Sacred Tides: Ecstatic Dance on the Open Shore
Description
The tides are calling us back.
After a beautiful inaugural gathering, Sacred Tides returns by popular demand to the open shores of Cape May for another evening of connection, celebration, and embodied presence beneath the summer sky.
Step out of the ordinary and into the living rhythms of the sea.
There are no steps to follow, no walls to contain us, no stage to separate us, and no headphones to keep us apart. Just sky, sea, sand, music, and the freedom to move as your body longs to move.
Together, we'll gather in conscious community to celebrate the fullness of summer through ecstatic dance, embodied practice, and reverence for the natural world.
Our evening begins in circle as we arrive together and open sacred space with White Feather, honoring the land, the waters, and the wisdom of the elements. From there, Elana Stern will guide a gentle Tantra Yoga warmup to awaken breath, presence, and life force before DJ Votexual leads us into an ecstatic dance journey beneath the open sky with live percussions by Ian St. Germain. As the sun melts toward the horizon, we'll soften into a restorative sound meditation with Krystina Vázquez, integrating the experience before closing together in gratitude and community.
Throughout the gathering, enjoy nourishing offerings from Jaya Kava and restorative chair massage with Ariel Monroe, creating space to pause, connect, and receive.
Rooted in deep respect for the shoreline, Sacred Tides invites us into relationship with the sacred intelligence of place. Together we'll honor the beach through mindful stewardship—practicing carry-in/carry-out, leaving no trace, and helping protect the dunes, wildlife, and fragile coastal habitat that holds us.
Hosted by Elana Stern of Tantra Collective & ONE LOVE HUB with support from Jen Hombach of Jaya Kava, Sacred Tides is born from a shared love of yoga, community, and the Cape May coastline. Together, we welcome you into a space where movement becomes prayer, presence becomes medicine, and community becomes a pathway home.
🙏 HOW TO PREPARE
Come ready to move, connect, and honor the natural beauty of the shore:
Wear comfortable beach clothing for movement and changing shoreline weather.
Bring ample water and water bottle for hydration.
Bring a towel or blanket for grounding and meditation.
Bring layers for evening breeze as the sun begins to set.
Arrive bathed, scent-free, skin and hair product-free to help keep our ocean waters clean.
Use natural sunscreen that is safe for oceans and wildlife.
No pets, dogs, nor fishing permitted during the gathering.
Practice carry-in, carry-out and leave-no-trace stewardship,
Remain off all dunes and avoid entering protected habitat areas.
🕊️ SACRED AGREEMENTS
Sacred Tides is a co-created container of presence, freedom, respect, and reverence—for self, one another, and the living shoreline that holds us.
By entering this space, you agree to help uphold these shared agreements:
No talking in the dance space
Let the body speak. Let the music and movement carry the conversation.Consent always
Touch and partnered movement are always optional and based on clear, mutual agreement. Offer connection with presence—a gesture, eye contact, or a smile. A “no” or non-response is to be honored immediately and gracefully.Come without agenda
Release expectations and allow the experience to unfold naturally. Arrive open to presence rather than outcome.Respect every body
Move with awareness, care, and sensitivity to all bodies sharing the space.No hovering
If connection is not reciprocated, gently move on. Give others spaciousness for their own process without lingering, pressuring, or imposing.Non-interference
Allow others their experience without guidance, correction, interpretation, or interruption.Self-responsibility
Honor your body, pace yourself, and take space when needed. Stay rooted in your own inner experience first.Shared field awareness
This space is co-created moment by moment. Move with sensitivity to the collective energy and those around you.Direct communication
If something needs to be addressed, speak directly with honesty and care rather than speaking about others or bypassing communication.Phones away—no cameras nor recording
This is a sacred present-time space. Let yourself and others be fully free.Substance-free container
We gather in clarity. Alcohol and recreational substances are not part of this experience.Family-friendly mindfulness
Adults self-regulate, and parents are asked to help children remain mindful of fellow participants and the shared container.Environmental stewardship
Honor the shoreline as sacred. Arrive bathed, scent-free, and lotion-free; use ocean-safe natural sunscreen; leave pets and fishing equipment at home; carry out everything you bring in; and remain fully off all dunes and protected habitat areas.Zero tolerance for harmful behavior
To protect the safety and sanctity of the container, harassment, discrimination, aggression, non-consensual touch, sexual misconduct, or other harmful behavior will result in immediate removal without refund.Accountability & repair
When appropriate, facilitated repair may be offered after the event to help address conflict or unintended boundary crossings within the container and restore safety, trust, and integrity within the community.Uphold the container
These agreements are part of the sacred field we create together. Anyone unable or unwilling to honor them may be asked to step out of the container or leave the event without refund.
