Ecstatic Dance Party at Elevate Community Yoga

Enjoy a night of Ecstatic Dance, heart opening, healing, community connection, and potluck! $15 cash suggested donation paid in person at the event, with pre-registration through Eventbrite.

4pm - Doors open/meet and greet fellow dancers

4:30 - Opening circle

4:45 - Heart opening and connection exercises

5:15 - Ecstatic Dance (freeform movement)

7:15 - Meditation/closing circle

8pm - Community potluck and social time begins

10pm or later - Good night!

All are welcome without restrictions or limitations.

We ask that you follow established Ecstatic Dance principles and please refrain from:

1: Using substances such as alcohol or cannabis (be your true, authentic self)

2. Talking on the dance floor (while talking isn't fully restricted, refrain from loud conversation that may disturb the vibe so that everyone can dive deep without distraction)

3. Using your phone (stay present in the moment, be without fear of being recorded or photographed)

4. Invading the personal space of others (please do not engage in physical touch with another person unless an invitation of eye contact or an extended hand is accepted)

5. Wearing shoes (feel a deeper connection between the Earth and your body)

6. Expectations (no fears, no judgement, no rules about movement)

We thank you for respecting this sacred space so that we all can feel, listen, move, celebrate, and heal in our own unique way - together as a community.

Pro Tips:

- Dress however makes you happy! Be fun, funky, and/or just plain comfortable. Be prepared to move your body and get sweaty!

- Bring your own water bottle (maybe two!)

- Bring something delicious to eat that is shareable and can withstand being held at room temperature for a few hours. If you bring something that needs to be kept cold or warm, bring your own cooler/ice packs or hot box/bag for keeping until it's time to eat (refrigerator space is limited); bring your own serving utensils if needed. Please consider bringing vegetarian/vegan options to allow for the most amount of sharing possible.

- Cups, plates, utensils, napkins, and ice will be provided. If you can, let us know in the comment section (on FB or IG) what you are going to bring so others can see what is on the "community menu." We all know food can get messy, please clean up after yourself and be respectful of the space we are in.

- Bring any blankets, cushions, or whatever you may need to be comfortable in the opening/closing circle and for social time.

- Bring a joyous and loving attitude and be ready for a night of fun and connection!

About your hosts:

Teresa Wright has an absolute love of music and dance! Through her yoga teacher training in India and Costa Rica, Teresa experienced training in indigenous dance workshops and dance meditation. She has been a part of African dance circles and has even hosted multicultural music events in her own home. A few years ago while volunteering as 'Camp Nurse' at SoulPlay Music Festival, Teresa discovered the beauty of the freeform style of Ecstatic Dance which was the perfect addition to her repertoire. Teresa has previously had the honor of co-hosting dance meditations with Cari Swegles, and is excited to co-host with her again to bring true Ecstatic Dancing to our community for the very first time!

Cari Swegles comes from a lineage of dancers, and has been classically trained in a variety of dance modalities such as Ballet, Modern, Hula, Irish Step and many more. Having performed in front of thousands of people in various arenas, Cari truly loves and knows what it means to study, practice, teach, and perform dance. After her soul-sister Teresa Wright introduced her to the Ecstatic Dance community in the SF Bay Area, Cari has gained a deep passion for freeform movement as well as the beautiful and healing aspects of dance-inspired community connection. It is her extreme pleasure to partner with Teresa in introducing Ecstatic Dance to her hometown of Modesto.