As September unfolds in the Lower Hudson Valley, the air turns crisp, the light softens, and the trees begin their slow shift into fire and gold. Fields of corn and pumpkins ripen, apples hang heavy on the branches, and the last blooms of late summer give way to the gathering season. Deer move through the meadows, geese begin their southward call, and we too feel the rhythm of change pulsing through our bodies.

In the spirit of harvest, we gather in dance. This is a time of reaping what we have sown—celebrating abundance, honoring cycles, and releasing what no longer serves. Through movement, we embody the joy of the harvest feast, the reverence of ritual, and the catharsis of somatic release. Together we step into revelry, grounding ourselves in gratitude for the earth’s generosity, and in the kinship of community.

Join us for Harvest Ball, a night of embodied prayer and playful celebration. Let the music move you like wind through autumn fields, let your body remember its kinship with earth and sky, and let us mark this turning of the season—together, in dance.

Ecstatic Dance is a form of freeform movement where participants let go of inhibitions and dance to the rhythm of the music without following any structured steps or routines. It's a way to express oneself authentically through movement in a supportive and non-judgmental environment.

Ecstatic Dance Nyack's program features five key components:

Opportunities to meet fellow community members and strengthen relationships at the start and end of each event.
A dance warm-up that prepares the body and spirit for an evening of dance and somatic exploration.
An extended set of curated dance music.
A meditative sound healing experience to bring restoration after lively dancing.
Complimentary fresh fruit and water, plus organic, locally-foraged beverages and snacks for sale from local artisans.

PROGRAM SCHEDULE

6:30–7:00 PM – Doors Open, Mix & Mingle

7:00–8:00 PM – Dance Warm-up with Nika

8:00–9:45 PM – Ecstatic Dance with SPASIBA

9:45-10:15 PM – Closing Sound Bath with Yuj Archetype

WHAT TO WEAR/BRING

Comfortable and loose-fitting clothes that let you move your body and free yourself
A water bottle or container to refill at the venue
Good vibes and an open heart and mind

ECSTATIC DANCE NYACK GUIDLINES

First, Dance with Yourself: If you choose to dance with others, do so from a place of giving, not taking. All physical contact with fellow dancers must be consensual. Consent is Freely Given, Reversible, Informed, Enthusiastic, and Specific (FRIES). To separate from a dance partner, you can show hands in prayer to signal your respectful departure.
No Alcohol: Movement is medicine. The spirit of alcohol is not welcome at Ecstatic Dance Nyack. To maintain a space of sensitivity, authentcity, awareness, and clarity, we invite you to experience the depths of your own being without alcohol. Plant medicine is welcome only if used privately, respectfully and responsibly. No smoking within 50 feet of the premises.
No Speaking: Ecstatic Dance empowers participants to explore and express themselves with movement and body language. The cessation of speech unblocks wellsprings of feeling and emotion that are otherwise limited by words. Connect with yourself and others in a new way.
No Phones: Havent you spent enough time looking at it already?
No Photography or Video: What happens here stays here. To allow for fully authentic expression and exploration of our deepest emotions, free from all forms of shame and guilt, participants can be assured that their experience will never be known outside the walls of Ecstatic Dance Nyack.
No Shoes: To stay grounded, protect everyone’s feet, and maintain cleanliness, please do not wear shoes on the dance floor. Socks and special indoor-only dance shoes are permitted.
Be Yourself: This is a judgment-free zone. Allow your body the freedom to move however it needs. All ranges of emotion and expression are welcome here, from joy to sorrow, and everything else. Let movement and music guide you to feel and display every part of yourself. All of you is welcome here.

About the Artists:

Nika Antuanette is a Dancer, Actor & Performing Artist as well as a Yoga (RYT 500) Instructor & Mindful Movement Facilitator. She has taught Yoga, Somatic Movement, & Meditation classes coast-to-coast with some highlights including the Van Gogh Immersive Yoga Experience in NYC and Wellness Wednesdays at World Trade Center with Sputnik Yoga. Performing credits include features on Seasons 1-3 of The Gilded Age (HBO), touring with Luann de Lesseps' Countess Cabaret, and choreographing/performing in Terms & Conditions, an original show about being human in the digital age. She is the Founder of BlissIn Out, a wellness company alchemizing experiences to bridge the realms of the healing and performing arts into immersive containers. Her classes focus on alignment, awareness of the breath, & embodied connection to movement in order to tap into a great sense of freedom on the body. With a light-hearted approach & a technical foundation, Nika's class aims to inspire others to become a better version of themselves. @nika.antuanette @blissin.out www.blissinout.com

SPASIBA (Katya Stepanov) is a Belarusian-Jewish-American DJ, artist and entrepreneur based in Brooklyn. SPASIBA (spa-sí-ba) is a blessing in Belarusian: meaning “thank you”.

SPASIBA spins a world of sound. Born in Minsk and raised in the concrete jungles of NYC, SPASIBA’s sound is a syncretic fusion of European melodies and Latin beats. Katya’s sets are a journey. She braids together Afro, Latin & European house, techno, D&B, jungle rhythm, disco, trance, and driving melodic EDM with a splash of mysticism and soul. SPASIBA got her start as a champion Latin Ballroom dancer, received her BFA at CMU’s School of Drama, and is committed to co-creating dance floors where notions of self are shed at the door and standing in place becomes physically impossible. She creates resonance through the power of breath, bass, sweat, and sonic alchemy. When she's not guiding the dance floor, she writes for Substack, serves her community as a Creative Doula through Katya's Portal, and stewards Resonance Gathering, a micro-festival creating the conditions for resonance through breath, music, song, food and connection. SoundCloud // Instagram

Yuj Archetype is a subtle energetics artist, somatic alchemist, musician and movement artist. He has developed a multi-disciplinary art for integration and embodiment in his self-mastery work. Throughout his practice and explorations, sound, the voice, music, movement and body language are essential parts of understanding transformation, authenticity, and creativity. Follow Yuj on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yuj.archetype

About MOON•MA Elixir Bar
MOON•MA Elixir Bar will be serving up herbal elixirs and dance fuel snacks with all organic and locally foraged ingredients. There will also be handmade herbal drink mixes, tinctures, body oils, & more to take home with you.

The mission behind MOON•MA is to share the healing power of nature through simple and effective daily rituals. A cup of tea. An oil massage. An herbal elixir. Through consistent moments of presence with the natural world, we can set ourselves up for optimal health, connection, and vitality.

Morgan, the creator of MOON•MA, is also a yoga teacher, artist, and is deeply passionate about women’s health, leading monthly women’s circles and ceremonies honoring the sacred rites of passage of pregnancy, birth, and beyond.

Learn more about MOON•MA: https://bit.ly/3CpOF8d

Mutual Aid & Generosity

We believe dance should be accessible to everyone. If you need financial assistance to attend, please email us at ecstaticdancenyack@gmail.com, and we’ll do our best to support you.

For those who have the means to give more, we offer a "Generous Dancer" ticket option—your contribution helps ensure that someone else in our community can join the dance. Thank you for paying it forward and keeping the spirit of generosity alive! ❤️✨

Harvest Ball ft. SPASIBA, Nika, and Yuj

Harvest Ball ft. SPASIBA, Nika, and Yuj