HAND-PICKED EXPERIENCES

Editor's Picks

Curated events selected by the BrightStar team — transformational gatherings worth your time.

12 events curated

ecstatic dance

Garba Season for Beginners Series in New York

An introductory session in garba, the Gujarati circle dance traditionally performed during Navratri. Led by the Women's Education Project, this beginner-focused class welcomes those new to the form alongside dancers seeking to refresh their technique before the festival season. Participants will learn fundamental rhythms, footwork, and coordination through the featured song "Khalasi," moving to energetic Hindi and Gujarati music. No prior experience is necessary, only willingness to engage with the celebratory spirit of the dance. The evening unfolds at Ripley-Grier Studios in Midtown Manhattan, a venue equipped with ample facilities and surrounded by restaurants serving Gujarati cuisine.

Thu, Oct 1, 2026Ripley-Grier Studios, New York

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ecstatic dance

Danze africane con Barbara Mousy e i Konkoba - Festival della Nonviolenza Attiva

Danze africane con Barbara Mousy e i Konkoba - Festival della Nonviolenza Attiva at Via Stamira 5 — Roma

Fri, Oct 2, 2026Via Stamira 5, Roma

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ecstatic dance

Liberated Expression Through Dance

At Kripalu, dance becomes a gateway to authentic expression and inner attunement. Led by faculty member Yuval Samburski, this three-day program invites participants to reconnect with the natural rhythms of their bodies and souls, moving beyond the mental habits and self-judgment that often constrain authentic movement. Through YogaDance practices, creative exploration, and embodied work, participants learn to listen to their own unique cadence, free from overthinking or concern for external validation. The program balances dynamic movement sessions with grounding yoga classes, nourishing meals, and time on Kripalu's spacious grounds. By the closing day, participants return to their lives with a restored sense of physical freedom, clearer energetic presence, and a deepened relationship to their own inner choreography.

Fri, Oct 2, 2026Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health, Stockbridge

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ecstatic dance

The Flying Ceilidh at Brodie Castle

The Flying Ceilidh at Brodie Castle at Brodie Castle

Sat, Oct 3, 2026Brodie Castle

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ecstatic dance

Le Danze di Piazza Vittorio - Festival della Nonviolenza Attiva

Le Danze di Piazza Vittorio - Festival della Nonviolenza Attiva at Via Stamira 5 — Roma

Sat, Oct 3, 2026Via Stamira 5, Roma

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ecstatic dance

Sami Hamed: Ginga Flow & Conquering and Surrendering Space

Sami Hamed brings 27 years of Capoeira practice to the Movement Flow Fest, teaching two distinct workshops rooted in the Afro-Brazilian martial art tradition. A licensed fitness trainer based in Frankfurt, Hamed structures movement around principles of weight distribution, mobility, and coordination, weaving in hand balancing, floor work, and soft acrobatics. His teaching philosophy centers movement within rhythm and collective play, developing both physical capacity and relational awareness. The workshops emphasize that flow emerges from stability, and that engaging with others creates vital, unpredictable dialogue. Hamed's approach is neither combative nor goal-oriented, but rather collaborative—exploring how taking space and yielding space generate continuous, interesting movement exchanges.

Sat, Oct 3, 2026Movement Flow Fest, Darmstadt

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ecstatic dance

Movement Flow Jam

On Saturday evening, Movement Flow Fest hosts an open jam session beginning at 9 PM, welcoming dancers, acrobats, musicians, and movement practitioners of all styles. The session operates as a creative laboratory rather than a structured class, emphasizing improvisation, collective energy, and the interplay between sound and motion. Musicians are invited to bring instruments and participate in live accompaniment, while movers explore the day's material or their own practice within a supportive, playful environment. The jam prioritizes creative exchange and shared experience over technical perfection. Guests without a festival pass may purchase a separate jam ticket beginning at 8:30 PM.

Sat, Oct 3, 2026Movement Flow Fest, Darmstadt

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ecstatic dance

Ancestor Ceremony Dance Day — One Day Retreat with Jade Sanchez

Ancestor Ceremony Dance Day — One Day Retreat with Jade Sanchez at Anza Retreat Center — Asheville

Sat, Oct 31, 2026Anza Retreat Center, Asheville

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ecstatic dance

Vela Retreat — Dance Intensive with Jade Sanchez

Vela Retreat — Dance Intensive with Jade Sanchez at Anza Retreat Center — Asheville

Mon, Nov 2, 2026Anza Retreat Center, Asheville

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ecstatic dance

PhDJ: An Immersion in Movement + Sound with Tasha Blank at Menla

PhDJ: An Immersion in Movement + Sound with Tasha Blank at Menla Retreat and Dewa Spa — Phoenicia

Wed, Nov 4, 2026Menla Retreat and Dewa Spa, Phoenicia

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ecstatic dance

Soul Motion®: Tenderness at the Heart of the Dance

Soul Motion is a formless dance practice that integrates conscious movement, body-based inquiry, and natural stillness into a process of embodied exploration. Led by Zuza and Scott Engler, this six-day workshop at Esalen Institute invites participants to reclaim the body in motion as a gateway to deeper presence and understanding. The practice weaves together passionate full-bodied movement, mindful inner work, art-making, and periods of quiet rest. Participants move alone, in pairs and small groups, and collectively, sometimes indoors and sometimes in the landscapes of Big Sur. The week emphasizes how movement becomes a doorway to authentic relating, to one's inner life, and to the mysterious dimensions of existence. Through varied music and silence, through dance and meditation, through paired exploration and group witness, participants cultivate skills for stress reduction, resilience, and genuine presence. The workshop proves especially valuable for those in healing professions seeking to deepen their capacity to hold space for others.

Mon, Dec 21, 2026Esalen Institute, Big Sur

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