Outdoor Ecstatic Dance Magick & Cacao

A monthly experience in Princeton, ON, for community to come together and be with the land, be in our heart centre, and move our bodies in freeform dance expression. Dance is medicine, we invite people of all ages, all body types, and all levels of dancing experience (or lack thereof).

Details:

Friday June 14, 2024

7 pm - 9:30pm

$45 book here online or email kathleenpellin@outlook.com to RSVP and pay cash at the door

Parking available on-site

7 pm - Open circle and ceremonial cacao

7:15 pm - Warm- up

7:30 pm - Dj Set, free movement, co-created play

9:10 pm - Integrative sound immersion

9:25 pm- Closing Circle

Please bring:

A water bottle (we will have water available to refill your vessel)

A yoga mat/ blanket ( for sound at the end)

Attire:

As we will be outside, we welcome you to be barefooted, you may also consider wearing soft/ flexible footwear as you feel called.

Dress to sweat! The ideal outfit should be lightweight, breathable, loose fitting, free of hard buckles/buttons/zippers, and flexible. Focus on comfort and self expression, avoid dressing in clothing that limits or restricts your movement. Some folks will opt for more natural fabrics like cotton or bamboo, as they are more breathable than synthetics. Layer and/or bring additional clothing as needed. If you feel called to be with/on/about the earth, be sure to wear long sleeves and pants, to avoid reactions to potential allergens like grass.

Guidelines and Etiquette:

Presence:

(No phone or cameras) We collectively will hold the intention to create a non-judgemental and safe space for one another. You are invited to go inward to be present with your bodily sensations, emotions, mind, and spirit, to move in a way that is authentic to your present state of being (even the parts of our inner experience we might normally hide).

Embodiment:

This is a non-verbal space and we use the authentic language of our body to generate a sense of dialogue (while we all have agency to speak when we need to, mingling is reserved to before and after the event). Sounds may arise from emoting (laughing, crying, physiological sighs), these sounds are welcome.  We avoid moving for the sake of moving and instead allow desirable/intriguing movements to emerge from within.

Clear mind:

(No intoxicants) We will be working with ceremonial Cacao.

Consent:

Respecting one another's personal space and physical boundaries. From time to time we may feel called to dance with one another. We can do so by simply allowing another’s movement to impact our own from afar, by dancing in closer proximity, or in contact with one another. Establishing consent in a non-verbal space is still possible:

Ways to say “No” nonverbally-  Turn Away, Move Away, Hand(s) at Your Heart (prayer gesture), crossed arms

• Ways to say “Yes” nonverbally- Turn Toward, Move Closer, Extend a Hand (open palm)
• If you a approach someone with their eyes closed, they are unable to consciously offer consent, understand that they are being with their inner experience and consider it a “No,” for that moment in time

Hygiene:

We avoid use of synthetic fragrances. Natural scents and gentle bug spray are permitted (avoiding synthetic chemical and aerosol sprays), we will likely burn/roast sage or rosemary to help reduce the crittery crawlies’ presence in the space

Diversity:

This is a space for people of all ages, body types, land, and lineage. We also aim for rhythmic diversity, the sound and music is inspired from a multitude of sources.

The Medicine:

Following our bodies natural impulses can be deeply healing. Our bodies can translate emotion into motion.  We come together for dance as a means of self exploration and to support one another in doing the same.

For those who are interested we will be serving ceremonial Cacao. A Mayan Indigenous myth tells us that whenever the balance between humans and nature becomes threatened, cacao comes from the rainforest to open people's hearts and return the planet to harmony.

Information about our Ceremonial Cacao:

Cacao is made from the edible seed (beans) of the Theobroma Cacao tree. We will be consuming a type of ceremonial grade 100% pure cacao which is organic, heirloom variety, sourced from non-hybridized and non-plantation ( no chemical fertilizers or pesticides are utilized), under-story trees in the rainforests, naturally fermented, dried, then processed by hand, toasted, peeled, and ground.

Cacao has Psychoactive compounds, not psychedelic/hallucinogenic.  It contains:

Phenylethylamine (PEA): the LOVE chemical, which increases dopamine production, enhances attentiveness and elevated mood, and helps with athletic performance, depression, mood, weight loss, and attention.

Anandamide: the BLISS chemical, which is an endogenous cannabinoid found in the brain, a neurotransmitter that targets the same brain structures as THC, makes us feel high and blissful, and neurotransmitter Inhibitors (MAOIs), which maintains mood-altering neurotransmitters in brain.

Health Consideration:

Antidepressants: The MAO inhibitors in cacao can interact with some anti-depressant meds

Food Sensitivities: cacao is a fermented food

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding: no known contraindications

Heart Conditions: Cacao increases HR 20-30% and lowers BP

Animals: can be deadly for dogs, horses and parrots

Migraines: If you are dehydrated, cacao can give you a headache or migraine ( be sure to drink lots of water ahead of the dance to be ready to receive the medicine)