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Cacao Ceremony, Ecstatic Dance & Sound Healing

Brisbane's Original Cacao Ceremony Since 2014

By Adrian Mornay

Select date and time

Saturday, April 20 · 5 - 9:30pm AEST

Location

The Newmarket Hall

212 Ashgrove Ave Ashgrove, QLD 4060 Australia

Refund Policy

Refunds up to 7 days before event
Eventbrite's fee is nonrefundable.

About this event

Ecstatic Dance Brisbane takes pride in being the pioneer who introduced Ecstatic Dance, and Cacao Ceremonies to Australia.
This trend, born in Brisbane, has become a source of inspiration and transformation that captured the hearts and spirits of dance communities nationwide!

What sets us apart?
A Decade of Consistency and Commitment. We are the only event in Australia to have maintained a weekly rhythm for an entire decade, hosting over 500 events in many Brisbane locations.

This dedication enabled us to serve and support the Brisbane community during the most crucial moments of the challenging past three years, precisely when the demand for mental well-being and human connection was at its peak.

Our unwavering commitment has driven us to improve, year after year.
Today, our community enjoys a tapestry of unique offerings:
- The best wooden dance floor set amidst nature's beauty, yet within the heart of the city.

- A Sensory Symphony - Immerse yourself in the journey with our high-fidelity Quad Stereo sound system and a synchronized light system, creating an enchanting atmosphere.

- Savor a one-of-a-kind Cacao Elixir, masterfully crafted from freshly ground beans. Complement it with vegan, sugar-free, and gluten-free Bliss Balls and Chocolate.

- An Emotional Odyssey - Let our inspiring imagery and unique decorations guide you through an emotional journey, transitioning from Confidence, Courage, Joy and Love, to a Serene state.

- A Chillout Sanctuary - Find solace in our Safe Haven Chillout Space, where you can slow down and meditate at your own pace.

- Healing Touch - Guest Massage Therapists offer complimentary sessions during the event, making your experience truly holistic.

- Yoga Fusion - Embark on an embodied state before the dance with some of the best Yoga Teachers from a variety of lineages.

- Breathwork and Beyond - Special events include activating Breathwork and Cold Plunge workshops to invigorate your senses.

- Artistic Expression - Unleash your creativity with Face and Body Painting, guided by professional Makeup Artists, adding a burst of colorful vibes to your journey.

- Harmony in Sound - Experienced Sound Healers and Musicians ensure a smooth landing and integration of the Dance Journey.

- Blindfolded Exploration - At our Blindfold Trance events, external distractions vanish, amplifying your ability to enter a deeper state of awareness and process emotions better.

- World-Class Collaborations - We occasionally host events with International Renowned Artists and guest DJ's to provide diverse enriching experiences.

Join us as we celebrate a decade of Ecstatic Dance in Australia. It's not just a dance; it's a transformative journey. Come and be a part of this movement that has redefined the conscious dance experience.


Ecstatic Dance is a conscious movement practice that invites people to drop out of their minds and into their bodies to unwind and open to inner wisdom. Dance, Music and Cacao Medicine are the center point of these ceremonies catalyzing ecstatic states, where conscious mind limitations dissolve, opening the doors to the vast subconscious intelligence. It is an opportunity to connect deeply with self and others in fun ways words cannot express. A gracious experience to meet yourself as you are and open a space where you can see beyond who you think you are... It’s about you, freedom, joy and honesty.

For thousands of years, cacao has been celebrated as a food of the gods. Together we will drink a cacao elixir, giving ourselves the opportunity to enter into the stillness and wisdom of our being. This journey will offer a space to develop self-awareness, be moved by deep emotions, expand your intuitive awareness and align your actions with your intentions.

The session starts with an intention setting, followed by a set of somatic exercises used in shamanic practices to induce a state of relaxed awareness or trance and prepare for the dance journey.

The dance floor is non-verbal which invites a deeper somatic experience. It is a drug and alcohol-free event.

What kind of music is played and what do we do?

We play music that encourages movement. Our sonic journey is a fusion of world music, electronica, dubstep, tribal house, classic remixes and more!

A few samples here: https://www.mixcloud.com/dancingfire/

We usually have between 50 - 80 participants most of them RSVP on Facebook: (https://www.facebook.com/EcstaticBrisbane/events/)

*** All the activities during the Ecstatic Dance events are open invitations and it's your choice to participate or not. When you feel you need a break - you can use the cozy chill out space to lay down, meditate or just observe and process.

