Ecstatic Dance - Oakland
About
| Covid Update: This event stopped over covid, but started again in Oct 2023! It's an EPIC event! |
Ecstatic dance in Oakland is mind-blowing. Pre-pandemic they had dance events every Wednesday night (8pm - 11pm) and Sunday morning (10:00am - 1:00pm), typically starting with some improv lessons if you came early and then ending in sound healing. I left San Francisco in mid-2023, but apparently, it's BACK as strong as ever! Just please check the website for the new prices etc.
- What: Amazing ecstatic dance event
- Cost: $15 at the door
- When: Every Wednesday 8-11pm (7-8 is yoga and improv class most energetic) .... also Every Sunday 9:30am–1:15pm
- Where: Ecstatic Dance Oakland, 1933 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94612 (map)
- What to wear: Suitable dance attire, you'll be bear foot... see more here.
- Website: ecstaticdance.org wednesday, sunday
What is Ecstatic Dance
I think the best thing you can do, for a full explanation, is to read my Ecstatic_Dance article. It explains things in depth. In a nutshell: wonderful energetic tribal music where you are free to dance however you want (no instructions) and no shoes. When approaching people to dance, or during a dance, remember that putting your hands together in a pray-like position is saying "thanks, but I want to dance by myself now".
The Oakland Venue
Although the Mountain View and Oakland events are differently named, they are very similar dance genres in that you are free to dance however you want (and no shoes) - just be respectful to others. The main difference: Oakland Wednesday nights is a young crowd - the median age is probably around 30, and some of the guys are shirtless. It's also much bigger, and the music is intense for hours! The very beginning it starts soft, and the very end is a magnificent come-down "sound therapy" part where people usually lie down and someone plays saxophone or guitar or something else really mellow. I think the Mountain View one is friendlier, in that it's easier to connect with people, but some prefer the younger crowd of Oakland. Having everyone around your age means people are a little more picky about dancing with you in case your intentions are more than just dancing. For that reason, it's fun to go to the Oakland one with some friends - people who you know you can dance with. But if you just want to dance alone, that's okay too!
Sincerely,
Andrew Noske
See Also
Links
- Ecstatic dance, Wednesday Nights, Oakland (official website)... good info.
- Ecstatic dance - Facebook page
| Acknowledgements: My friend, Kailani Nguyen - for introducing me to this venue! Plus all the friends who've come along with me and created incredible nights. :) |
