Meet the Team

• 
  Bernice Raabis

  Ecstatic Dance International

  

  Bernice Raabis

  Ecstatic Dance International

  Bernice has been a dancer all her life—the driving force behind becoming a successful DJ. After thousands of hours learning the skill of sourcing tracks, crafting soundscapes and perfecting transitions, she stepped into her career as an internationally touring DJ at Ecstatic Dances in Amsterdam, Breda, Nelson, Big Sur, Bellingham, and Oakland as well as Kooetnay Spirit Fest, Dance Camp North West, Esalen Institute, Womaginarium, and Gathering of the Tribes, among others.

  Bernice is a graduate of the Tamalpa Institute of San Francisco, where she studied dance as a therapeutic tool. She is a certified Soul Motion facilitator and has held a Dance Church in her hometown of Nelson BC in Canada since 2010.

  Website | Mixcloud

• 
  Donna Carroll

  Ecstatic Dance International

  

  Donna Carroll

  Ecstatic Dance International

  Dubbed “a leader and luminary in the in the global dance movement,” Donna utilizes her decade and a half of experience to lead people through innovative approaches to become thriving dance entrepreneurs. Donna is the CEO of Ecstatic Dance International, which provides trainings and retreats for Ecstatic Dance leaders, event producers, entrepreneurs, conscious dance founders, DJs and teachers. 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 cofounder 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. 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

• 
  DJ Polyesta

  Ecstatic DJ, Event Producer + Facilitator

  

  DJ Polyesta

  Ecstatic DJ, Event Producer + Facilitator

  Esta Polyesta is one of the most prominent DJs in Global Beats and World Music and one of the most international Ecstatic Dance DJ and Ceremony Leaders from the Netherlands.

  She discovered the magic of music at an early age, but when she discovered the magic of dance, the desire of becoming a DJ was born. In 2005 she started organizing dance meditations and DJing. Esta—a dancer, a traveler and seeker—loves to combine ethnic and ritualistic music with electronic beats.

  Esta is very active in the world music scene. In 2012, with a group of Womex delegates, she founded the Global Club Music Network, the GCMN. This is a worldwide platform that promotes electronic roots and ethnic music inside the community of, traditionally, very conservative Womex visitors and organizers of world music events. Womex is the biggest World Music showcase festival and trade fair in Europe. Before GCMN, there was hardly any attention for electronic music and party culture. The GCMN pushed for more space and as a result the Womex now has a proper DJ summit to the showcase program.She is a resident DJ at Ecstatic Dance Utrecht. She is a coordinator, ceremony leader and DJ at the ship Odessa in Amsterdam and organizer of Ecstatic Dance Ruigoord. She is a contributing DJ at Yogi Tunes and has been teaching people how to DJ for over a decade.

  Together with music partner Mashti, Esta produced remixes and tracks that were released on different labels. One of the tracks: Oum – Lik (Mashti and Polyesta remix) was published at the prestigious George V label of Buddha Bar.

  DJ Polyesta has played at Lowlands, Shoeless Open Air, Amsterdam Dance Event, Magneet Festival, Mysteryland, All Is One, Amsterdam Roots Festival, Berlin Film Festival, Landjuweel Festival, Paradiso, Club Lite, Melkweg, Hotel Arena, Tropen Theater, Ruigoord, De Toren, Noorderlicht, Little Buddha, Nomads and many others.

  Soundcloud | Facebook

• 
  OSARA

  Ecstatic DJ, Event Producer + Facilitator

  

  OSARA

  Ecstatic DJ, Event Producer + Facilitator

  Honoring the spirit of place and the ever changing energy of the cosmos, OSARA (Steve Anderson) takes you on an expansive and ecstatic journey inspired by the wisdom of mother nature and the healing power of dance. OSARA weaves songs and sounds from an eclectic mix of artists from all over the world, creating a unique blend of music to dance and journey with.

  OSARA discovered conscious dance in 2014. With a background in underground dance music, African drumming and sacred sound, he produced and DJ’d his first conscious dance in 2017. Since then, he has DJ’d and facilitated at some of the most famous festivals and organizations in the UK, including Buddhafield Festival, Colourfest, Spirit Fest, Movement Medicine, Pollen Tribe, and more. With his first London show and a new Ecstatic Dance collaboration in Bristol (UK) taking place, he’s fast becoming a recognized talent in the conscious dance and Ecstatic Dance scenes.

