Join hundreds of others every Sunday to dance in a safe, inspiring and substance-free space.

Welcome to Ecstatic Dance Oakland

At Ecstatic Dance Oakland, hundreds of individuals join together as a supportive community every week to dance wildly and freely in a safe, inspiring and substance-free space. People connect with themselves, spirit and one another through freeform dance and music. Ecstatic Dance Oakland has been a woman owned and operated business since its inception in 2008. Our sacred venue, Sweet’s Ballroom, not only has the largest sprung wood dance floor in Northern California, it has a rich history (read more).

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Schedule

Oakland’s Sunday Ecstatic Dance is now online
9:30 am PT / 12:30 pm ET / 17:30 BT (utc-7)

9:30-10:15 Yoga with Shannon
10:15-10:30 Intention setting and Meditation with Shannon
10:30-12:00 Ecstatic Dance with Leapin Lygress

12:00-12:30 Closing Meditation + Sharing

HERE’S HOW

1. Open Zoom and register

Zoom meeting link

Meeting ID: 977 7710 7078
Passcode: 077416

2. Open music link in separate tab

https://mixlr.com/sundayecstaticdance

3. Submit payment (sliding scale)

Ecstatic Dance $8-$30
Yoga + Ecstatic Dance $13-$40
Paypal @shannonsahaja
Venmo @shannonsahaja

*Guidelines*
1. Please be here in a good and respectful way. All who come in a good way participate in taking this container higher and higher in frequency.
2. We fully welcome your voice, your dance, your heart, and your support of one another. It is of the utmost importance that we practice leadership by mirroring each other’s greatness and capability to weather any storm.

3. We are here to support our shared breakthroughs without judgement or overlay.
4. Emotional abuse and emotional dumping will not be tolerated in this container. Also, if you are experiencing any type of emotional or physical discomfort beyond your own ability to self-regulate or self-resource, please reach out to your qualified health practitioner. We reserve the right to remove any member that behaves disrespectfully in this group.

Meet The Team

Donna Carroll

Director

Donna Carroll

Director

Dubbed “a leader and luminary in the in the global dance movement,” Donna utilizes her decade of experience to lead people through an innovative approach to become thriving, connected human beings. She is passionate about dance and has committed her life to empowering others to find freedom through freeform dance and movement.

Donna is the creator and co-founder of Ecstatic Dance Oakland, the largest weekly conscious dance on the planet, bringing over 300 people together every Sunday morning and Wednesday evening in Oakland, California. She is also the co-founder of Ecstatic Dance Leadership and Ecstatic DJ Training, where dance and music entrepreneurs learn business, skill and community building skills specifically designed for them.

Ecstatic Dance Oakland has been called, “a cross between a yoga class, a rave and a church service,” has been featured on NPR, in the Huffington Post, the SF Chronicle, The NY Times, Common Ground Magazine, and in a blockbuster movie starring the singer Pink.

Website

Shannon Sahaja

Creative Director and Manager

Shannon Sahaja

Creative Director and Manager

Shannon is a dedicated yogini, dancer, artist, and lover of the earth. With nearly two decades of experience as a movement facilitator, Shannon is devoted to inspiring students to live an embodied life full of play and spontaneity. Her soul-nourishing approach to yoga breathes a fresh perspective on what yoga can be. Shannon is the founder of Being Danced—an experiment in communal play and improvisation group that is devoted to creating movement art, inner child safety, and rekindling the wild one within.

Shannon received her BFA in Dance from State University of New York, as well as certificates from Kundalini Dance, 500 hour San Francisco School of Massage, and a 200 hour Yoga Alliance Certification, among others.

She is deeply influenced by the teachings of Angela Farmer (yoga), Nancy Stark Smith (contact improvisation), and Donna Carroll (Ecstatic Dance).

As the Creative Director of Ecstatic Dance, Shannon is responsible for booking and guiding the DJs and Sound Healers.

Website

Tony Eckert

Chief Sound Officer

Tony Eckert

Chief Sound Officer

Having been introduced to ecstatic dancing at Grateful Dead shows, Tony began sound engineering for ecstatic dance events in the 80’s, working with jam band Heliotroupe while an audio student at the Evergreen State College in Olympia, WA. Tony adopted two ideas that have informed his audio work since. One is to see himself as a musical midwife to musicians and DJs, helping them bring forth their music into the world. The other is to subtract the sound system from the equation so there is no barrier between the performer and the audience. Using computer analysis and digital correction with ears as final arbiter, the system is tuned to provide a clear view into the music, plugging the performer directly into the crowd.

