Im attendingDance Awake, a conscious dance session located in Cape Town, South Africa.
Dance Awake is one flavor of conscious dance; another more well-known form is ecstatic dance.
What Is Ecstatic Dance?
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As the name suggests, ecstatic dance often leads to a feeling of ecstasy.
Unchoreographed, intuitive dance has been practiced for centuries, often for spiritual and shamanic purposes.
Other sources credit ecstatic dance as a dance form popularized in Hawaii in 2000.
Ecstatic dance is dancing for the purposes of self-discovery and self-care, saysDr.
Elizabeth Newman, a psychological associate andDance Movement Therapist.
We are no longer looked at or looking, subject to judgmentwe are simply in a state of being.
Ecstatic dance differs majorly from a typical dance class in that there is no choreography.
Instead of following an instructors exact movements, you move according to your own intuition.
What a Class Could Look Like
Every ecstatic dance class has a different approach.
Some use specific types of music to get you into a state of flow.
Some open with a brief meditation or intention-setting exercise.
Many classes have guidelines on how to ask to dance and how to say yes or no.
Classes are usually between 45 minutes and two hours long, although this can vary.
What Makes This jot down of Movement Good For Mental Health?
For me, an unchoreographed dance class is a double-edged sword.
I start by swaying, a little awkwardly, to the music.
I understand in that moment why people love ecstatic dance so much.
Elizabeth Newman, Dance Movement Therapist
Ecstatic dance is dancing for the purposes of self-discovery and self-care.
Dance is healing, Newman says.
In addition to getting your blood flowing, this movement can stimulate the release ofdopamine.
In one study, ecstatic dance participants reported experiencing a boost inself-esteemand a lifted mood.
Mindfulnessis a major theme of ecstatic dance.Letting go in meditation is not just for the mind.
We can do so in conjunction with our body as well, Newman says.
While traditional therapies didnt seem to work for him, conscious dance helped him process grief and depression.
It was like taking a breath of fresh air after being buried underwater.
Where it really helps is in reminding you that you’re more than just your mind, he says.
The first (and most difficult) step is usually getting yourself there, Bergman says.
If youre extremely depressed, it may be difficult to leave the house.
In that case, he recommends dancing at home.
If you put on some music and dance, youll generally end up feeling a little better.
Will I Always Feel Ecstatic During Ecstatic Dance?
My first conscious dance session left me feelinggreatbut I wouldnt say that I experienced ecstasy.
Does that mean I did it wrong?
According to Bergman, not everybody experiences ecstasy during conscious danceand thats okay.
Many times, the dance is not ecstatic for people.
It brings up other experiences, which are all valid.
He gives an example of someone who experiences depression and attends a conscious dancing session.
They might leave feeling lighter and more relaxednot necessarily ecstatic, but thats still a positive leap for them.
How Do I Try It?
Almost everybody can benefit from ecstatic dance, Newman says.
If you’re free to move any part of your body, you’re free to dance.
With that said, she also recommends you listen to your body and stay mindful of physical limitations.
Dont push yourself, especially if you have an injury or disability.
If youre looking to join an ecstatic dance class,ecstaticdance.orghas a map of classes around the world.
One of my first anxieties was around figuring out what to wear to an ecstatic dance class.
Now that Ive been to one, I see I had nothing to worry about: nobody judges.
Generally, youll want to wear comfy, free-flowing clothing that lets you move around.
Think less night club and more yoga class.
Feeling fearful or self-conscious?
Thats normal, Bergman says.
I always say that those are your two first dance partners!
The guideline of conscious dance is to start where you are.
So embrace self-consciousness as a feeling in the body.
After some time of dancing, self-consciousness can transform into a feeling of silliness, fun, and lightheartedness.
For me, moving through self-consciousness was a part of why the dance session felt so good.
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International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.
BMC Neurol 20, 32 (2020).
