Moon Dance-Ecstatic Dance
Celebrate the New Moon of spring with a communal dance journey and party into Nissan!
With an eclectic mix of music—Jewish, Pop, World and Rock, all facilitated by a live DJ (DJ Reb-B aka Rabbi Boris).
Move in your own way, and feel your spirit soar!
Sign Up Here (Required to Attend)
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FAQs
What is Ecstatic Dance?
Ecstatic dance is a freeform, meditative, and joyful movement practice that invites participants to connect with themselves, the music, and the community—without judgment or choreography. Usually ecstatic dance is facilitated by a live DJ.
In our Jewish ecstatic dance program, we bring this practice into a sacred framework, weaving in intention, reflection, and communal energy. No experience is needed—just an open heart and a willingness to move!
To put it simply, ecstatic dance is a dance party with intention and spirituality woven in!
What makes the experience Jewish?
Judaism has a deep tradition of embodied spirituality—dancing at the Red Sea, King David leaping before the Ark, the ecstatic movements of Hasidic mystics. In Jewish ecstatic dance , we can tap into this legacy, using music, intention, and movement as a form of prayer, joy, and sacred connection.
We may incorporate Jewish themes, blessings, or kavvanot (intentions) to guide the experience, drawing on the rhythm of Jewish time—Shabbat, holidays, or the cycles of the soul. While all participants have to do is move in the way that feels best for them, the dance floor can also become a space for hitbodedut (personal reflection), communal celebration, and the radical joy of being fully present in body and spirit. You do not need to be Jewish do join the dance.
No steps to learn, no judgment—to paraphrase Abraham Joshua Heschel, in Ecstatic Dance, you can pray with your feet!
Why is it called "Moon Dance"?
The dance will be held on Rosh Hodesh, the celebration of the new moon, which marks a time of renewal, reflection, and possibility. Just as the moon moves through its cycles, we, too, are constantly shifting—growing, transforming, and beginning again. Ecstatic dance on Rosh Hodesh connects us to this sacred rhythm, allowing us to embody the themes of renewal, release, and intention through movement.
In Jewish tradition, dance is an expression of joy, spiritual connection, and transformation. The ritual of Kiddush Levana, the sanctification of the moon, is a powerful example of how we celebrate movement and change. Traditionally performed outdoors beneath the night sky, it includes words of blessing, awe, and even a step or two of joyful movement. Our Moon Dance brings that same spirit into our bodies—celebrating the moon’s cycles not just with words, but with movement, energy, and deep connection.
By dancing with the energy of the new moon, we tap into an ancient practice of aligning ourselves with the cycles of time and nature. "Moon Dance" is a space to move freely, set intentions for the new month, and celebrate the flow of life—together, in sacred community.
Who leads the dance?
An ecstatic dance DJ is more than just someone playing music—they are the guide, setting the tone for a journey of movement, emotion, and connection. Through carefully curated music, the DJ creates a wave-like arc, starting gently, building to energetic peaks, and eventually bringing dancers back to a place of grounding and stillness.
In a Jewish ecstatic dance setting, the DJ may weave in melodies that evoke deep spiritual resonance—niggunim (wordless melodies), sacred chants, or rhythms that connect us to Jewish time and tradition along with an eclectic mix of pop, rock and even classical or hip hop music! The DJ senses the energy of the room, responding in the moment to uplift, soothe, or deepen the experience. With few words, they facilitate a collective yet deeply personal journey, inviting each dancer to move with intention, joy, and presence. Our dance will be facilitated by DJ Reb-B, aka Rabbi Boris Dolin.
Where is Moon Dance Ecstatic Dance held?
While ecstatic dance can be held anywhere, our dance will be held in the synagogue sanctuary. The sanctuary is traditionally a place of prayer, reflection, and connection to the Divine. By bringing ecstatic dance into this sacred space, we honor its spiritual energy in a new and embodied way. Just as our ancestors danced with joy before the Ark and in celebration of sacred moments, we too can use movement as a form of prayer, renewal, and connection.
Dancing in the sanctuary invites us to experience holiness not just through words, but through our entire being. We uplift both ourselves and the space itself—infusing it with new energy, creativity, and deep spiritual presence.
In addition to the music, simple "dance lights" will add to the experience.
For more information on the Ecstatic Dance experience, visit EcstaticDance.org
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Three Simple Principles of Ecstatic Dance (from EcstaticDance.org)
1. We Dance without shoes (or: We Dance Barefoot)
This allows us to connect more fully with the Ground (socks are OK).
If you have a physical condition that you need dance shoes, then OK.
2. We Dance without too many words (or: We Dance with Body Language)
This makes it easier to be in a Meditative State.
Little Verbal Instruction from the Facilitators.
No Talking from the Dancers.
(You may whisper quietly off the "dance floor", and shmooze outside the sanctuary).)
3. We Dance as We Are
No Drugs/Alcohol, No Phones, No Camera/Video, No Scents, No Expectations, No Judgments, No Shoulds, No Oughts…
Just Be Yourself; With Respect for Ourselves, the Space, and One Another.