Ecstatic Dance; Movement Medicine

By
Isabella Yan
|
November 10, 2024
12 min
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Dance like nobody’s watching.

A whiff of incense permeates the air. Soft music flows from the club-sized speakers lining the dance floor. It begins with an enclosed circle, people holding hands, closing their eyes and feeling each other’s presence. The facilitator then guides participants through playful exercises, involving breathwork, or designed to bring everyone into the present moment and connect as a group, a tribe. As you move around the space, you meet each individual's gaze, forging a silent connection, before surrendering to the music with closed eyes.

Ecstatic sounds like ecstasy, but not the chemical pill some might abuse in dark, loud clubs.

It's a distinct kind of natural, inner ecstasy, akin to a gentle yet sustained dopamine rush, mixed with the feeling of endorphins after a run. A mellow, warm hint of raw happiness, when the music ramps up and the crowd follows, reaches a temporary height of bliss, then slows back into a feeling of unity, presence, and joy.

Every ecstatic dance experience varies based on the facilitator, audience, and setting. However, certain core values are commonly embraced across the board – it’s a space free from phones, alcohol, drugs, and talking. The only guidelines are to move however you wish, respect yourself and each other. After two to three hours, the session culminates with either a yoga savasana, or a live sound healing session. “Ecstatic dance is a drug and alcohol-free environment where you dance to express, not to impress,” says David Bailey, also known as DJ Subliminal and Founder of Solar Ecstatic Dance in Bangkok. “There's no getting it wrong. It's about being authentic and present, connecting to your emotions through music, and expressing through dance and movement.”

The music typically encompasses a wide range of genres, designed to facilitate movement and emotional expression. This may include world music, electronic dance music (EDM), ambient, tribal rhythms, trance, downtempo, and various other uplifting and dynamic styles. The goal is to create a journey that encourages participants to connect with their bodies and emotions, moving freely without inhibition. It usually starts slow and melodic, picks up to a faster pace to then mellow again. A great Ecstatic session carries at least a couple of long waves, during which revellers increase the speed and engagement to reach a level of loud, almost blissful, "ecstatic" state of being.

What is special about this dance? Ecstatic dance is creative and free-flowing, offering a blend of benefits for the body and mind. You're free to sway your hips, roll on the floor, shake and jump to the rhythm, or remain perfectly still—there is no "right" way to move; it's all about expressing yourself authentically. ‘It's like a joyful workout where you move freely to music,” says Anchalee Srikong, otherwise known as DJ Ayavi, one of Thailand’s first female Ecstatic dance DJs based in Koh Mak. “This practice helps release stress and boosts mood, creating a sense of happiness and relaxation. It's also a chance to be fully present in the moment, connecting with yourself and others in a supportive community. This practice can teach us to respect ourselves, the space, and each other,” she says.

No Judgement - A Fear of Letting Go

Dancing as a cathartic release is not a new phenomenon and can be traced from Sufi whirling to contemporary club culture. In an age of technology driven isolation, many people struggle with self-consciousness and the fear of being judged, making it difficult to release their inhibitions. British DJ Robson Dob explains, “Kids don’t care if they are being seen or judged; they hear the beat and they dance. Between the ages of six and the teenage years, we become more uptight, increasingly self-conscious, and acutely aware of how others perceive us." For this reason, he believes that Ecstatic dance provides a safe and healthy container, offering numerous benefits. “It’s a great form of cardiovascular exercise, releases adrenaline, fosters connection with others, and helps you get out of your mind—similar to meditation,” he says.

Robson Dob is committed to making the world happy through natural highs like cacao, dance and breathwork. He discovered a passion for ecstatic dance in 2017, allowing him to merge his two loves: music and yoga. His ecstatic dance sessions prominently feature cacao ceremonies, an ancient ritual involving the Amazonian fruit. He firmly believes this enhances the dance experience. “Cacao allows you to get into your emotional body rather than your ‘mental body’. It can even make you feel more ‘loved up’ and connected with the crowd or yourself, while giving you more energy to dance longer,” he says.

If the thought of dancing with wild abandon—even in the privacy of your own home—makes you uneasy, you are not alone. In fact, it’s why facilitators like Bailey, include meditation and connective exercises as part of the ecstatic dance experience. “We start with ice breakers, games, partner work, group activities, and sharing. These pre-dance connections ensure that by the time the music starts, everyone feels comfortable and connected, ready to dance freely,” he says. With his background in personal development and coaching, he has adapted ecstatic dance to suit Bangkok’s distinct vibe, ensuring that it offers a transformative experience for all participants.

Bailey firmly believes that the practice builds confidence and empowers individuals to express themselves authentically, shedding the need for masks or personas. “It's a transformative environment where you can make friends who don't judge, feel genuinely listened to, and enhance personal confidence and interpersonal connections,” he explains.

He recounts a powerful story of a first-time attendee who, inspired by Bailey's discussions and practices at the dance, gained the confidence to speak up in a tough situation with her boss. He shares, “Previously, she would have never had the courage to do so. This not only improved her relationship with her boss but also boosted her self-confidence, illustrating the real-life impact of our events.”

