Udara Sunday Dance

by Martina Reinbold, Head of Yoga, Detox & Spa 

Udara Resort hosts an ecstatic, conscious dance every Sunday from 10:30 to 12:00 as part of the Udara Sunday Event. Since 2018, this popular event has attracted a large crowd of expats, tourists, and locals to our beachfront resort in Seseh village. The vibe on Sundays at Udara is truly special, and we invite you to come and join.

Never been to a daytime dance before? Great! We’ll share more information about this dance form in this blog article.

The Udara Sunday Dance draws from the Ecstatic Dance movement, a collective practice cultivated throughout human history. But why is it gaining popularity now? What draws people of all ages and nationalities to the dancefloors of yoga shalas, beaches, and festival venues? In this article, we aim to provide a deeper understanding of Ecstatic Dance, its guidelines, and benefits.

What is Ecstatic Dance? Ecstatic Dance is a movement practice where people gather to dance consciously. Most events feature a live DJ and a facilitator who holds the space for the dance. Some Ecstatic Dance events guide people through movement exercises, such as connecting with different parts of their body, certain emotions, or the qualities of the music. Other Ecstatic Dance hosts emphasize the freedom to move however you wish, inspired by the music and the collective energy of the dancers.

What differentiates Ecstatic Dance from disco or party dance is the talk- and drug-free space. This fosters higher levels of consciousness and keeps the focus strongly on the music and the dance.

What are the Guidelines for Udara Sunday Dance?
The dance community has agreed upon some basic guidelines. These guidelines align with the core purpose and intention of conscious Ecstatic Dance events.

Move however you wish. Your movements should serve as a vessel for spontaneous, authentic self-expression. You are not dancing to impress anyone (including yourself!). Instead of letting our egos guide the dance, we tap into our intuitive movement and feeling of the music. Everyone is welcome on the dancefloor, regardless of experience. Overcoming initial feelings of awkwardness or even shyness can lead to a renewed sense of confidence, individuality, and vitality.

No shoes on the dancefloor. Dancing without shoes is one of the most grounding practices you can engage in. At Udara, our yoga shalas have wooden floors that allow you to truly connect to the earth below and the surrounding natural elements as you dance with the amazing ocean backdrop.

A drug- and alcohol-free space. Realizing we don’t need stimulants to express ourselves fully and honestly can be truly liberating. When we feel the energy of the dance and the music, we can reach natural highs, energy bursts, and flow states—powered by the chemicals our own bodies produce.

No talking on the dance floor. While sharing experiences with friends or fellow dancers can be comforting and foster connection, we strongly encourage keeping the dancefloor free from talking. Save your words for after the dance and fully drop into the dance space. Excessive chatting on the dancefloor can be very distracting, not only for your own process but also for those around you.

Please refrain from taking photos and videos. We know our Dance events and Udara’s location are worthy of capturing and sharing. When we honor the dancefloor as a space for free expression, we also respect that others may not want to be close-up in any photos or videos. People can generally let go more when they don’t feel observed or captured on devices. Filming with your phone in hand may prevent you from reaching the depths of flow and ecstasy that come from fully immersing yourself in the raw and real experience of the moment.

Respect the space of others, your own, and the space you are dancing in. We are all in this together with a shared intent to dance collectively. The dance space is an open and welcoming space for anyone, regardless of age, skin color, country of origin, body shape, or size. Respecting others and yourself means letting go of judgments, allowing every body to be and move as they are. Respect each other’s dance space. If two people wish to share a dance, that’s perfectly fine. If one person wishes to continue their own dance journey, that’s fine too. Respect the choices of others and communicate with clear body language if you need more space.

Following these guidelines is a sign of great respect and helps us create a beautiful community.

Why should we dance more? Free-form dance helps us to ground and reconnect with the aliveness we feel in our bodies. It is also an opportunity to transcend the mind, find liberation through movement, and feel uplifted. When many people gather with the same intention and focus, the group energy can become very strong and carry us through the dance.

Cultures across all continents and ages have emphasized collective dance as a way to create community and transcend everyday life. There are many great reasons to dance, such as getting a good physical workout, improving our mood, and taking a break from the chatter in our minds. As David Thomas Moore, Artistic Director and Resident Choreographer for Dance With Me USA, beautifully states: “We do not need to dance to acquire a sound mind and body. So, there must be more reasons why we do so. There must be something glorious about dancing that is more than just intangible… Maybe dance is simply a translator for the human heart. Perhaps dance is the medium through which we show the world who we truly are and who we can be.”

What is the music like at the Udara Sunday Dances?
Each time you come to Udara Sunday for dance, you will experience different music. Our live DJ offers music ranging from electronic dance music to World Music, encompassing a wide variety of musical genres. Our celebrated in-house DJ Adhe Well has several SoundCloud playlists that offer an idea of the music played.

We open the event with a grounding and centering meditation to connect with our bodies and each other before moving into our individual dance journey. The music usually follows an arc-like structure: it begins slowly, encouraging exploration of body movement and settling into the space. The intensity and speed then gradually increase, reaching a peak where you can move as wildly as you wish, even using some of our instruments like rattles or drums. This peak is usually a point where group energy becomes very high and cheerful. Towards the end, the music slows down again, allowing you to gradually bring your awareness back inwards and slowly transition to lying down in stillness with the sounds of the ocean in the background. The Ecstatic Dance seamlessly flows into a live Sound Healing journey to integrate your experience and relax.

The Dance is what you make of it…
A Freeform Movement Space where: Dance Expands, Spirit Activates, Boundaries Melt, Boredom Ceases, Creativity Breaks Out, Hope Happens, Beauty Flows, Communities Collaborate, Ritual is Reinvented, Harmony Resonates, The Beat Deepens. An Electronic Tapestry of World Rhythms Weaves us Together, As Individuals, Within a Greater Family.

About the Udara Sundays Festival
From its inception, Udara Bali established the Sunday Festival with the pure and honest intention of celebrating life and togetherness. We are here to bring the community together through body, breath, and intention. The Udara Sunday Festival invites all yoga and dance lovers from Indonesia and abroad. The classes are usually quite packed, and the energy is busier than during the week. Our festival is a very special group experience, and we welcome you to mingle with the community.

Check our social media channels @udarabali and website schedule to get information about the program for next Udara Sunday, featuring varying yoga teachers and DJs each week. We can’t wait to see you on the dancefloor!