*Due to the weather situation this event has been relocated to TUGUN VILLAGE COMMUNITY CENTRE (414 Coolangatta Rd, Tugun).

Brave warriors, hear my call!

The time is nigh for the third annual Rites of Dance VALHALLA experience.

In these troubled times, when our world is plagued by challenges and uncertainty, the spirit of the Warrior is desperately needed. For it takes not only strength and courage to endure, but also joy, play, dance and connection.

As the sun sets and the stars rise, we shall gather upon the expansive earth, surrounded by towering Gum Trees. At the hour of ceremony, we shall connect with our inner selves, our kin, and the great Mother Earth, as we pay homage to the sky above.

You're invited to adorn yourself in your finest Viking garb and let your Warrior spirit soar as we transform the lush green expanse into a sacred dance floor.

This shall be a celebration to rival all others, one that would make even the toughest of Viking warriors proud!

You will feel the raw, untamed power of the Warrior coursing through your veins, as you dance and revel beneath the stars.

This is a night unlike any other, a celebration of life and victory, of endurance and strength. It is a night where the valiant shall be honoured, and where we shall draw strength from the legacy of our ancestors, channeling the fierce spirit of our pagan heritage.

As we dance and revel, we shall forge new bonds of friendship and brother/sisterhood, celebrating our shared humanity and the unassailable spirit of the Warrior.

This is a night for all to come together, to share in the laughter, music, and joy of life, and to bask in the warm embrace of the gods.

So come, brave warriors, join us on April 29 at the Mudgeeraba Showgrounds and celebrate with us in the halls of Valhalla, and become part of a legacy that will live forever!

Embrace the spirit of the Warrior, and let the revelry commence!

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SCHEDULE

4:30pm

- Gates open

- Afternoon DJ set (Bashir 'Baz' Youssef)

6:00pm

- Opening ceremony (Mark Saṅkhāra, Danny Redbard, Bashir 'Baz' Youssef & Julie Hayes)

7:00pm

- Dance journey (Mark Saṅkhāra with accompaniment from songstress Olivia Rosebery & drummers Gareth Anthony Cohen, Obi Miller)

9:00pm

- Sound healing (Olivia Rosebery, with Didgeridoo accompaniment by Bashir 'Baz' Youssef)

9:30

- Closing ceremony (Mark Saṅkhāra & Danny Redbard)

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STALLS

Shamanic Earth Medicine

FOOD

Oki Food

DRINKS

Cacao - Seleno Health

Elixirs - House of Amchemy Elixirs

(not included in the ticket price)

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WHAT IS RITES OF DANCE?

Rites of Dance is a dance floor initiation experience, a rite of passage through music, dance, movement, and expression. It is about healing IN community.

Since the earliest moments of our known history, dance has played a role in ancient rituals, spiritual gatherings and social events. It is believed by many historians that these dances are one of the essential factors of the development of early human civilisations, and for many ancient civilisations, dance served as an irreplaceable way of expressing human thought and emotion.

“When we close our eyes to dance, we open another eye to a different reality, we can then be moved by a greater, more powerful force.” – Paulo Coelho, The Witch of Portobello.

Rites of Dance isn’t just about music and dance, it’s about community, and creating a space for connection and belonging. We all have an inherent need to feel like we belong and this need must be nourished if we are to thrive.

You will be fully supported throughout the evening and you will learn new skills which you can take home and implement into your own embodiment practise.

Rites of Dance isn't some fluffy, love and light spiritual dance event. We go there, like REALLY go there. Into the murky, dark depths of the Earth, through the chaos and uncertainty of everyday life and up into the expansive, ecstatic highs of the cosmos, we go there and you will FEEL IT ALL!

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RITES OF DANCE VALUES

- Safety

- Trust

- Permission

- Authentic Expression

- Connection

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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.

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MEET YOUR FACILITATORS

MARK SANKHARA

Saṅkhāra is an ancient Buddhist term meaning formation and fabrication, the process of fashioning and the fashioned things that result. It is a term that could be used to describe the way the man himself works a crowd, ‘fashioning’ the atmosphere on dance floors into an irresistible and energetic experience, full of - but by no means limited to - alluring mid tempo, bass heavy, tribal, funk-induced, melodic pieces.

Saṅkhāra is a gifted soundscape artist and is passionate about taking people on a journey inward and outside of oneself, deep into the womb of earth and upwards into the heavens of the cosmos, experiencing an explosion into the soul's expression.

Saṅkhāra’s sets consist of an infusion of many different genres and styles, focusing heavily on Tribal and World beats. His intention is not just to get you tapping your feet and nodding your head, but to have you dancing until your feet fall off and you’re no longer able to stand!

Saṅkhāra is a NZ-born Gold Coast-based DJ who has played in various clubs, competitions, parties, weddings, and conscious dance events in NZ and Australia over the past decade. He obtained a Diploma in Audio Engineering in 05/06 and has been playing guitar for over 20 years. He is also passionate about men's work and runs and facilitates men's workshops and is also a Spiral Practitioner.

Connect >>> https://soundcloud.com/djsankh...

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TICKETS

Up to 12yo - free

13yo - 17yo - $20 (please message us if you're wanting to purchase).

Early Bird - First Release - $39 (SOLD OUT)

Early Bird - Second Release - $49 (SOLD OUT)

Early Bird - Third Release - $59 (SOLD OUT)

General Admission - $69

Door - $80

*The only difference with ticket options is the price, all tickets grant you access to the entirety of the event. The next round of EB tickets starts when the previous one sells out.

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REFUNDS

No refunds, but you’re welcome to on-sell or gift your ticket if you can no longer make it or keep as credit for a future event (valid for 6 months).

Refunds will only be given if event is cancelled or postponed and you're unable to make the new date.