The Dance Music
GO WITH THE FLOWMeet the DJ
Delighted to share his heart through music & dance, DJ John Doe employs music that uplifts and empowers people, celebrating and creating magical movement! His sets are characterized by energetic waves that start in a meditative flow intensifying to ecstatic explosions. He invites dancers to express tribal energies and natural euphoria.
The Music Experience
Generally, a good Ecstatic Dance will often present several peaks or waves of emotion that can be experienced as a “birth and death” cycle. The music will almost always start at a low volume, energy and tempo range as people wake up their bodies. As the tempo and energy increases, there is usually an ecstatic moment of catharsis, with the group peaking in energy and movement together. After that high point, the energy subsides back down to a resting place that becomes focused more inward. There can be one single wave across the 2 hours of the event, or several, depending on the DJ.
Arrival
Arrival tracks welcome the community to the space and the dance floor. They help the dancers feel present, safe, and grounded. Arrival tracks create a space to warm up the body and become comfortable in the space.
Buildup
Buildup tracks get the energy moving. The beats are driving and percussive. They help the dancers develop dynamic tension. This stage is when we are starting to build up a sweat and get moving.
Peak
Peak tracks are for cleansing and intensity. The beats are assertive, and the bass drops are powerful. Now the dancer has begun to lose themselves in the dance and surrender to the process.
Cruise
Cruise tracks are played between peaks, giving the dancers a chance to recharge. They are the antidote for beat fatigue. They aren’t moving the energy up or down.
Landing
These tracks carry the dancers down from the final peak into the heart, with a range of music styles. Dancers have spent a lot of energy energy and become very comfortable in the space.
Culmination
Culmination tracks are played at the end of the journey to hold the “beingness” after all the dancing “doingness”. They quietly close the dance with a reverent, ambient, reflective atmosphere.
DJ/FACILITATOR JOHN DOE
Music Samples
Musically, ecstatic dance can be very diverse. The Ecstatic Dance DJ uses carefully crafted music with the intention of creating a healing journey. It requires that the DJ be able to weave together an emotional arc of a journey with a range of styles and tempos. Generally you can expect music in the electronic genres, especially Bass, House, Tribal, and Trap. Typically this will include hard-hitting music that can be very tribal, but also soft pieces of music and even instrumentals that create space to recover, reflect and go inward. The music follows a wave form, starting slow, moving to a peak, and descending into stillness. We have included a collection of short clips for sampling the music of each stage on this page.
Listen to more complete or full-length dance music compilations under the “Sharing” tab. We also share stories about the positive influences of ecstatic dance and Super Sauna testimonies from people who enjoy both. Plus, it is our goal to share information to increase your overall well-being.