No steps to follow. No judgment. Just movement.
Discover the freedom of dancing for yourself
and get so much more out of it that you think!
What is ecstatic dance?
The origins…
Throughout the centuries, different cultures have practiced dance as a ritual of connection with the divine, achieving trance states and altered consciousness through movement and music.
More recently, the emergence of rave culture created spaces of non judgment and free expression with free-form dancing, while conscious movement took root through practices as diverse as yoga, somatic therapy, moving meditation, and specific free form dances such as Gabrielle Roth’s 5 rhythms.
It seems that ecstatic dance as such was born in Hawaii when Max Fathom blended his love of DJing, electronic music, and 5 rhythms all together in a sunday morning event at Kalani. From there, this form of dance became popular in California and spread, becoming a worldwide movement.
What is it?
It is a free form dance practice where participants dance without following a leader or specific dance steps: the music is the leader, and the body moves freely through the musical journey. The music usually follows one or several waves of slow to faster to intense to slower music, allowing for energetic and emotional release.
No dance experience or partner is needed, so it is perfect for those who think they can’t dance, because their body or their brain doesn’t allow for learning specific ways of dancing (such as neuroatypical people), but it’s also perfect for people who are at ease with movement who wish to express themselves freely (such as dancers) and for people who are on a spiritual path including movement (such as yoga practicioners).
Ecstatic dances are safe places where there is no judgment, no observers, no substances, no shoes, no speaking, no interaction except if you want it, so you can dance as if nobody’s watching, try things out, allow your body to move without thinking about beauty, et get lost in the dance.
This in turn creates an alignment of the body, the mind, and the soul, finding our truth, releasing stuck energy and emotions, and experiencing unity within self, with others and with the universe.
What’s more, the collective experience empowers each and everyone to be themselves fully, creating an atmosphere of acceptance, open mindedness, and love where everyone is welcome.
What it isn’t
This is not our usual dance party, where you drink, speak, have shoes, and hook up. Ecstatic dances are safe places for women, sensitive souls, and people who don’t usually thrive in group settings. This is even more true for outdoor dances where the energy of nature supports and recharges our energy, bringing its own healing.
This is not a dance class either, you will not learn any moves or steps, and will have no leader that will guide you through the experience. The purpose is to reconnect with yourself, and the natural wisdom of your own body. This is an opportunity to listen to yourself, and feel : what does your body want? What does the music inspire you to do?
This is a place where there is no right or wrong, because everything you are is perfect as it is, and deserves a space to express freely.
Come and join the dance!
Free Your Body, Free Your Soul!
✅ Connect with nature, and let the power of the elements guide your every move!
✅ Experience total freedom of expression, and feel beautiful
✅ Awaken your senses through the music, the sunset, the wind and the sun carressing your skin, and become fully present to the world
✅ Connect with other open minded, sensitive people while filling your soul with beautiful energy
✅ Release emotions and outdated patterns through a deeply connected somatic and energetic experience
Feel your energy realign naturally
Aloha, I’m Celine Thompson. I have been facilitating ecstatic dances since 2023 on the west coast in France, and am currently beginning some dances in the Loire Valley as well.
My pleasure is to make playlists that are exactly aligned with the energy of a specific date, so no journey is the same, and the experience is more powerful…
“I didn’t expect to love ecstatic dance. At first, I felt self conscious, and disconnected. But one day, on the winter solstice of 2022, in London, something shifted. The music, the movement, the incredible freedom… it was a revelation!”
And that's how my silent ecstatic dances in nature began!
As a neurodivergent person, sports and dancing were always challenging for me. With ecstatic dance, for the first time, I felt I was able to express myself through my body. There are so few spaces of real freedom in life, there are always people who tell us what to do and how. I knew at that instant that I had to bring this feeling, this service, back home.
I’ve always loved the outdoors, and had this dream of dancing on the beach at sunset. So I learned ecstatic dance facilitation, DJing (a work in progress), roped in a friend or two, created my playlists intuitively in an aligned way, and Dance on the Beach was born! And now I’m also dancing in the garden of France, the beautiful Loire Valley…
The world needs more Freedom – and a way to feel truly Alive!
Are you ready to join the Dance?
INTRODUCING SILENT NATURE ECSTATIC DANCES
Move Freely . Feel Fully. Awaken Something Deep Inside
Ecstatic dance isn’t just movement - it’s liberation. No expectations, just you and the music, flowing as your body and soul need. In this space, you’ll shed self-consciousness, release stuck energy, and redicover the joy of pure, unhibited expression. This is more than a dance - this is life itself!
When you let your body move freely, your soul remembers how to fly
My dances are for you if:
You feel deeply but struggle to express it with words.
You love music and movement but never felt at ease with structured dance and sports
You’re on a journey of self-discovery and crave deeper connection with yourself and the universe
You believe (or are open to the idea) that movement is medicine for the soul
You’re sensitive, intuitive, or neurodivergent and seek a space to just be.
You long for a sense of freedom in your life - physically, emotionally, energetically
You feel stuck, drained or disconnected, and are looking for a way to reset your energy
You already do yoga or dance and are looking for something more, something meaningful
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: I’m not a (good) dancer, can I still join? What if I feel self conscious?
A: This isn’t about being a dancer but about moving in a way that feels good to you. While it is quite normal to feel self conscious even for experienced dancers, being in a non judgmental space with open minded people really helps. Also, you may surprise yourself by feeling that you are dancing like a goddess/god when you come to that sweet spot when you let go of all expectations and simply rejoice in moving as yourself, imperfectly perfect and so beautiful!
Q: What should I bring or wear?
A: Wear something comfortable and easy to move in, ideally with layers to allow for feeling hot or cold during the session. People usually dance barefoot, or alternately with soft sole shoes or sturdy/expendable socks (we will be dancing mostly on sand, or on grass). Also, bring water or something to drink, especially in summer.
Q: What happens during the dance?
A: At the beginning, the music is quite slow, allowing you to come in touch with your body, feel for what it wants to do, tentatively, and try a few moves. Then, the music begins to flow, and your body begins to move. Then comes faster beats, where you may feel the need to shake, or experience automatic moves, or feel the need to come in contact with the ground forcefully, or jump around (or stop if it’s too much). Then the music slows again leaving you integrate and harmonize. These cycles can repeat several times and emotions, good and bad, can come and go ; this is OK, and has to do with energy becoming unstuck.
Q: I’m highly sensitive, will this be overwhelming?
A: Ecstatic dance is a space where sensitivity is a strenght. There is no talking, no bright lights, you can adjust the volume of the headsets as low as you need, you are isolated from most environing noises, and being in nature is usually soothing. I have noticed in my case that being in a group setting where everyone is focused on alignment with music seems to raise my energy rather than deplete it. If you do get emotional during the dance, there will be no judgment, and you can stop whenever you want. Also, the grounding practices before and after the dance, and the closeness of the sea or the use of smudging is enough to make the space safe for most sensitive persons.
Q: What kind of music do you play?
A: I create an energetic journey with a variety of music that moves through rhythms and emotions - from grounding drums to flowing vocals. I particularly love traditional and instrumental world/tribal music, natural sounds, and yoga/meditative music, but I sometimes use electronic music, pop music and much more.
Q: Do I have to dance the whole time?
A: No! You can pause, breathe, lie down, or move as little or as much as you need. Your body knows what’s right for you - this is about listening, not forcing.
Q: What will I feel after the dance?
A: Everyone’s experience is unique, but you may feel lighter, clearer, more connected, or even deeply emotional. This is a space to move through whatever is present - to release, reset, and realign with yourself.
Have more questions? Please contact me using this form:
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