Friday, September 18, 2026
Ecstatic Dance 253 with DJ MaYaMa
7:00–9:30 PM
The Poet at Manuscript
202 St Helens Ave, Tacoma
Tickets: $20-$30 sliding scale, per person
Ages 18+
Let go of stress, step into an evening of movement, music, release, and community.
Come flow with us!
Ecstatic Dance 253 is a welcoming, judgment-free place to move however your body wants to move. There is no choreography to follow, no dance experience required, and no pressure to look a certain way. You can move wildly, sway gently, stretch, sit, rest, laugh, breathe, or simply let the music carry you.
DJ MaYaMa will guide us through an intentional musical journey, beginning with a grounding drop-in, building into a full free-form dance experience, and ending with a calming closing practice to help us reconnect and integrate.
Come release the week, get out of your head, return to your body, and get into the flow together with community.
Evening Schedule
7:00 PM — Doors Open
Check in, get settled, connect with the community, and enjoy kava or tea. Please place your shoes, bags, and water bottles underneath the benches around the room so the dance floor (and seating) remains open and clear.
7:15 PM — Welcome and Guided Drop-In
We will gather for a short welcome, review the dance-floor agreements, ground into the space, and prepare our bodies for movement.
7:30 PM — Ecstatic Dance Journey with DJ MaYaMa
9:15 PM — Closing and Grounding
We will slow down, return to stillness, and close the experience together.
9:30 PM — Event Ends (approx time)
Please plan to arrive before the opening drop-in so we can begin the journey together.
What Is Ecstatic Dance?
Ecstatic Dance is a free-form movement practice where you are invited to listen to the music, listen to your body, and move without choreography or judgment.
It is part dance, part movement meditation, and part community experience. Rather than performing for other people, we turn our attention inward and allow movement to become a way to release tension, explore emotion, reconnect with ourselves, and experience the natural joy of being fully present.
You do not need to be a dancer. There are no steps to memorize, no partner required, and no right or wrong way to participate.
Who Is This For?
Ecstatic Dance 253 is for:
• Everyone!
• People who love electronic music, rhythm, and movement
• Anyone feeling stressed, overwhelmed, disconnected, or stuck
• People looking for a healthy way to release energy
• Anyone craving genuine community without the pressure of a bar or nightclub
• People who want to feel more present and connected to their bodies
• All bodies, backgrounds, abilities, identities, and movement styles
You are welcome to dance intensely, move gently, remain close to the edges of the room, take breaks, stretch, or participate while seated. Come exactly as you are.
Ecstatic Dance 253 is a sober event.
We are creating a space where people can experience music, movement, connection, and joy while remaining present and clear. Kava and tea will be available as nonalcoholic options.
What to Bring
Wear comfortable clothing that allows you to move freely. Layers are helpful because your body temperature may change throughout the evening.
Bring:
• A reusable water bottle
• Comfortable, flexible clothing
• Socks if you do not wish to dance barefoot on polished concrete
• An open mind and a willingness to move in your own way
Shoes, phones, water bottles, bags, and personal belongings should be tucked underneath the available benches.
Ecstatic Dance 253 Guidelines
These agreements help us create a safe, welcoming, and immersive experience for everyone.
Dance Without Shoes
We typically dance barefoot or in socks. Please remove outdoor shoes when you enter and place them underneath the benches.
Keep the Dance Floor Conversation-Free
Once the dance begins, we ask that everyone refrain from talking on the dance floor. This allows people to stay connected to their bodies, the music, and their own experience.
Conversations can happen before or after the dance, or quietly in the designated social area away from the dance floor.
Keep Phones Away
Please silence and put away your phone during the dance. No photography, filming, livestreaming, or recording participants. (Dance host, Leah, will be taking some occasional photo/video to use for promoting the event and is always happy to take something down that you don’t want up.)
This is a place to be present—not a place where anyone needs to worry about appearing in someone else’s social media content.
Honor Consent
You are always welcome to dance by yourself.
To invite someone to dance, begin with eye contact or a clear gesture and wait for an enthusiastic response. Respect a no, a turned body, a lack of response, or someone moving away.
A yes can become a no at any time. Anyone may end an interaction without explanation.
Respect Personal Space
Move with awareness of the people around you. Avoid running into others, swinging objects, attempting lifts, or initiating physical contact without clear consent.
Dance Your Own Dance
There is no choreography and nothing to prove. Follow your own energy!
Big movement, small movement, stillness, floor movement, seated movement, and taking breaks are all welcome.
This is a participatory, nonperformative space. You do not need to impress anyone, and no one is here to evaluate how anyone else moves.
Please bring curiosity, kindness, and respect for the many different ways people express themselves.
Care for Yourself
Drink water, take breaks, slow down when needed, and pay attention to your body’s limits. Benches, room edges and a quieter room are available when you need to rest.
Respect the Space and Community
Help us keep the dance floor clear and safe. Store your belongings beneath the benches, clean up after yourself, and notify a facilitator if you feel uncomfortable or need assistance.
Location and Arrival
The Poet at Manuscript
202 St Helens Ave
Tacoma, Washington
Use the lower entrance near Doyle’s Public House and Sunrise Play Cafe.
For stair-free ADA access, enter through the main Manuscript doors at:
203 Tacoma Ave S
Street parking is available nearby. Please allow enough time to park, check in, remove your shoes, and settle into the room before the guided drop-in begins.
Come move.
Come breathe.
Come release what you have been carrying.
No choreography.
No judgment.
No alcohol.
Just music, movement, presence, and community.