Open Hearts: Community Love in Motion is a gathering devoted to the kinds of love that rarely get center stage—love between friends, love within community, love for self, and the kind of love that shows up in care, even when it's inconvenient. Especially when it’s inconvenient.

This is not a celebration of romance. It’s a celebration of the love that refuses to look away—the kind that checks in, stands up, holds space, and reaches out. In a time where uncertainty and unrest press in from every side, choosing to care for each other becomes an act of quiet resistance.

Through movement, music, and reflection, we’ll honor the truth that love is not softness alone—it is structure, support, and strength. When we move together, we remember:

🌿 We are not alone.
🔥 We are not powerless.
💗 We are held—by each other.

Let this be a night of resonant hearts, open arms, and bold tenderness—a space where love moves, protects, and restores.

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.

No prior experience needed; come as you are.

PROGRAM SCHEDULE

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

7:00–8:00 PM – Somatic Dance Warm-up with Maya Carl

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

9:45-10:15 PM – Closing Sound Bath with Samer Ghadry

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 GUIDELINES

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:

Maya Carl is a certified Holistic Health Coach and the founder of Earth Body Coaching, where she has maintained a thriving private practice for going on eight years. A TEDx speaker, certified Pilates Instructor, and Yoga Teacher, Maya combines a deep understanding of integrative wellness with a passion for helping people transform their lives.

She works with individuals and groups to shift their relationship to food, movement, stress, and daily habits—empowering them to access their fullest vitality. With a warm, grounded presence, Maya creates safe, supportive environments for lasting change, whether in private coaching, workshops, or on stage.

Having supported hundreds through personalized sessions, group programs, and corporate wellness engagements, Maya’s recent TEDx talk marks a powerful evolution of her work: helping people reconnect with their bodies to heal themselves, each other, and the planet.

Fatin (she/her) is a Lenapehoking/NYC based Palestinian organizer and DJ. An advocate for Palestine since her childhood, she extends this advocacy through music. Fatin believes that DJing is a service to the community and intends to create warmth and safety through the music she plays, which is why ecstatic dance is the perfect setting. Fatin is working to create original music inspired by Palestinian tradition with accessibility and inclusion in mind, especially for all Palestinians and all those who are struggling throughout the world.

Samer Ghadry is a musician and sound healing facilitator based in New York City. He began learning formally in January 2018, and continues to study with and assist several notable teachers and institutions such as Sage Academy of Sound Energy, 9Ways Academia, Biosonics/Dr John Beaulieu, Rebecca Singer… He has worked with arts non-profits like Pioneer Works, educational institutions and museums such as The Rubin Museum of Art and NYC Public Schools, and has offered nearly 1000 group and private sessions throughout NYC, CT and upstate NY. As a musician, Samer has toured the US and Europe several times, playing with Matthew Dear, Deradoorian, and Dave Harrington in various genres of music. He provided large gong recordings for the score of Everything Everywhere All At Once, and played crystal bowls and gongs on Alanis Morissette’s Storm Before the Calm. Samer finds ways to blend his background as a musician and improvisor into healing spaces, bringing people from various walks of life into spaces of safety and healing.

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

No one will be turned away due to lack of funds, so if you need assistance, please email us: ecstaticdancenyack at gmail. Conversely, if you have plenty, we invite you to pay it forward with our Generous Dancer ticket option to support our financial assistance program.

Stay Connected with Ecstatic Dance Nyack: https://linktr.ee/ecstaticdancenyack