It was my total pleasure today to chat with Sophie Bolton. Sophie has been involved in this scene from the early days and before that was running her own events in Frome.

Now a regular DJ at dances all around the UK she always brings the good energy, great tunes and loving vibe to her sets. This chat was by mutual agreement totally unprepared, we had no plan, no preprepared questions, we thought wed just see where it went and it went to some fascinating and funny places. Full of tips for other dance facilitators the chat turned out to be both fascinating and educational. Enjoy!!

For events with Sophie and to talk mentoring....

https://www.sophiebolton.co.uk/events

In Flow Retreats https://inflowretreats.co.uk/

A Psychonautical Night of Pioneers. Twisted Records in London. https://troxy.co.uk/event/a-psychonautical-night-of-pioneers-feat-shpongle-more/

On a mission to create a global movement of ecstatic dance! Join Dan and Renée Lacroix, the original founder of Ecstatic Dance UK (EDUK), one of the key movers in Ecstatic Dance Lisboa and the founder of Ecstatic Experiences, as they dive into the rapidly growing world of conscious dance. Renée shares the origins of EDUK as the UK’s only morning ecstatic dance at the time, highlighting its accessibility as an unguided, free-form practice open to all walks of life. Renée talks about how she came to Ecstatic Dance via a somewhat unusual path and how she is now dedicated to growing the publics connection with it.

They also dive into…

• All things naming your dance and whether the very term "Ecstatic Dance" can be misleading, despite its established status.
• EDUK’s commitment to inclusivity through tiered pricing, concession rates, and volunteer opportunities and how we forge real communities in a world that is financially driven
• The difference in dance culture between the UK and Portugal.
• Training to be an ecstatic dance facilitator and why it involves wearing so many different hats
• The importance of maintaining strict "no phones" and "no talking" rules on the dance floor.
• Advice for terrified newcomers who are anxious about dancing!

You can check Renée and her offerings at:

https://www.instagram.com/ecstatic.experiences

Or find out more about here inspiring retreats in Devon and Portugal via

https://linktr.ee/ecstatic.experiences

In this episode of the Ritual Rhythms Ecstatic Dance Podcast it was an absolute joy to chat with Anna-Lisa Drew the founder of Ecstatic Dance Brighton and Avalon Dance Odyssey!

The fantastic thing about this podcast for me was that we both joined the call and started talking instantly, there was no intro or build up, just straight into it. In fact once we started talking we didn't really stop for 90 minutes - there may need to be a part two! We explored everything from Taoism to setting up a dance; the pros and cons of being pulled by creativity rather than financial wisdom; how she came to start one of the UKs most magical ecstatic dance festivals almost by accident; the magic of letting go to not knowing; governing bodies or a lack of them and so much more!

Raised between the wilds of West Africa and the mystical lands of Avalon, Anna-Lisa creates transformative spaces for expression, empowerment, and play through Ecstatic Dance. Blending deep, primal bass with sensual flow and electrifying drops, her carefully crafted journeys invite expansion, wild abandon, and soulful stillness.

Founder of Ecstatic Dance Brighton and co-founder of Avalon Dance Odyssey, she is a driving force in the conscious dance scene. Her work spans Ecstatic Dance UK, Bristol, Bath, Cardiff, Samsara Retreat, and major festivals like Wilderness, Boomtown, and Buddhafields. With a background in Taoist movement, well-being, and art therapy, she holds space for profound transformation through the power of dance.

You can grab tickets for the amazing Avalon Dance Odyssey June 25-29 Glastonbury UK here