Spirit of Summer

By late July, summer has fully arrived.

The forests of the Lower Hudson Valley hum with life. Cicadas offer their steady chorus from the trees. Fireflies begin their evening dance as the sun softens over the Hudson. Warm air carries the scent of wildflowers and pine, while rivers, lakes, and shaded trails invite us to cool, wander, and remember our place within the living world.

This season asks something different of us.

Not to bloom—but to embody.

To savor what has ripened.
To move with the fullness of the light.
To celebrate the abundance that surrounds us and the vitality that lives within us.

Spirit of Summer is an invitation to dance in rhythm with the season—to awaken the senses, ground into the body, and gather in the simple joy of moving together.

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 to Heal Warm-up with Odelia Shargian

8:00–9:45 PM – Ecstatic Dance with Miles Alix

9:45-10:15 PM – Closing Sound Bath with Tamar Madmoni Reich

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:
About Odelia Shargian
Odelia is a somatic therapist who has an incredible ability to get to the source of trauma and roadblocks in others. Her work focuses on self-acceptance, inclusion, compassion, and joy.

She’s trained across multiple Somatic platforms including Bartenieff Fundamentals, Laban Movement Analysis, Body-Mind Centering™ (BMC), Authentic Movement, Somatic Experiencing and is certified as a Structural Yoga instructor through the Stone Center For Yoga and Health.

She has a BA in Psychology from The Open University. Odelia graduated from the Leven Institute with dual certifications in Shake Your Soul™ and SomaSoul™and was certified as a Somatic Movement Therapist and Educator through ISMETA in 2005.

She began her Somatic and Movement Education Company, Embodied Acceptance, in 2013, offering classes and workshops, both in-person and virtual, to hundreds of students. Learn More: https://www.instagram.com/embodiedacceptance/

About Miles Alix
Behind the decks, Miles Alix explores the depths of human connection, igniting dance floors with house music selects from the African diaspora. Having honed his craft as a resident DJ at Ecstatic Dance Los Angeles, he has since expanded into performing and hosting dance events across North America and Europe.

Expect the sonic journey to become a conduit for all that it means to be human.

No limits to expression, just pure movement & medicine for the soul.

When off the decks, Miles is a music executive at Lionsgate, curating sounds for television on several major networks. Past shows include Insecure, P-Valley, Being Mary Jane, the Power Franchise and Yellowjackets.

About Tamar Madmoni Reich
Tamar Madmoni Reich is an artist within the sacred arts, creating spaces where sound becomes remembrance. Through intuitive voice, sound, movement, presence, and the wisdom of nature, she weaves immersive experiences of deep integration, inviting people to listen more deeply, reconnect with themselves, and remember the quiet wisdom already within.

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! ❤️✨

Spirit of Summer ft. Miles Alix, Odelia Shargian, and Tamar Madmoni Reich

Spirit of Summer ft. Miles Alix, Odelia Shargian, and Tamar Madmoni Reich