For those feeling diffident on the dance floor, DJ Ayavi recommends starting with gentle movements, and focusing inward to connect with the body and breath. She says, “Move naturally without worrying about others, finding a safe spot on the floor if needed. Connect and seek support if feeling overwhelmed, remembering there are no judgments in Ecstatic Dance.”

For the Italian-born, Koh Phangan-based DJ Sandesh, discomfort in dancing and expressing oneself is part of the process. “Our bodies hold emotions as blockages, and through movement and dancing, we can work on and release them. We need awareness to recognize where the tension is,” he says. “By playing different styles, music, and beats, and inviting people to move in various ways, we help them access different parts of their bodies and emotions.”

Nuttapong ‘Snutt’ Sotornwattana, the proprietor of Sampasjai, a mindfulness workshop studio in Bangkok, believes that ecstatic dance is an excellent way to achieve mental balance. Like many, he experienced his first dance in Koh Phangan. "It brought my true self out of my comfort zone. A well-designed process, with a sense of safe space, allowed me to slowly connect with my inner self and express it outwardly through movement. When I’m able to express myself from the inside out, what’s left inside is simply freedom,” he explains. In 2023, Snutt introduced the practice to Bangkok collaborating with DJ SunShay to organise the Khangnai Festival,  known as 'the inner side,’ a spiritual gathering largely attended by Thais. Snutt observed that traditional Thai culture rarely embraced movement and dance activities. He shares, "Whether they just sway gently or engage in a full-blown dance-off, I notice people experience inner peace and gain new insights from stepping out of their comfort zones."

Our bodies hold emotions as blockages, and through movement and dancing, we can work on and release them. We need awareness to recognize where the tension is.

Dispelling Misconceptions

Ecstatic dance is still a niche phenomenon in Thailand, with dances held in Bangkok, Koh Phangan, Chiang Mai and Pai. Ecstatic dance has become a recognised form of therapy and a component of the broader wellness movement. Despite its growing popularity, it is often misunderstood. According to DJ Ayavi, certain Thai communities may be hesitant to embrace the practice due to misconceptions regarding its perceived religious associations. She emphasises “It's about self-expression and connection, not religious practice. I encourage people to experience it first-hand to understand its true nature.”

Bailey also emphasises its benefits for connection, confidence-building, and creating a non-judgmental community space. “We bring it back to real-world applications, explaining that the same mechanisms that inhibit you in dance are what holds you back in meetings or honest conversations with your partner or family.” He adds, “Our events are designed to be welcoming to people from all backgrounds, whether it's their first time or not. The diversity of attendees makes the events more exciting.”

Music and Movement

When curating music for an ecstatic dance event, it’s about taking participants on an emotional journey. Whether it is soft, inward, heart opening music, tribal rhythms or techno vibes, there is always a song for everyone. For some, ecstatic dance goes beyond just a feel good, conscious party. DJ Sandesh comments, “For me, ecstatic dance is a journey of many different emotions, it doesn’t need to be uplighting, high energy dance all the time. It’s incredible to see some people crying to the music when I'm playing a song that triggers sadness, anger or even anxiety. Playing an easygoing set that is easy to dance to loses the point. I like to bring a bit of everything into the journey, in order to cover as many emotions as possible.”

He adds that it’s more challenging to ‘break the flow.’ “It’s an art to break that flow, I don't want my music to be predictable. I want to take people by surprise, it’s like life, you’ll never know when you’ll have to adapt, adjust your moves for every situation.”

Today, ecstatic dance exemplifies the enduring power of music and movement to transcend cultural boundaries, and unite people in a shared experience. One of DJ Ayavi’s most memorable moments was witnessing foreigners showing love and respect for Thai culture on the dance floor, while she played traditional Thai songs. “Watching them embrace Thai cultural heritage through music was truly touching, creating a magical atmosphere of unity and celebration,” she says.

Soul Journey - A Thousand Year Practice

Ecstatic dance is a practice with ancient roots, found in shamanic traditions and ancient Greece. Although its origins are difficult to trace precisely due to its integration throughout history, the contemporary form of ecstatic dance today has its roots in the 1960s and 1970s in California. During this time, dancers including Gabrielle Roth, began exploring the connection between dance and spirituality, leading to the development of practices such as ‘the 5Rhythms.’ These practices laid the foundation for the modern ecstatic dance movement and other forms of dance like Contact Improvisation, Dance Mandala, Biodanza, which continue to evolve and thrive today. The New Age movement embraced various forms of dance and movement therapy, incorporating elements from indigenous and ancient practices. Others also attribute the influence of Osho's dynamic meditation which involves freeform movement, emotional release, and the integration of body, mind, and spirit.

In 2000, Mark Fathom further evolved the practice by combining his knowledge of 5Rhythms with the immersive energy of electronic music. His experiences at Burning Man inspired him to create a new form of ecstatic dance that combines structured movement with the dynamic, trance-inducing qualities of modern music. This innovation has contributed to the ongoing popularity and evolution of ecstatic dance in contemporary culture.

It’s an art to break that flow, I don't want my music to be predictable. I want to take people by surprise, it’s like life, you’ll never know when you’ll have to adapt, adjust your moves for every situation.

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