Patty Paisal

Front House Manager

Patty Paisal

Front House Manager

Patty Paisal is your friendly front house manager. Patty has been an avid Ecstatic Dancer for years. Because she danced before she became the Ecstatic Dance gatekeeper, she realizes the impact of holding space for all the dancers. Those who sat in the gatekeeper chair before her have beautifully demonstrated the importance of that initial human interaction with someone who understands how integral the practice of dance is to all who enter into the ecstatic vortex of dance and freedom. After all, hers is the first face you see and vibe you feel before being sent upstairs to dance the dance of the gods.

Justin Ulchar

Massage Therapist

Justin Ulchar

Massage Therapist

As a personal trainer and massage therapist for fifteen years, Justin can see not only why you are in pain but what caused it. He can educate you to how to prevent the pain from returning. Justin’s dedication to the body and those who inhabit their bodies has been the same since childhood. Life starts with the body. Sensation is a language. Listen and not only will answers arrive, but solutions as well. You have the power and ability to make your life yours.

Resident DJs

ALIA

ALIA

ALIA has been a DJ for Ecstatic Dance Oakland since 2009. She is also an electronic music producer, vocalist, and producer of the Feminine Medicine™ Project. Inspired by the latest bass music sounds emerging from the West Coast, her music is a blend of bass-heavy beats, melodic frequencies, feminine vocals, psychedelic sounds, and exotic instruments. Described as feminine and fierce, elegant and gritty, ethereal and primal, her music unfolds in a pulsing, hypnotic journey that moves both bodies and hearts. ALIA is the visionary behind Feminine Medicine™, a series of collaborative albums and stage shows that gives the feminine a unique voice in the electronic music industry. She was a featured TEDx contributor and she was named a “Woman Changing the Planet” by ORIGIN magazine.

Website | SoundCloud | Facebook | Instagram

Dj Dakini

Dj Dakini

International Dj Dakini is renowned globally for her refined ear and impeccable taste in music. An underground festival culture pioneer, she has been a pivotal part of global electronic music festival culture since the turn of the millennium. She is one of Australia and California’s most renowned underground female DJs, with a global following and fan base—now based in San Francisco, California. This connoisseur of cutting edge electronic music delights upon following sound as it evolves and has played numerous genres during her career. Dj Dakini currently specializes in “ancient future bass” and frequents the festival and Ecstatic Dance circuits of California and beyond. Currently playing all over the world, she is known to move any dance floor with an infectious deep bassline and tribal sounds at festivals such as: Symbiosis Gathering, Lightning In A Bottle, Burning Man, Rainbow Serpent Festival and more. Dj Dakini works as a facilitator of transformational spaces whether behind the decks or behind the scenes of some of the world’s best festivals. She is known worldwide for her bass & chill mixes on Soundcloud that have gone viral online, and she has released her first remix on Desert Trax, collaborating with Deya Dova. Catch Dj Dakini at magical festivals, Ecstatic Dance events and intentional gatherings around the world.

Facebook | SoundCloud

Ryan Herr

Ryan Herr

Ryan Herr has been weaving his mix of live and electronic music for festivals, events, ecstatic dances, and retreats throughout the world for nearly 20 years. His sets are loved for his synthesis of original and live elements and his uniquely designed blend of genres and cultures, mixed with on-the-spot compositions and original remixes. Ryan has become a featured artist/producer on The Polish Ambassador, Wildlight and Ayla Nereo’s album releases and has produced remixes for Jumpsuit Records. He has performed at many major festivals around the country, including Lightning in a Bottle, Symbiosis, Beloved, Lucidity, Arise, Imagine, and Phases of the Moon. He focuses much of his attention on the medicinal aspects of music and dance, and always incorporates improvisation into his live sets.