  Mixcloud | Facebook | Instagram

• 
  Raj Inder Dhillon (DJ Amritaji)

  Ecstatic DJ + Facilitator

  

  Raj Inder Dhillon (DJ Amritaji)

  Ecstatic DJ + Facilitator

  DJ Amritaji (Raj Inder Dhillon) has been spinning psychedelic worldbeat and bass music since 2007. Coming from her roots in psytrance, she has spent the last decade playing at electronic music events, festivals and Ecstatic Dances across the United States. Her unique style of weaving the traditional music of Eastern and indigenous cultures with electronic bass and dance music started with her love for sonic-induced states of trance after practicing traditional Sanskrit Kirtan. A lifelong musician, Amritaji is passionate about blending traditional and modern music, giving her audiences a distinct sonic experience of deep bass lines, Eastern melodies and uplifting grooves. Her passion is for creating sacred dance journeys to offer a sonic space for healing, free and authentic expression, and fun!

  She founded Ecstatic Dance Milwaukee and attended Ecstatic Dance Leadership Training in Oakland, CA in 2016. She currently lives in Salt Lake City, where she is a resident DJ and DJ trainer at Ecstatic Dance Salt Lake City.

  Website | Soundcloud

• 
  Robin Parrish

  Ecstatic DJ, Event Producer + Facilitator

  

  Robin Parrish

  Ecstatic DJ, Event Producer + Facilitator

  Robin Parrish is the co-founder and managing director of Ecstatic Dance Los Angeles, a thriving free-from dance community in southern California. He has been involved with event production, music and teaching for the past 20 years. Robin’s passion in life is creating experiences that evoke transformation, inspiration and insight in others in ways that bridge the mind-body connection and unleash the unique brilliance within. He does this through his work as a coach, DJ, musician, transformational event producer and training development consultant. Robin’s approach is one that pairs creative vision and heartfelt expression with diligent execution.

  Website | Soundcloud

• 
  Atticus Mooney

  Ecstatic DJ, Event Producer + Facilitator

  

  Atticus Mooney

  Ecstatic DJ, Event Producer + Facilitator

  Atticus is a movement artist and facilitator drawing inspiration from lifelong study of embodiment modalities including classical ballet, modern dance, yoga, Contact Improvisation, and many more. Her soul purpose is to empower individuals and communities through creative expression; reminding individuals of their innate creative intuition and autonomy. Atticus strives to build conscious connections through somatic experiencing, which she facilitates through dynamic DJ journeys, free form movement exploration, creativity workshops, yoga asana and sound bath meditations.

  Atticus has led 200-hour yoga teacher trainings in Central America, lived and studied with Mayan elders in Guatemala, completed Donna Carroll’s Ecstatic Dance Leadership Training (2017), embarked on the inaugural California Ecstatic Dance Bus Tour, performed and choreographed in countless dance pieces, and served as a dance and music incendiary in the Washington, DC community and beyond.

  Website

• 
  DJ Isza

  Ecstatic DJ, Event Producer + Facilitator

  

  DJ Isza

  Ecstatic DJ, Event Producer + Facilitator

  Isza is a resident DJ at Ecstatic Dance UK and a regular DJ at Ecstatic Dance Bristol. She has played some of the most forward-thinking festivals including Burning Man and Buddhafield, as well leading retreats in Ibiza. As a Movement Medicine apprentice teacher, she holds classes, workshops and ceremonies around the world.

  Drawing on the elements, connected breath-work and block-rocking beats, Isza combines technical DJ skill with deep physical and emotional healing, fostering a sense of freedom and deepening relationship with the self and others.

  Before stepping onto a conscious dance floor nearly 10 years ago, Isza was a dedicated raver. She promoted Drum n Bass and Hip Hop nights in London and carved out a 20-year career in the music industry working with artists and DJs, at various record labels and as a Producer at BBC Radio 1 and BBC Radio 1Xtra.

  Isza is a sound technician and rigs up systems at numerous events including the Women’s Full Moon 5 Rhythms Dance and for teachers such as Kate Shela and Christian De Souza. She’s also a Sound Therapist and holds cacao ceremonies, both of which she combines with her offerings in dance.

  She’s trained at The School of Movement Medicine with Ya-Acov and Susannah Darling Khan, at The British Academy of Sound Therapy with Lyz Cooper, and at free parties and underground clubs.