Thank you for helping co-create a space of beauty, safety, respect, and reverence.
🌊 THE INVITATION
Whether you're returning to the circle or joining us for the first time, meet us where land meets sea to celebrate the season, awaken your body, and remember your place within the living world.
Come to express your full self.
Honor the land.
Bring what you need.
Leave no trace.
Let the ocean move your body. Let the tides move your soul.
💫 The Journey
Opening Circle + Water Ritual
Arrive in presence and intention through a shoreline ritual of grounding, reverence, and connection to the tides.
Guided Tantric Warm-Up
Awaken the body with breath, movement, and elemental energy to prepare for embodied expression.
Ecstatic Dance Journey
Move freely through an immersive sunset dance experience guided by rhythm, release, and celebration, shared together through a live open-air soundscape without headphones.
Waveside Sunset Meditation & Closing
Settle into stillness with the sound of the ocean as the sun sets on the horizon. Together, we close in reflection and shared remembrance to complete the evening in community.
🔥 Lineup
Elana Stern, Host & Facilitator
Elana Stern is a devoted guide in Tantra Yoga, walking the path of love and supporting individuals, couples, and groups in cultivating sacred connection, embodied presence, and lasting transformation. She was drawn to meditation as a teenager, studied Eastern Philosophy and Religion academically, trained with celebrity fitness icons in NYC, and earned Yoga Teacher certifications in both Vinyasa Yoga (Cindy Lee lineage) and Restorative Yoga. Her foundation is further enriched by training in Tibetan Buddhist, Transcendental, Vipassana, Mindfulness, and Sonic Meditation modalities, as well as Pranayama breathwork and Reiki techniques. Her journey expanded through advanced certification with Yoga Chitta—a Black-owned yoga school serving the BIPOC community-where she mentors yoga teacher trainees. After a life-altering kundalini awakening opened the portal to deeper energetic and tantric realms, she became a certified facilitator of Tao Tantra Arts (Mantak Chia and Osho lineages) and a graduate of the International School of Temple Arts (ISTA). With a vision for evolving consciousness in Philadelphia, Elana founded the Tantra Collective—producing monthly offerings for embodied spiritual connection—and ONE LOVE HUB, the city's co-created community for conscious events. With decades of practice in movement, meditation, and energy healing, Elana's teaching bridges the physical and the spiritual. She invites you into a deeper relationship with your body, your breath, your heart, and each other—where love becomes the path home to your divine nature.
DJ Vortexual, Ecstatic Dance
Philadelphia-based DJ Vortexual delivers a dynamic fusion of instrumental soundscapes and tribal-influenced rhythms. A sound sculptor with soul, he blends deep bass with intention—merging sensuality, science, and spirit into a single pulse. Originally from Seattle, Riley began his musical journey playing bass guitar and producing before stepping into ecstatic dance DJing in 2017. Also an audio engineer and nuclear health physics technician, he brings a rare precision and depth to his craft. His sets range from organic grooves to high-energy bass and house, layered with nostalgic textures and primal rhythms that invite dancers to drop in, awaken, and move from something deeper within.
Krystina Vázquez, Sound Bath Meditation
Krystina Vázquez weaves a meditative musical journey of somatic healing and self-discovery. Drawing from a deep connection of the music as medicine and guiding listeners into a space of healing at the core. Her sound bath integrates soothing vibrations from quartz crystal singing bowls, vocal harmony through a loop station, some percussion instruments, and an overall ethereal experience, blending both beauty and magic.
Ian St. Germain, Percussions
Ian St. Germain (SaintlySoundz) is an intuitive drummer, rhythmist, and sound healer whose work invites connection, presence, and transformation through rhythm. A member of the Percussion Pyrets drum circle collective, the CauseChaos Feral performance duo, and resident Rhythm Man for Divine Rebellion, he also founded The Rhythm of Men's Hearts, a space dedicated to healing, authentic expression, and patriarchal deprogramming. At Sacred Tides, Ian will weave live percussion into the dance journey, deepening our connection to the rhythm of the tides and to one another.