Website | SoundCloud

Sasha Rose

Sasha Rose

Sasha Rose is a Canadian singer/songwriter, musician, DJ and producer. Born into a musical family, she started learning guitar, flute, African djembe and piano at age 5. In 2009, Sasha became a DJ for Ecstatic Dances throughout the world. Her popularity with dancers comes from her hybridization of original production featuring her celestial vocals with carefully selected inspirational dance tracks. Her performances flow from heart song grooves to tribal rhythms to down tempo dance dub to ecstatic inspirational ascensions. As a producer, Sasha creates soundscapes bridged by her soulful voice and a variety of live instrumentation. Sasha has released two solo acoustic albums as Sasha Butterfly and has recorded vocals on over 30 projects including two Random Rab albums. In 2011 she co-produced Qi Goddess with Jami Deva, geared towards healing and meditation.

Website | SoundCloud | Facebook

Sharu

Sharu

Internationally acclaimed clutch DJ for when you need to get it just right, a dancers DJ, Sharu’s sound pushes you to the limits liberating your mind, body and buddhi. Studied in many genres of electronic music since the late 90’s, Sharu’s has a seasoned ear for blending a dynamic journey unifying any dance floor. He is among the most sought-after DJs in the conscious dance movement playing Ecstatic Dances world-wide. As a Vedic Astrologer, timing is at the crux of his methodology. His sensitivity to the moment informs the choice of music he plays to ignite any dance floor!

SoundCloud | Facebook | Website

Celeste

Celeste

DJ Celeste Lear’s unshakable love for music has led her to spend nearly two decades dedicated to studying the art and science of DJing, music production and sound engineering with the finest Shaolin masters. Now, out on her own, this Bay Area based audio ninja has, as a mobile event DJ, run sound for and DJ’d over 500 events, including over 200 weddings, with her personal sound system, has meticulously collected and cataloged over 17,000 songs and developed a knack for climactic, seamless song mixing, eclectic curation, reading a diverse crowd and naturally possesses a never ending enthusiasm for providing a top notch, energetic experience for her listeners. With an emphasis on curating cutting edge, deep electronic dance cuts, creative remixes & mash-ups, a spattering of future funk and timeless soul, tribal world music and always – A LOT of BASS – DJ Celeste strives to goes above and beyond to be able to take listeners on a powerful, cathartic and joyful experience on the dance floor.

Also an established, degree holding sound engineer, multi instrumentalist and prolific music producer, Celeste owns and operates her own professional recording studio, music publishing company and independent record label with 6 current album releases. Her music production work has amassed millions of plays on Pandora, Spotify and Youtube, is licensed out regularly and has been featured on Fox network’s “So You Think You Can Dance”, VH1, the Fashion One Network, HBO, SONY, Discovery Channel, and MTV as well as many various independent films.

Website | SoundCloud

Neptune

Neptune

Neptune has been a professional DJ for over 30 years, , accumulating one of the most eclectic musical collections in the world. He has mastered the art of reading the energy of a room and tapping into the dynamics of the dance floor, reaching into his musical palette to play the perfect music for the moment with no limitations on style or genre. Neptune awakens emotions and calls upon the spirits of dancers as he guides them into their bodies–transforming them through music. Neptune creates a musical map for the soul’s evolution. He is a rotating resident DJ for the Ecstatic Dances throughout California, as well as conscious dance festivals throughout the West Coast and abroad.

Mixcloud | SoundCloud | Facebook

Alxndr

Alxndr

Alxndr DJs a wide range of world-influenced bass music: trap, glitch, hip-hop & future bass – “world crunk” for short. Coming out of the SF Bay Area and representing the False Profit crew, Alxndr is the producer of some infamous renegade parties, organizer of the TransportedSF mobile events, and is honored to be an Ecstatic Dance Oakland resident DJ.

SoundCloud

Liquid Love Drops

Liquid Love Drops

As a DJ, Liquid Love Drops has been shakin’ booties across the bay and beyond with her vibrant personality, DJ skills as a soundtrack selectress combined with a few of her own ear worm bass heavy mixes and her high energy show that captures your attention and traps you on the dance floor. She’s been recognized for her skills and chosen by other promoters to share the stage as an opening or closing act for acts such as Bassnectar, Glitch Mob, Beats Antique, Little Dragon, Thievery Corporation, Ooah, Edit, An-ten-nae, Kalya Scintilla, and Random Rab.

