There are several guidelines for Ecstatic Dance.  

Unlike religion, you don’t have to change how you think.  You just have to participate.  The guidelines are meant to be guiding principles for co-creating the container of Ecstatic Dance.  

Note, they are all equally important and are interchangeable in their order.

1. We keep the space talk free (except in emergencies) and express ourselves through movement and sound, speaking only during Closing Circles. We also refrain from photography or video (ideally our phones altogether).  These guidelines allow us to be in the moment and cultivate a deeper connection to our bodies and feelings.
2. We take responsibility for ourselves and our own safety and wellbeing.  If we don’t like where we are or who we’re next to, we can move somewhere else.  We practice our “No” as well as our “Yes”, and choose if+when we want to dance or be in contact with others.
3. We respect each other equally.  Young or old, no matter the background or how someone looks, we treat everyone with respect and kindness. We allow a unified group experience composed of a multitude of expressions.  We move how we wish, no matter how it looks.  We also respect each other’s personal space, never touching or coming too close to others without a clear invitation and consent.
4. We balance our own individual needs and desires with the needs and desires common to the group. We’re cautious of how we move in the space, careful not to swing our limbs in a way that could hurt others or any other behavior that may affect the group negatively.  And, we acknowledge that not every song will be our song, but cultivate a practice of moving with all songs.  Ideally, everyone gets to dance to a song they love, and we get to love that others get to dance to music they love.
5. We take care of the space, adhering to the venue rules, refraining from alcohol or drugs, only wearing non-marking dance shoes if needed, not inviting pets, not burning sage or incense, and cleaning up after ourselves… especially pools of sweat!