White Feather, Water Blessing
White Feather (Debra Hess) is a devoted guide in embodied spirituality, trauma-informed healing, and transformational practice. Drawing from more than two decades of experience in yoga, meditation, sacred sexuality, and ceremonial work, she creates compassionate spaces for healing, presence, and awakening. At Sacred Tides, White Feather will help open and hold sacred space, while also serving as a compassionate angel to support the integrity and well-being of the container throughout the gathering.
Jen Hombach, Jaya Kava Elixirs & Nourishment
Jaya Kava began as a heartfelt, community-rooted project founded by Jen Hombach, born from backyard gatherings and speakeasies for yogis and seekers. Formerly a beloved local kava lounge and plant-based café in Queen Village, Jaya Kava has since evolved into a mobile pop-up and a cherished presence at conscious gatherings across the Philadelphia region—offering warm, heart-opening elixirs as an intentional, alcohol-free way to arrive grounded, open, and connected. Since its very inception, Jaya Kava has been nourishing our community with care and devotion—supporting dancers in arriving grounded, open-hearted, and fully embodied.
Ariel Monroe, Chair Massage
Ariel Monroe is a licensed massage therapist and holistic wellness practitioner devoted to helping people navigate life's transitions with greater ease, presence, and well-being. Drawing from massage therapy, sound healing, Reiki, and other mind-body practices, she supports deep relaxation, renewal, and embodied balance. Throughout Sacred Tides, Ariel will be offering restorative chair massage sessions, inviting participants to pause, receive, and reconnect with themselves.
❓ FAQs
- What is ecstatic dance?
Ecstatic dance is a freeform, nonverbal movement journey. The invitation is to dance however your body wants to move. Please see the sacred guidelines above for the essence of the practice.
- Is this a silent disco with headphones?
No. Sacred Tides is not a silent disco. Music will be played through an outdoor sound system, allowing us to share one collective soundscape and move together in a fully connected experience with the ocean as our backdrop.
- Do I need prior yoga or dance experience?
Not at all. This movement journey is about embodiment, sovereignty, authentic expression. No experience is needed—just an open heart and a willingness to honor the container.
- What kind of people attend?
This is an inclusive space for a diverse, conscious community of humans of all genders, orientations, and backgrounds. Singles, couples, families, and friends gather here with a shared desire for movement, presence, and authentic expression.
- Can I come alone or with a partner?
Come solo, with friends, or with a partner. This is a sovereign journey into your own body, held by the support of community.
- Is there an age restriction?
Sacred Tides is a family-friendly gathering, and all ages are welcome. Tickets are required for participants ages 9 and up. Children ages 8 and under attend free with a registered adult. Adults attending with children are asked to help them move mindfully within the shared dance space and honor sacred guidelines. All participants are invited to self-regulate and move with awareness, respect, and care for the collective experience.
- Is alcohol or intoxicants allowed?
No. This is a sober event. The invitation is to be clear, present, and attuned in body, mind, and spirit.
- Will there be beverages available?
Yes, arrive early to enjoy refreshing non-alcoholic elixirs from Jaya Kava. To support a low-waste gathering, please bring your own cup and reusable wares.
- How do we practice environmental stewardship during this event?
Sacred Tides is a leave-no-trace gathering rooted in reverence for the shoreline. By attending, you agree to help care for this shared habitat by:
Arriving freshly bathed, scent-free, lotion-free, and hair product-free
Using natural sunscreen that is safe for oceans and wildlife
Leaving pets, dogs, and fishing equipment at home
Practicing carry-in, carry-out and leave-no-trace stewardship
Remaining fully off all dunes and avoiding protected vegetation and habitat areas
Leaving the beach exactly as we found it—or even better
Our presence is an opportunity to honor the land through mindful stewardship and respect for the life it sustains.
- What is the COVID protocol?
This is an outdoors event, and masks are optional. Please arrive in good health, wash your hands upon entry, and stay home if you’re unwell. Your care supports the well-being of all.
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