For some people letting loose and dancing freely is something that only happens at an underground rave after taking illicit drugs but what happens when ravers grow up?

Ecstatic dance has become increasingly popular throughout Vancouver Island with workshops and studios popping up in downtown Victoria and on Salt Spring Island.

B次元官网网址淓cstatic dance took about 10 years after the rave scene to become a thing, people were maturing in the rave scene and wanted something a little more easier going,B次元官网网址� says Alex King-Harris, a local DJ and facilitator of ecstatic dance. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a free space to dance in for people looking for the kind of dance energy similar to a festival or club without the drugs or alcohol.B次元官网网址�

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Although to outsiders it may just look like people flailing around on the dance floor, King-Harris B次元官网网址� who has a background in music therapy B次元官网网址� explains itB次元官网网址檚 much more than gyrating limbs.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 so much great neuroscience out there now that when the mind is fully synchronized with the body thereB次元官网网址檚 a healing that takes over and you become more open to connecting with other people so their connection can be authentic and real B次元官网网址� that in itself is also a healing experience.B次元官网网址�

Jaz Snider, co-founder of Dance Temple Victoria, says the freestyle movement is for people of all ages and all backgrounds.

B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 one of the most important aspects of it, that people are encouraged to move however they wish while being mindful and respectful of others in the space,B次元官网网址� says Snider.

It starts off with a guided meditation leading into a facilitated movement to get you B次元官网网址渨arming into your body.B次元官网网址� As the music gets more intense so does peopleB次元官网网址檚 dancing.

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B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 difficult to truly articulate what it looks like except to say if youB次元官网网址檝e ever seen tribal dancing in African villages itB次元官网网址檚 more like that than random chaotic movement,B次元官网网址� says King-Harris.

Snider agrees, adding the movement isnB次元官网网址檛 just for your body but B次元官网网址渋tB次元官网网址檚 movement for the heart and soul as well.B次元官网网址�

According to Snider, one of the most important aspects of the dance style is cultivating that safe space where people feel free to move how they want in order to stimulate a healing response.

B次元官网网址淲ith this particular form of dance itB次元官网网址檚 allowed me to really tap into my creativity and be in touch with my body; it helps me feel my feelings more fully and to be more accepting of those as they come to the surface when IB次元官网网址檓 moving,B次元官网网址� says Snider.

B次元官网网址淚 can go into an ecstatic dance session feeling a certain way and then emerge afterwards feeling completely different B次元官网网址� often much lighter and clearer.B次元官网网址�

While the community is continually growing, Snider says an ideal candidate to test out ecstatic dance would be anyone that liked to dance that maybe hasnB次元官网网址檛 had the opportunity or the confidence to dance publicly.

B次元官网网址淭hey might be really surprised in a really positive way to discover themselves in this environment and what can emerge,B次元官网网址� says Snider.

Classes take place every Sunday morning at the Victoria Dance Temple or Monday and Thursday nights at Salt Spring Dance Temple.

B次元官网网址淯sually when we do a show itB次元官网网址檚 usually 20 to 30 new people and then the regulars that come around a lot,B次元官网网址� says King-Harris. B次元官网网址淔or me thatB次元官网网址檚 been the power of music and movement is the ability to pull people together and find a commonality without words.B次元官网网址�

For more information on where to dance ecstatically in Greater Victoria visit Facebook page or Facebook page.