Saturday 20th December Belper - Winter Solstice Cacao Circle, Ecstatic Dance and Lunch Social

Saturday 20th December ✴ 11.30am-2.30pm

WINTER SOLSTICE  CACAO CIRCLE + ECSTATIC DANCE

No28 Belper
28 Market Place, Belper DE56 1FZ

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Welcome back to the dance; drop into your body, out of your head and move!

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Take some time out to reconnect this Winter Solstice and join Reya for a delicious few hours of gathering in circle with sacred Cacao, shaking out your body in free movement for an Ecstatic Dance, then grounding and socialising together over a bring-and-share lunch.

The Winter Solstice marks the turning of the year;  the still point between darkness and light. It’s a time to pause, reflect, and gently recharge before the energy begins to rise again. This season can be so busy, so it’s important to take time to re-energise with nourishing practices, as well as to have some fun!

Cacao is the perfect ally for this; helping us tune into our heartspace and giving us physical energy for the dance. We’ll sit in circle with this sacred drink and set our intentions before moving into movement and release. At the end of the music, Reya will hold a short sound bath to help you fully rest and emerge refreshed - ready to welcome the returning light.

Reya will be playing an uplifting, energetic set of tunes guaranteed to help you shake off fatigue and move into the holiday season feeling grounded and alive. Ecstatic Dance is an unfacilitated, free movement practice that offers space to connect deeply with your inner world and let your body move how it wishes, in a safe and supportive space. The soundscape is curated to allow you to flow between movement, stillness, chaos, and peace.

Cacao Circle

To open the space we will spend time sitting with and receiving the delicious warming nourishment and medicine of sacred Cacao, helping us to connect to the earth of our bodies and the presence of our hearts. This wonderful plant has been working with humans to inspire harmony, encourage connection, illuminate wisdom and uplift our spirits for thousands of years. Working with her intentionally and respectfully, she becomes the perfect ally to bring into our dance. Not only will drinking this sacred plant bring you energy to move with, but she’ll also potentialise your intentions and work on the subtle layers of energy within you to bring healing, love and kindness to whatever it is that you’re moving with in your life right now.

There are some contraindications to drinking Cacao - if you are currently taking anti-depressants or experiencing low blood pressure, please read through this: https://selenohealth.com/blogs/learn-about-cacao/safety-of-cacao and  get in touch to discuss a dose that will best support you.

The cacao we will be sharing is from the Central Highlands of Perú and is prepared with love and intention using water, cinnamon, ginger, orange, a sprinkle of chili and sweetened slightly with coconut sugar. We will be drinking around 25g of cacao,  or less if you want! If you are sensitive to any of these ingredients, please let me know in advance so I can make some that is suitable for you to drink. 

Tickets will be available OTD - cash preferred but BACS/Paypal available.

OTD Price: 

Also available… 

• Fairtrade, organic, ceremonial grade criollo Cacao from Asháninka family farms in the Central Highlands of Perú - £15/200g
• Mexican handicrafts - beaded earrings, necklaces, belts and purses.

Schedule:

• 11.30am  Doors Open & Arrival: Arrive, settle in, stretch, warm up to gentle music.
• 11.45am  Doors Close: Please arrive in plenty of time so we can all begin together!!
• 11.45am-12.15pm Welcome, Cacao Circle & Guided Warm Up: A chance to arrive, connect with the spirit of sacred Cacao, and be guided through embodied movement to open and prepare you for the dance!
• 12.15-1.30pm Ecstatic Dance Journey: Unfacilitated Ecstatic Dance journey with Reya - you do you!
• 1.30-2pm Mini Sound Bath and Closing Circle: Time to relax  into stillness and finish in circle.
• 2-2.30: Refuel and Ground! Bring some food to nourish your body and soul! Share it if you'd like!

What is Ecstatic Dance?

Ecstatic Dance is a free-form movement journey and moving meditation that’s sweeping the world !! Guided by a live DJ, we flow through an epic soundscape of all genres: fast and slow, classical to psytrance, drum and bass to dub - no style is off-limits! The music moves in waves; starting gently, building to vibrant peaks, and ending in stillness.

There are no steps, no judgment, no need to perform - just pure, free expression. We generally dance barefoot, without talking, in a sober, mindful space where respect and presence create a safe container. Ecstatic Dance is transformative, playful, and deeply liberating. It releases stress, boosts endorphins, and connects us to community, ourselves, and even a higher source. It can truly one of the most magical experiences life has to offer!

GUIDELINES To keep the space safe and enjoyable for everyone, we follow these simple guidelines:

• Speech: No chatting on the dance floor - sounding is welcome but please be considerate of others.
• Footware: We like to dance barefoot to ground, but if you need to wear shoes, please bring clean soft indoor shoes and be mindful of people's toes!
• Boundaries /consent: Respect others' personal space & check for consent before dancing with someone. If you're not sure whether it's a 'yes', treat it like a 'no'. There is no need to dress to impress! This is not a space where you need to look good … this is a movement meditation.
• Substances: No alcohol, drugs or other substances - this is a sober practice
• Screen free: No phones or cameras during the dance - drop out of your head and into your body and give yourself the gift of switching off! The team may take short videos/pictures for promotional reasons - if you do not want to be in a video/photo, please let us know before or after the dance.
• Feel free: dance how you want; as much or as little movement as is right for you - this is a non-judgemental space.  Feel free to close your eyes, bring a blindfold, dance to the wall... you do you!

What should I wear/bring?

• Comfy clothes you can move freely in - layers are useful as you might get really hot dancing then cool down when still.
• Earplugs if you're sensitive to loud music.
• A journal and pen if you like to write.
• Your beautiful self, a water bottle (refill available)  and curiosity!
• Lunch for afterwards - if you'd like to bring enough to share with others, please feel free!