  Mixcloud | Instagram | Facebook

• 
  Joel West

  DJ, Event Producer + Music Producer

  

  Joel West

  DJ, Event Producer + Music Producer

  Joel West is a DJ, producer, event promoter, actor, improvisor, and instructor based in Vancouver, Canada. Joel is a co-founder and organizer of Groundwerk, a monthly meet up for electronic musicians that has given first listens to 800+ new songs by over 150+ artists at 40+ events since launching in 2015.
  Joel is a multi-disciplinary instructor and facilitator with many years experience guiding and activating people in the mediums of DJing, music production, acting, and improv comedy.

  While Joel is no stranger to conscious events and full moon parties, he also is a resident at Gorgomish Afterhours in Vancouver and played at Amsterdam Dance Event in 2018.

  Joel has releases on Cuete, Nuevadark, Groundwerk, and East Van Digital. You can listen here and here.
  When not working with music, Joel works as an actor in film & TV.

  Website

• 
  Sabino Soares

  Ecstatic Event Producer + Facilitator

  

  Sabino Soares

  Ecstatic Event Producer + Facilitator

  As the producer of Ecstatic Dance Faro and Ecstatic Dance Lagos, Sabino is in service to the dance through producing, DJing and leading ceremony in his home country of Portugal. Sabino is an Ecstatic Dance Leadership 2018 graduate.

  The founder of Bkind Mindfulness Program, Sabino strives to bring quality, truth and joy to his community, believing that everyone has the power to contribute to each other’s lives in an uplifting way. After an early career as the head of the sports department at the University of Algarve, Sabino turned to dance as a way to integrate positivity, creativity and passion into his teaching.

  Sabino’s many successes include: working as president of an NGO for at-risk teenagers, teacher and trainer of mindfulness for children, national champion of ballroom dancing, as well as publisher of the mindfulness book, “STOP, RESPIRA, DECIDE!”. Currently, Sabino is working as a professor of mindfulness in the public school systems in Portugal.

• 
  Stephen John Cook

  AV Tech

  

  Stephen John Cook

  AV Tech

  Stephen has been involved in the arts from a young age. Starting out in musical theatre in Yorkshire, he continued to study Drama at Winchester University whilst also branching out into Photography at Southern Oregon University. After graduating, Stephen began teaching drama and English abroad in Italy and China, before returning to the UK and starting a freelance business Stephen John Cook Photography. His work has allowed him to travel and photography festivals and events throughout the UK as well as Prague and Canada. Stephen is currently working as a Technician back at Winchester University.

  Website | Instagram

• 
  Cristina Ciobanu

  Student Liason

  

  Cristina Ciobanu

  Student Liason

  Born in Romania, Cristina combines talent, kindness, respect, tenacity and intuition to create and share magic. Organized, reliable, persuasive and outgoing, she trained herself to become a mindful customer service guru as she is consistently delivering the highest quality care in her many fields of work.

  A hard working truth seeker, Cristina is known for her upbeat but highly diligent nature. She prides herself on her ability to multitask, learn quickly and solve problems with ease, all while maintaining a calm and peaceful demeanor. She possesses a deep passion for arts, languages and meaningful human interactions, and loves bringing people together in a playful and joyful vibe.

  With an addiction to traveling and an attitude of fun, she is a true inspiration for those around her. Cristina speaks six languages and is currently learning several more. She is a recent graduate of the Ecstatic Dance Event Producer Training.

  Contact Cristina at cristina@ecstaticdance.com

• 
  Angela Dennis

  Photographer

  

  Angela Dennis

  Photographer

  Angela Dennis is a professional photographer and cultural producer based in the UK.  She moved to London in 2007 after graduating from a degree in Photography to assist some of London’s best commercial and editorial photographers. Experienced in the studio and on location, Angela has worked with many of London’s premier studios and shooting teams, as well as in high-end professional photo crews around the world. Angela has a broad experience of commissioned work including portraiture, lifestyle, events, and fashion. Clients include Dove, Wella, Absolut, British Red Cross, Oxfam, VICE, Starseeds,  Synchronicity Earth, and Invisible Dust. Angela shares her expertise in the photography industry through workshops with young people and community groups, regularly collaborating with charities and NGO’s.  She is also a life-long dancer, practicing yogi and somatic explorer.

  Website