Manawa is a movement. Our mission is to create safe spaces where people can explore and express their inner worlds through ecstatic dance and the arts in Tāmaki Makaurau, the ancestral land of the Ngāti Whātua, Tainui, and Ngāti Pāoa peoples.

Ecstatic Dance is a free-form movement and dance practice that focuses on self-expression, liberation, and connection. There are no specific steps or structured routines; instead, it encourages participants to move in ways that feel natural and authentic to them, guided by Ecstatic Dance DJs' carefully curated sound journeys. This allows our bodies to express emotions, feelings, and energies freely, leading with their manawa (hearts) and connecting deeply with themselves and the community.

We believe in the profound healing power of self-expression, viewing it as essential medicine for the soul. Through the act of expressing oneself, individuals can navigate their inner landscapes, leading to personal growth and emotional well-being. This process not only heals but also serves as a guiding force, encouraging individuals to live authentically and deeply from the manawa (heart)

No dance experience is required; everyone is welcomed as they are.

To ensure the safety and comfort of all participants, we adhere to strict guidelines:

- No alcohol
- No shoes
- No phones
- No talking

We also encourage everyone to wear comfortable clothes and bring a water bottle.

We have reserved sometime at the end to serve warm Chai Tea to all the participants, made vegan with love ofcourse :)

See you on the dance floor!

Online: $25

On the door cash or bank transfer: $30

Grey Lynn Community center will be an upgrade to St Columba due to their better acoustic, cleaner and bigger space with high ceiling, surrounded by wooden elements. This upgrade will make the ecstatic dance experience a whole lot more enjoyable!

Manawa

At Manawa, we’re on a mission to build a community without judgment or competition. Instead, we want to create an environment filled with love, kindness, and respect towards oneself and others.

Our events are all about self expression through ecstatic dance and the arts connecting us to ourselves, to be guided by our hearts, we belief that each of us has a unique heartbeat, connecting us through frequency and energy.

Together, we can create a space where everyone feels valued and heard, and where the heartbeat of the people is felt in every interaction, and where we arrive at the realisation that we are one with the world and the universe.

He manawa o te tangata. The heartbeat of the people.

DJ Mathias Light's authentic frequency style can be best described as a worldly blend of organic and melodic house. His love for ancient as well as celestial sounds will take you on a deep journey, and when listening, you will undoubtedly find yourself connecting with your higher self and all beings around. Mathias is established in ecstatic dance journeys, where he connects participants through sound waves with the wisdom of their bodies and bridges their souls with divine consciousness.

His music is designed to inspire an earthly awakening.---

Facebook: facebook.com/mathiaslights
Instagram: instagram.com/mathiaslights
Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/mathiaslights---Recent Ecstatic Dance Set: soundcloud.com/mathiaslights/ecstatic-dance-festival-nz-2024-enlightentent

Founder of Ecstatic Dance Waiheke Island