FAQs
Ecstatically Queer:
A Dance Community Immersion
April 14–16, 2023
What makes this a Celebration of Queerness?
♥ All of the retreat presenters and staff are queer
♥ We're holding an intentionally safe space for queer folk and queer behavior
♥ The Saturday afternoon discussion forum will explore topics of queerness and allyship
...otherwise, the music and movement sessions will be typical of other Ecstatic Dance events.
Who is this retreat for?
This retreat is for anyone who wants to celebrate queerness with us in the context of an Ecstatic Dance retreat. You could be LGBTQIA+, or questioning your sexual orientation and/or gender identity, or simply an ally.
Is this some sort of sex or tantra retreat?
No! As a community we are sex positive and body positive—and many of the retreat sessions offer the possibility of touch or affection— but there will be no genital contact or sex play in any of the retreat sessions or public spaces—that type of activity is only welcome in the privacy of lodging spaces. Additionally, everyone must have their bottom well covered at all of the retreat sessions. (Tops are optional for all genders, except as required by Breitenbush in the dining hall.)
Can I come for part of the retreat at a discount? Is it okay if I arrive late to the retreat?
Retreat registration is all-or-none. There are no part-time options.
Everyone is required to arrive in time for the opening orientation at 7:45pm on Friday--no exceptions. That is an important session to establish the culture of the retreat.
What kind of music can I expect at the Ecstatic Dance sessions? Is it electronic?
In the most simple terms, there are two main subcultures of Ecstatic Dance. One subculture, represented in the lineage at ecstaticdance.org, is steeped in Global Bass Music (see below for more details), with DJs who mix tracks and make choices/adjustments on-the-fly. The other subculture (coming out of 5 Rhythms, Soul Motion, Body Choir, and so on) draws from all genres of music, and where the DJs/facilitators usually put together a fixed playlist so they may spend time on the dance floor throughout the journey.
What is Global Bass Music? There are dozens of genres and sub-genres coming out of the "Bass Music" scene. Bass Music is produced digitally, with distinctive rhythmic and sub-bass elements to be felt deeply in the body during dance. Some Bass Music has a definitively electronic feel (such as house, techno, trap, dubstep, or glitch hop), while other genres can feel a lot more like studio-recorded music with added digital production spice (such as tribal, electro-swing, future-cumbia, ghetto-funk, psybient, or future-soul). And Bass Music from any genre may often include recorded vocals or samples of live instruments. The advances in audio technology over the past decade have certainly blurred the lines in music production, to the point where the term "electronic" is not particularly useful for describing the way music sounds.
Why are the dance sessions barefoot? What if I need to wear shoes?
Ecstatic Dance and Contact Improv are done barefoot because we love the feel of connecting to the earth with our feet directly on the wood floor. Street shoes are not permitted for reasons of safety (so bare feet don't get stepped on) and hygiene (we don't want to dance barefoot on whatever gets tracked in from the street). Some people need arch support, and are permitted to use special soft-soled dance shoes that are worn only indoors. Some folks like to wear dance paws (do a Google Search) or grippy socks.
Are children permitted to attend this retreat?
The minimum age for this retreat is 15 years old.
Is Ecstatic Dance religious or affiliated with a church?
Many people find Ecstatic Dance to be a deeply spiritual experience, but it is not in any way associated with a religion or church.
What if I want to cancel my registration?
Why does the retreat lodging seem so expensive?
The Breitenbush Lodging Fee we charge is the same price you would pay to visit there on a personal retreat. Breitenbush has to support an extensive staff for operations and maintenance, and are just beginning to recover from huge financial losses due to the fire that burned down more than half of their buildings in 2020 and from covid-19 shutdowns. It's important to consider that the lodging fee includes three very square meals each day—prepared professionally with the freshest ingredients—which are easily worth $80/day if you were restauranting on vacation. And it includes the many amenities at Breitenbush: all of the pools, the sauna, the lodge, the gardens, and all of the grounds.
♥ All of the retreat presenters and staff are queer
♥ We're holding an intentionally safe space for queer folk and queer behavior
♥ The Saturday afternoon discussion forum will explore topics of queerness and allyship
...otherwise, the music and movement sessions will be typical of other Ecstatic Dance events.