In this space, all are welcomed into radical self-expression and acceptance. Do yoga, stretch, dance like no one is watching, or just chill and enjoy the music.


- 5:00 pm - Doors open - arrive and connect

- 5:15 pm - Face & Body Painting (by Julieanne Edwards makeup artist)

- 6:10 pm - Opening circle & Cacao sharing – to step on an inner journey, first we need to feel comfortable with the environment and the people around us. We cannot feel at ease when we are surrounded by complete strangers. In the opening circle, we get to sense who is around us. This will help our bodies to relax and connect with the energy in the room. You can always pass if you don't feel like talking. When done we will continue with the intention setting and the Cacao sharing.

- 6:30 pm - Warm-up exercises - a combination of Qigong and other somatic exercises designed to release tension and get the body ready to enjoy the Dance Journey.

- 6:50 pm – Music starts in a low beat to give us the chance to connect with the rhythm in a relaxed way. You choose when you allow your body to be moved and come alive, following your inner expression. The rhythm progressively increases once the room starts to move. It may reach a high energy several times during the dance and slow down to conclude with a smooth landing back to stillness at the end.

- 8:45 pm - Sound Healing - a wind-down meditative moment using Singing bowls, Gongs and other acoustic instruments performed by our special guest Elena Lymbery

- 9:15 pm – Closing circle – we sit together to ground using breathing and toning, then end by clapping together three times and the fourth time back to the earth to come out of trance and end the ceremony.

- 9:20 pm – Non-verbal time is over - make friends, have a chat with the people you shared the space with during the dance.

Arrive no later than 6:10 pm and leave whenever you want but be mindful not to disturb the other participants.


Ecstatic Dance Agreements

To maintain ultimate freedom we agree to the following:

1. No talking on the Dancefloor

2. No Cellphones

3. No street shoes on the Dancefloor (light, soft shoes are allowed)

4. No showing up drunk or drugged, no pictures, video, or wearing of scent.

5. Respect the Space - Others' Space and the Collective Space.

When Approaching others:

- Listen for a Yes (get eye contact first)

- Respect any No (when they are ignoring you)

- Respect the Solo Dancers' Right to their Space

- Hands in prayer at heart means: "I see you, and thank you for the dance (that just ended)."

You will be asked to leave if you do not follow these agreements.

Thank you!


For Cacao Ceremony:

– It is often suggested to not eat for a few hours before consuming cacao for the ceremony.

– Drink a lot of water during the day prior to the ceremony.

Cacao is generally a fairly mild medicine, but there are a few cases where it maybe too strong for your system.

* Anti-depressants (prescription anti-depressants can be Contraindicated with cacao)

* Heart Conditions: (Caution is required because of increased heart rate and vasodilation effects of cacao)

* Pregnant & Breastfeeding: If you are pregnant or breastfeeding please let us know so that we can adjust your dose.

No dance experience required.

Free parking available onsite around the football field.

IMPORTANT: Entrance to the venue is across 199 Ashgrove Ave as pictured. For exact location search for Ecstatic Dance Brisbane on Google Maps.

Limited spots available, booking highly recommended.

Participants must be 18yo+ (The dance itself is suitable for all ages but the opening sharing circle might not be. Sometimes people share things not suitable for a young audience. Also an immersive experience cannot happen when looking after someone else.)

Organized by

Adrian travelled and worked in a wide variety of places from the most alternative and unstructured to the rigid high end corporate and government environments for the last 22 years. From camp counselor in upstate NY and gardening in off the grid communities in Northern California to engineering telecommunication systems for the aerospace industry and Federal Emergency Management Agency.

As an expert engineer, he taught technical classes for major corporations and the White House Military Office during the Obama administration. Living in such different environments required constant adjustments - pushed him out of the familiar, breaking habits and challenged his beliefs. This rhythm became overwhelming and his body started to lose vitality and get sick.

During a trip to California he encountered a great community of people that helped him reconnect with his inner wisdom using music, dance and native American practices. He quit his job and moved to California for more than 2 years to learn how to live again.

In 2012 Adrian became a certified Conscious Dance Facilitator, held classes in North California until the end of 2012 when he and his partner continued their journey to Australia. Since 2013, they are facilitating weekly Ecstatic Dance journeys and a monthly Cacao Ceremony in Brisbane.

From A$41.18