On Sept. 13, The Movement Apothecary hosted an ecstatic dance class, a form of therapeutic movement in which individuals can freely dance to music without specific steps or choreography.
The host of these classes, Cristen Robinson, grew up around dancing, as her mom was a cheerleading coach. When she moved to Fort Collins, she found a welcoming dance community.
Since she discovered the art form in Fort Collins, Robinson said she wanted to bring recognition to ecstatic dance and the meditative healing it can bring.
“I’m just really hoping that it brings back that awareness that meditation doesn’t have to be sitting still and keeping your brain quiet,” Robinson said. “Meditation is being present in the moment and trusting what’s coming up.”
Katelyn Schmidt is a Fort Collins resident and was a second-time attendee of Robinson’s class. She explained how since her hip surgery last year, ecstatic dance has become a low-pressure form of dance where she can be free of the stress and conventions known to sometimes accompany dancing.
“The first time I walked out of the studio, I took this deep breath,” Schmidt said. “I felt rejuvenated and knew that I needed that again.”
Robinson usually begins the class by having everyone move in a circle, warming up to the idea of moving their body and then eventually shifting into encouraging people to dance in grids, letting their body flow freely. She described the enjoyment of watching how people recognize how capable they are in their own body.
Robinson started Ecstatic Dance at TMA after getting in contact with owner Lacey Estrella. Estrella responded enthusiastically to Robinson’s initiative and wanted to make the class work within the space. Robinson said she is grateful to not only be able to share her love in a welcoming space but also bring awareness to local businesses like TMA.
“Fort Collins lets you express yourself in ways that maybe you couldn’t in other places; I feel like it’s a safe and enjoyable place to do that,” Robinson said. “There’s so much diversity here that it’s another thing to add to its cultural vibrancy.”
Robinson curated a playlist that moves up and down in energy, shifting from soft to upbeat songs by artists like Michael Jackson and Ne-Yo.
“It kind of goes back to taking you out of that robotic state and knowing that even if you don’t recognize the music, you can still take the time to take a deep breath (and) let your body move how it needs to move,” Robinson said. “You’re not focusing on the lyrics or the next beat that’s coming. You’re capable of navigating spaces that you don’t know.”
In addition to dancing, Robinson encouraged dancers to lie down, rest with the pillows or to simply close their eyes and embrace how their bodies naturally move.
“Ecstatic dance again just, like, gives us a moment to disconnect, allowing our bodies to speak for us, recognizing, maybe, things we’re holding on to and we didn’t know,” Robinson said.
Juli Jergensen is a fellow dancer who said she was introduced to Ecstatic Dance through Robinson and has also developed a love for the art form.
“I needed to get here today because life was ‘lifing,’ and I needed to work it out,” Jergensen said. “It felt really good to do that.”
Schmidt said she found she left the class happier and more at ease with her body. She said she appreciated the variety of the playlist and getting to move her body with structure.
“A lot of people are really scared to dance because it’s performative,” Schmidt said. “This is a different space where you get to be free and you don’t have to be on. It’s something I think everyone should experience, and it’s also a little bit of, like, exercise that feels nice in your body.”
Jergensen said she did enjoy getting to move around the space and found each part of the class to be liberating, releasing pent-up emotions.
“It’s a safe space,” Jergensen said. “I can wear what I want; I can take my hair down. There’s nobody pushing me to perform, and there is no technique. You just do what feels good.”
At the end of class, Robinson had all the participants gather in a circle and share each other’s experiences while dancing. She said she always hopes people leave the space with clarity and a calmer mind.
“We’re absorbing things all of the time, and we don’t need to carry it all of the time,” Robinson said. “If moving your body in this space will help you be a lighter, happier version of yourself (when) leaving, then I would love to continue to do that for people.”
Reach Sananda Chandy at entertainment@collegian.com or on social media @RMCollegian.
