THE EXPERIENCE

How much of ourselves have we learned to shut down just to get through life?

There's a strange thing that happens when we become accustomed to stress, disappointment, uncertainty or simply feeling too much - we adapt. We find ways to carry on, and sometimes, without even noticing, we begin to lose touch with the very things that make us feel alive.

Numbness can creep in so gradually that we mistake it for normality.

And while it may begin as a form of protection, that protection can come at a cost.

In protecting ourselves from pain, we may also begin to lose touch with our sensitivity, our passion, our capacity for wonder, pleasure, joy and beauty.

And perhaps one of the greatest challenges of being human is learning how to remain open to life, even when it hurts.

Out of the Numbness is an invitation to explore that opening.

To soften the armour we've accumulated, to become curious about what lies beneath it, and to remember that our capacity to feel deeply is also what allows us to experience the extraordinary beauty of being alive.

For this gathering, we'll begin with a special 30 minute guided breathwork experience with Scott Wallace, creating an opportunity to slow down, turn inward and gently explore the places where we may have become disconnected from ourselves.

From there, we'll gradually move into the dance, allowing the music to carry us further into the experience.

There may be moments of tenderness, release or unexpected emotion. There may be moments of absolute joy, laughter, wild expression and getting completely lost in the music.

All of it belongs.

Because remembering the beauty of being alive also means remembering our capacity to feel it all.

Doors open at 6:30pm to settle in, connect and enjoy a complimentary cacao. At 7pm, we’ll begin an unforgettable dance journey led by our DJ Mark Sankhara.

The night will culminate in a 30 minute closing performance to integrate the experience before returning to the world.

Tickets are on sale now, including limited early bird options.

WHAT IS RITES OF DANCE?

Rites of Dance is a sober, intentional dance floor for people who love music, movement and real experience.

It brings the energy and sound system culture of a club into a completely sober environment, with a lot more space for people to actually be themselves and get into the dance.

There’s no right way to do it and nobody needs to know how to dance. You can come in and just let the night unfold however it does.

Every event is different. Sometimes it’s light and playful, sometimes it goes into much deeper or more challenging places, and usually there’s a bit of everything in there.

People come for all sorts of reasons, whether that’s to move some stress, reconnect with themselves, have a proper dance, or just spend a few hours around other people without feeling like they need to be anything in particular.

Rites of Dance isn’t a workshop, a ceremony or a night club - it’s a space that sits somewhere in between, and over time it becomes something you build a relationship with.

ABOUT THE MUSIC

Music has always been the backbone of Rites of Dance and carries the night from beginning to end.

The sound moves through many places over the course of an evening. You’ll hear everything from bass-heavy electronic music, drum and bass, trap, techno and house, through to more spacious, atmospheric and downtempo moments.

Sometimes the unexpected finds its way in too – an old favourite, a forgotten classic, or something nobody saw coming.

The sets are built like a long arc rather than a playlist. Energy rises and falls, things get heavier, then lighter, you’re invited into intensity, and then back out again - the intention isn’t to keep you in one state, but to let you move through many.

On some special nights, guest musicians or live elements may join in and add another layer to the experience. These are occasional and intentional, rather than a fixed part of every event.

At its core, the music is there to support your own process, not to distract you from it.

ABOUT THE FACILITATOR/S

MARK SANKHARA – CREATOR & DJ

Mark Saṅkhāra is the creator of Rites of Dance and has been DJing for close to two decades across clubs, parties, festivals, weddings and conscious dance events in Australia and New Zealand.

For the past eight years, Mark has been actively involved in building the conscious dance scene on the Gold Coast, with Rites of Dance becoming a regular and well-established part of the community since its beginnings over five years ago.

His sets move through bass-heavy electronic music, tribal and world-influenced sounds, techno, house, drum and bass, downtempo and plenty of unexpected turns along the way. Rather than sticking to one genre, Mark builds long-form musical journeys designed to move through different energies and emotional landscapes over the course of a night.

With a Diploma in Audio Engineering and more than 20 years as a guitarist and musician, sound has been a central part of his life for a long time. Rites of Dance brings that together with his love of movement, community and creating spaces where people can properly let go and get into the experience.

CONNECT >>> https://www.instagram.com/mark_sankhara/

CONNECT >>> https://www.instagram.com/ritesofdance/

IMPORTANT INFO / WHAT TO BRING

You’re in for a big night and it’s good to be prepared.

Please bring:

- Drinking water

- Sweat towel

- Light, comfortable clothes and something warm to wear as the night cools

- Cash/card for purchases

- Cushion/pillow to sit on

- Yoga mat/something to lie on for the sound integration (and something warm to wear)

*Strictly no drugs or alcohol

*No previous experience needed

*Not suitable for children, however, if you have a mature teenager that would like to attend, please reach out to discuss with us.

TICKETS

Early Release - $44 (Limited to 20 tickets)

General Release - $54 (Limited to 30 tickets)

Final Release - $59 (Until sold out)

Door - $65 (If available)

*If finances are genuinely tight, reach out – we want this space to remain accessible.

*There's also an option to donate further if you're feeling abundant.

REFUNDS

Tickets are non-refundable for change of mind. If you can no longer attend, you're welcome to on-sell or gift your ticket, or keep the value as credit towards a future Rites of Dance event (valid for 6 months).

ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO COUNTRY

We acknowledge that this gathering takes place on the traditional lands of the Kombumerri people of the Yugambeh Language Region.

We pay our respects to their Elders past, present, and emerging, and honour their deep and ongoing connection to this land, its waters, and its stories.

Contact the host of Rites of Dance // OUT OF THE NUMBNESS

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