Ecstatic Dance
& Conscious Community Events

After much awaiting, we bring to the local region, the special community-building and relational healing experience of Ecstatic Dance!

What is Ecstatic Dance?

Ecstatic dance is a free-form, unchoreographed movement practice where participants dance intuitively to music in a safe, non-judgmental environment. It combines conscious dance, meditation, self-expression, and somatic movement to help dancers release inhibitions, process emotions, and connect spiritually or deeply with themselves and relating to others, as desired.

What to expect:

A warm welcome circle and brief warm-up for about 20minutes, then free expression, as guided by the music and your inner wisdom for about 80minutes, then a slow cool down and closing circle. There will be a small altar for quiet reflection and meditative solitude within the space.

The guidelines are simple but very important, for the safety of all our participants:

Respect personal space: There are no prescribed steps, and dancers can choose to dance alone or interact with others as long as it is consensual.
Judgement-free zone: Self-witness judgement of self or others, as safe expression of all emotions are welcome. There are no right or wrong ways to move.
No talking: The dance floor is a non-verbal space to encourage inward focus and prevent distractions. Non-verbal communication is encouraged, take conversations outside the space.
A strictly sober and conscious space.
No shoes: bare feet are traditionally encouraged to feel more grounded and connected.
No phones or cameras: This ensures privacy and allows participants to stay entirely present.

Inappropriate and/or aggressive behavior will not be tolerated and you will be asked to leave if necessary, for the integrity of the space.

Somatic Fitness

IMIM supports nervous system regulation, boosting circulation and immune function, increasing flexibility and range of motion, as well as strengthening internal and external boundaries, and social relating. Celebrate yourself and your community in this playful space of trauma-sensitivity, warm lightheartedness, and compassionate experiencing of limiting beliefs and critical self-talk, to safely express emotions and feelings through movement. You are always encouraged to trust your own pace and explore your own intuitive guidance!

In 2014, I channeled The Intuitive Movement Integration Method (IMIM). It is a simple, gentle technique designed to reduce anxiety, overwhelm, and depression, and boost self-confidence, vitality, immunity, and calm centeredness.

What you can expect from an IMIM session:

Simple breathwork and posture and body-mechanics awareness
Range of motion exercises and group relating exploration
Gentle stretching
Gratitude & stillness practice
Integration and conversation

Who is this for?

People who hate traditional exercise!
Those wanting a “good workout” without force or harshness.
People wanting more body-confidence, better posture and body-mechanics, and mood improvement.
Curious people wanting to enhance their inner and relational awareness.
Trauma-sensitive folk wanting a gentle, playful container for relational healing

Upcoming Community Events

Click on each image to get more info and register.

Past Workshop Live Venues

Sticks & Stones, Newtown, CT

The Newtown Wellness Collective, Sandy Hook, CT

Evolve, New Milford, CT

McCall Behavioral Health, Torrington, CT

United Methodist Church, New Milford, CT

Unitarian Universalist Church, Danbury, CT

Frequently Asked Questions

What is “somatic” exercise?

The word somatic literally means body. Somatic exercise brings awareness of physical sensations and then witnessing what “comes up” (thoughts, beliefs, preferences) as the movements happen. The Intuitive Movement Integration Method (IMIM) is a somatic exercise experience to connect with the body with gentle compassionate awareness, while doing low to moderate impact exercises rooted in simple dance movement. IMIM is an opportunity to reconnect to the body with lovingness, not criticism. It is an invitation to enter into a loving relationship with our bodies, and ourselves.

What if I don’t know how to dance or feel self-conscious dancing?

In the IMIM experience, everyone is encouraged to challenge their critical self-talk by turning their attention to how the movements FEEL, not what you look like or how you may or may not be perceived by others. This experience is for you and you only, while in this compassionate-community space. No one moves in the same way and here, we embrace our own unique way of showing up. Here, you can practice the playfulness of movement, be messy, uncoordinated without fear of judgement. Also, by showing up, chances are good you’ll start to feel more confident as one practices dancing.

What if I feel numb and disconnected from my body?

Honoring that you don’t seem to feel anything is a part of the process for many people. This is an opportunity to learn compassionate awareness. Simply allowing can create space to let sensations return in their own time. IMI removes pressure and force unlike the standard accepted exercise mentality.

If I feel strong resistance to doing something everyone else is doing, can I opt out?

Always! Every single step of the IMIM experience is designed to empower people to honor what feels right for themselves as sovereign beings. Just like yoga, you can modify, do something else, or just watch whenever you feel so inclined.

I’m curious, but feeling apprehensive about trying IMIM or Ecstatic Dances, how can I overcome that?

Like doing anything new, it requires bravery. Showing up for new experiences is an act of courage and freedom. The hardest action is the first action, then it gets easier to show up. The only way we know what isn’t for us, is by trying things! The people who attend are always warm and welcoming. You’re officially invited! Also, at Ecstatic Dances participation is optional. You are welcomed to sit and watch the entire time, if you so choose.

Ecstatic Dance
& Conscious Community Events