sticking it in the cash jar.
Please also know that feedback is okay and welcomed. This is your Ecstatic Dance community and we love hearing your ideas!