PITTSBURGH – The Pittsburgh-based dance group Ecstatic Dance invites residents to join a community event called Emotional Excavation on Sunday, Sept. 13, from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church of Pittsburgh. Tickets for kids 16 and under are free while first time participants pay $15.
Sharing space with people, moving freely, and enjoying the fleeting summer weather are the goals of Emotional Excavation. Rae and Dani are two Ecstatic Dance members who will guide participants through warm-ups, dance, meditation, and conversation.
The evening begins with a warm-up where the group voices their intentions and goals for the night before engaging in ecstatic dance and free movement. The group ends the night with mediation and conversation.
Ecstatic dance is a freeform, expressive movement practice where participants dance without choreography. Participants say that the freeform dance releases stuck and pent up emotions.
Instructors create an accessible, substance-free, judgement-free zone centered around creative expression for people of all ages. Participants are encouraged to dance solo or with consenting partners throughout the night.
“Ecstatic dance provides a chance to connect deeply with oneself and others, fostering a sense of freedom, grounding, and community,” Tricia Chirumbole, founder of Ecstatic Dance Pittsburgh, says. “The spirit of play, the joy of movement, and warm, welcoming inclusivity are the guiding lights of Ecstatic Dance.”