Website | Facebook | SoundCloud

Rara Avis

Rara Avis

Rara (as he is affectionately known) delivers musical performances that are a mixture of guitar, vocals, flute, didgeridoo and dj techniques that combine pre-produced original studio music with live electronic elements to create a truly original, shamanic, heart felt transmission of music for embodiment. Styles range across a multitude of genres including Ambient, Downtempo, World groove, African, Middle Eastern, East Indian, Tribal, Funk, House, and Hip Hop. Whether it be in a yoga class, on an ecstatic dance floor or at a festival – Rara’s sounds are guaranteed to take you on a journey of blissful re-entry into the soul. He is also CEO & Co-Founder of YogiTunes.com, the world’s largest selection of music for yoga!

SoundCloud | Website | Facebook

Eva Lygress

Eva Lygress

Leapin’ Lygress roams far and wide in the jungles of sound, hunting beats, breaks, and melodies served from the heart to move your body and soul. Her ecstatic dance sets feature an eclectic array of organic and electronic music woven into a tapestry intended to explore the full spectrum of human expression. She is a dancer’s dj, having been an ecstatic dancer since she discovered the form at Kalani Honua on the Big Island of Hawaii in 2007. Leapin’ Lygress offers a ferociously fun ride that will awaken the wild creature within and leave you with a deep appreciation for the magic of movement in community.

Facebook | SoundCloud

Sol Rising

Sol Rising

Sol Rising’s original soundscapes evoke feelings of bliss throughout an eclectic mix of hip-hop, funk, soul, reggae, EDM and electronic dance beats. Born in Vancouver BC, Brandon began meditating at age four. His mother introduced him to spiritual teachers that inspired him on his current path. As a teenager, he was a hip hop fanatic, which led him to learning the art of scratching. Sol Rising became one of America’s top scratch DJs, winning second place at the DMC, the world’s most prestigious DJ competition. Now a successful Producer/DJ, Sol Rising plays major events across the United States, including Wanderlust, Burning Man, Symbiosis and Lightning in a Bottle. He has opened for major acts such as Beats Antique, and produced official remixes for artists including Jai Uttal, Mochipet, David Starfire, Delhi 2 Dublin, Kirtaniyas, and more. He has also joined forces with Yoga powerhouse MC Yogi and has a fervent following at Ecstatic Dance.

Website | SoundCloud

Baron von Spirit

Baron von Spirit

Baron von Spirit is a DJ, Music Remixer, and Event Producer in service of conscious movement, drawing on his own 15+ year practice of ecstatic dance, Soul Motion, 5Rthythms, and contact improvisation for inspiration. He loves playing cutting-edge beats and bass from around the globe, and in each set endeavors to touch on the sacred, tribal, sultry, playful, and heartfelt. In recent years, he’s been resident DJ for Ecstatic Dances in Oakland, Fairfax, and Palo Alto, as well as producer of Dance Immersion retreats at Harbin Hot Springs. He currently lives in Oregon where he co-founded and co-produces Ecstatic Dance Corvallis.

Website | SoundCloud | Facebook

Daniel Mollner

Daniel Mollner

Fresh off the Northwest Ecstatic Dance Bus Tour, Daniel Mollner is a deeply devoted Ecstatic Dance DJ, organizer, facilitator, and teacher. When not traveling to dance communities across US (or to those around the globe) Daniel is the DJ and host for Ecstatic Dance Santa Cruz twice weekly on Monday nights and Saturday mornings. He weaves a rich musical tapestry of contemporary bass, trap, tribal house, global fusion, and lyrical electronic/organic delights. Expect a full spectrum journey for body, mind, and soul.

Website

Shamans Dream

Shamans Dream

Shamans Dream is Sahuna Love’s (aka Craig Kohland’s) musical prayer for healing, transformation, love, and happiness for all beings. Shamans Dream is inspired by the spiritual musical lineages from around the globe. Every Shamans Dream offering is a ceremony and opportunity for all who receive the music to make a prayer for their own lives. This healing music is offered as a prayerformance or an ecstatic dance journey and in conjunction with Sahuna’s services as a medicine ceremony facilitator, music producer, festival and retreat producer and healing arts practitioner.

Website | SoundCloud

Contact Ecstatic Dance Oakland

Oakland

Welcome to Ecstatic Dance Oakland

Schedule