Who is this retreat for?
This retreat is for anyone who wants to celebrate queerness with us in the context of an Ecstatic Dance retreat. You could be LGBTQIA+, or questioning your sexual orientation and/or gender identity, or simply an ally.
Is this some sort of sex or tantra retreat?
No! As a community we are sex positive and body positive—and many of the retreat sessions offer the possibility of touch or affection— but there will be no genital contact or sex play in any of the retreat sessions or public spaces—that type of activity is only welcome in the privacy of lodging spaces. Additionally, everyone must have their bottom well covered at all of the retreat sessions. (Tops are optional for all genders, except as required by Breitenbush in the dining hall.)
Can I come for part of the retreat at a discount? Is it okay if I arrive late to the retreat?
Retreat registration is all-or-none. There are no part-time options.
Everyone is required to arrive in time for the opening orientation at 7:45pm on Friday--no exceptions. That is an important session to establish the culture of the retreat.
What kind of music can I expect at the Ecstatic Dance sessions? Is it electronic?
In the most simple terms, there are two main subcultures of Ecstatic Dance. One subculture, represented in the lineage at ecstaticdance.org, is steeped in Global Bass Music (see below for more details), with DJs who mix tracks and make choices/adjustments on-the-fly. The other subculture (coming out of 5 Rhythms, Soul Motion, Body Choir, and so on) draws from all genres of music, and where the DJs/facilitators usually put together a fixed playlist so they may spend time on the dance floor throughout the journey.
What is Global Bass Music? There are dozens of genres and sub-genres coming out of the "Bass Music" scene. Bass Music is produced digitally, with distinctive rhythmic and sub-bass elements to be felt deeply in the body during dance. Some Bass Music has a definitively electronic feel (such as house, techno, trap, dubstep, or glitch hop), while other genres can feel a lot more like studio-recorded music with added digital production spice (such as tribal, electro-swing, future-cumbia, ghetto-funk, psybient, or future-soul). And Bass Music from any genre may often include recorded vocals or samples of live instruments. The advances in audio technology over the past decade have certainly blurred the lines in music production, to the point where the term "electronic" is not particularly useful for describing the way music sounds.
Why are the dance sessions barefoot? What if I need to wear shoes?
Ecstatic Dance and Contact Improv are done barefoot because we love the feel of connecting to the earth with our feet directly on the wood floor. Street shoes are not permitted for reasons of safety (so bare feet don't get stepped on) and hygiene (we don't want to dance barefoot on whatever gets tracked in from the street). Some people need arch support, and are permitted to use special soft-soled dance shoes that are worn only indoors. Some folks like to wear dance paws (do a Google Search) or grippy socks.
Are children permitted to attend this retreat?
The minimum age for this retreat is 15 years old.
Is Ecstatic Dance religious or affiliated with a church?
Many people find Ecstatic Dance to be a deeply spiritual experience, but it is not in any way associated with a religion or church.
What if I want to cancel my registration?
- You may cancel your Registration for a full refund of your Event and Lodging Fees, minus a service charge of $75 per person before March 14th or $125 per person from March 15th through March 31st. No cancellation refunds after March 31st. All cancellations must be requested by email.
- After March 31st, your only option is to find a friend to transfer your exact registration spot. You must find and identify the person for the transfer--we do not have a waitlist for that. Transfers require a $125 service charge, must be requested by email, and must be processed by us. No transfers may be initiated within 48 hours of the start of the retreat. (Note: Transfers must go through the registration process and agree to all of the retreat policies.)
Why does the retreat lodging seem so expensive?
The Breitenbush Lodging Fee we charge is the same price you would pay to visit there on a personal retreat. Breitenbush has to support an extensive staff for operations and maintenance, and are just beginning to recover from huge financial losses due to the fire that burned down more than half of their buildings in 2020 and from covid-19 shutdowns. It's important to consider that the lodging fee includes three very square meals each day—prepared professionally with the freshest ingredients—which are easily worth $80/day if you were restauranting on vacation. And it includes the many amenities at Breitenbush: all of the pools, the sauna, the lodge, the gardens, and all of the grounds.
