Hello friends!
We’re having an April Fool’s Ecstatic Friends event on Saturday, April 2, 2022! Double Fools on us!
You are invited to an evening of Sacred Play by a group of Ecstatic Friends. We will join together at a new West Loop Location for an all-levels Clown Workshop, an Extraordinary Dance Gathering, and a rejuvenating and delicious Sound Bath, and cups of Cacao.
Saturday April, 2nd
6:45pm to 11:11pm
Presenter
✶ Dance Activation – Dj Romance, Funky Dance Grooves
✶ Warm Up – Danielle Levsky (she/her)
✶ Sound Journey – Paul Grosso
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SCHEDULE
6:45 pm: Doors open
7-8:15 pm: Clown workshop
8:15 pm: Opening circle
8:30-10:30 pm: Ecstatic dance
10:30-11pm: Sound journey
11-11:11 pm Closing circle
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✶ Tickets, Locations, and Guidelines
ABOUT:
Our Clown Workshop, led by clown performer and teacher Danielle Levsky, will lead us into a journey of discovery and mischief. Bond with other Ecstatic Dancers as we joyously fail and fall together, connect our bodies to our minds, get into and out of our heads, and play with our imaginations.
Our Ecstatic Dance playlist, led by DJ and music curator extraordinaire Roman Borochin, elevates culture by offering a space to cultivate authentic expression, and mindful connection. It is a place where you can explore your dance, and connect with an awesome collective dance vibration.
Our Sound Bath, led by musical master and Cacao plant steward Paul Grosso, will take us on a transcendent music sound journey to help us integrate and explore all we will gather during the dance. Paul will include rhythms and melodies of various instruments including the Mediterranean drum, didgeridoo, Native American flute, shakers, jaw harp, baritone ukulele, and the singing of medicine songs.
✶ Tickets, Locations, and Guidelines
Bond with other Ecstatic Dancers as we joyously fail together, learn together, get into and out of our heads, and examine our current worlds with a sense of wonder. I will be adapting techniques and games I have learned from the Clown School, Jacques Lecoq, Commedia dell’arte, Neo-Commedia, indigenous clown rituals, and silent film comedians in order for us to find the rhythm of play, connect the body to the mind, feel free to fail, open up the imagination, and create a community of celebration. Come play with us as we go on a journey of discovery, mischief, and delight!
For the workshop please bring/come prepared with:
* Comfy, easy to move clothes
* A water bottle for hydration
* One object (this is vague, but really any kind of object – be it from your kitchen, office, bookshelf, knickknacks, etc.)
* Your full attention (no phones/cellular devices, please)
* Yourself, wherever and however you are 
Danielle Levsky (she/her) is a Post-Soviet, Jewish, queer, and feminist clown, writer, educator, and producer. During quarantine, she explored the possibilities of live-streamed art by writing, performing, devising, teaching, and producing literary work and physical theatre.
She has trained with teachers of various clown traditions and backgrounds, including Misha Usov (Cirque de Soleil), Shannan Calcutt (Cirque de Soleil), David Bridel, Jeremy Aluma, Stefan Haves (Humble Clown Summit/Cirque de Soleil), Marc Frost (Theater Unspeakable), Eric Davis (Red Bastard), Leah Urzendowski (Neo-Futurists), Aretha Sills (Viola Spolin workshops), Antonio Fava (Commedia dell’arte master), and Dan Berkeley (Ringling Brothers).
Check out her website for more information: https://criticturnedclown.squarespace.com/
Paul Grosso is a musical master and a true steward of the Cacao plant. He will take us on a transcendent and extended music sound journey to help us integrate and explore all we will gather during the dance. He will also be offering cups of caco for purchase during the event.
Paul is fully committed to the path of offering wholistic healing incorporating breathwork, music therapy, meditation and plant medicines such as cacao and sananga. His live musical performances facilitate transformational experience for listeners. They include rhythms and melodies of various instruments including the Mediterranean drum, didgeridoo, Native American flute, shakers, jaw harp, baritone ukulele, and the singing of medicine songs.
https://musicalmindset.net/services/
Romance is a curator of incredible music that can be a gateway to embodiment, and free flow of divine energy. For the past decade he has been Djing intentional dance gatherings, and out of the ordinary dance and art events. For his Dj sets he plays music from Black American, African, Afro Brazilian, South and Central American, Eastern, European, and many rhythmic and vocal cultures of the world. Allot is also picked from the polished and technically produced sounds of electronic music.
For the past decade Roman has been hosting and Djing intentional dance gatherings, and out of the ordinary dance and art events. He is also the founder, and lead organizer of Ecstatic Dance Chicago. You can find some of his sets at https://www.mixcloud.com/DeeJayRomance
✶ Tickets, Locations, and Guidelines
We have work-trade opportunities available for tickets (set up crew, breakdown crew, door crew). Email Roman at EcstaticDanceChicago@gmail.com to inquire by 4/2.
Ecstatic Dance Chicago 