David Juno - Ecstatic Dance Sets

When my good friend Jessie moved from Wānaka to Ōtautahi Christchurch at the start of 2022, we pretty soon started talking about hosting an Ecstatic Dance together, with her facilitating and me behind the decks, curating a sound journey to allow the dancers to drop into their bodies. Jessie is already an experienced facilitator but for me this was a first, and was definitely outside of my comfort zone as a DJ who until this point really only played 4/4 music. It only took us until the end of 2022 to finally host an event, and we had the pleasure to use the chapel at Windrose house with leftover decorations from a Kiwiburn fundraiser party, hosted by Swing Fling - thank you so much to Windrose and Swing Fling for that!

This set feels very special for me in many ways. In one way I feel it shows my excitement to finally be able to share so much of the other songs and music that I love but never get (or choose) to play. It also feels special because of the participants: amazing humans from the community who support each other and lower each others' barriers to step outside our comfort zones. It feels special because Jessie has trusted me to deliver something she deems worthy of her facilitating. And it very much feels full of the summer energy that is properly kicking off here in Aotearoa New Zealand now. It also expresses some of the nervous energy I've been holding in my body for the last few months, and playing this set feels like a cathartic release of some of that anxiety.

I'm full of gratitude and bliss for this journey that I get to share with you now - a journey we're all on together, and always have been.

12/12/2022

Ecstatic Dance Sessions #1

I'm still at a loss for words for how well Jessie and my second co-hosted Ecstatic Dance event in Ōtautahi - Christchurch was received. Thank you, thank you, thank you so much!

On a beautiful wooden floor at St Martins Community Centre, 20-odd dancers from all walks of life gathered to journey, move, express, flow, dance, and explore clarity for the new year together.

A gentler journey than my first high-energy set in December 2022, this time I put together songs that invite you to take it slow while still embodying the energy of summer in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Ecstatic Dance Sessions #2

Every year on July 25th, the Mayan Calendar takes a reflective breath between July 24th - the end of the previous year - and July 26th - the start of the following year. This day is known as the Green Day, or the Day Out of Time. This year a few of us happened to gather for a potluck, sound journey and ecstatic dance at The Exchange - XCHC in Ōtautahi Christchurch, Aotearoa New Zealand. I picked the theme after I had already committed to the date, but it became a fitting framework for reflecting, processing and recharging during this journey.

It was a bit of an experiment, playing a few ambient tracks after we all filled our bellies and shared stories and lying on the warm heated floor, before easing into a mellow and soon reinvigorating dance. Thanks to everyone who brought their energy, by the end of the dance the air was quite electric! I hope to do it again sometime soon.

The first half hour is an ambient sound journey, which then melts into the hour long ecstatic dance.

Track list:
Tayos Caves, Ecuador i by Jon Hopkins
Cry of the Morning Dove Song by Xavier Quijas Yxayotl
Listen (Instrumental) by Superposition & Alan Watts
Cleansing Rain Song for Mother Earth by Xavier Quijas Yxayotl
Naturaleza (Mose Edit)by Danit
Pismo Ceniza by Yeahman
Encore by Nicolas Jaar
Mr.Sub by Zeds Dead
The Legend of the Tattooed Face Woman by The National Fanfare of Kadebostany
Jericho by Iniko
Rumble in the Jungle by Zeds Dead
Baska Brothers by Parov Stelar
Xanadu by Ummet Ozcan
Slow Down by Christopher Schwarzwälder & Jo.Ke
Ella Sabía (feat. Manu Ela) by Ulises MonoAbe
Sumeru by Islandman
El Dorado by Gizmo Varillas
Will the Circle be Unbroken	- Bioshock Infinite OST
Tayos Caves, Ecuador ii by Jon Hopkins

A Day Out of Time - July 25th 2023 - Sound Journey and Ecstatic Dance

In this transformative somatic dance, we explored our powerful heart's love for the land. Facilitated by Emmalee Bevan with a live DJ set from myself, we danced under the open sky at a beautiful spot at Kura Tawhiti - Castle Hill, Aotearoa - New Zealand. I have so much aroha for this whenua, the people, the birds, the wind, the earth, the sky, the atua and all the kaitiaki of this natural treasure. Ngā mihi nui. 🙏🙏🙏

In this musical journey we invited participants to connect deeply with the rhythm of their own hearts and the pulse of the Earth, expanding our awareness and fostering a sense of love and reverence for the natural world.

The soundscape is a fusion of modern beats and harmonic blends that serve as a reminder of the deep connection we share with Mother Earth, inspiring a sense of awe and love for the nature. 🌎

Let's keep shining our light and radiating love outwards. 

💗💗💗

💗 Heartbeat of the Land | Somatic Dance Journey 💗

Ecstatic Dance Christchurch - 22/2/25

German-born David Juno discovered electronic music in Jena before moving to New Zealand. Melody and organic sounds are at the core of the music he is passionate about, through different tempos and moods within the 4/4 realm of house and downtempo. David Juno concocts harmonious brews that enthrall listeners at large and small gatherings; clandestine woodland rendezvous; thundering, pitch-black basement blowouts, light-speed gigs aboard gleaming spaceships, and even interdimensional celestial soirées. He's a regular at XCHC and core member of Mary Hush. David Juno is a sonic conduit - his sets create atmospheric journeys that connect audiences through sonic storytelling, ranging from dark, spacious soundscapes to bright, energetic peaks that capture the full spectrum of human emotion and experience - with all the nuances in between.

2024
Abracadabra at Ponderosa Ranch - March - Waihi, NZ
Shipwrecked Festival - February - Te Arai, NZ

2023
Rhythm & Alps Festival Yumm Zone - December - Cardrona, NZ
Summer Technical
Mary Hush VI: The Holographic Hotel - May - Christchurch, NZ
Relish Festival - March - Waimate, NZ
Splore Festival @ Lucky Star - February - Tapapakanga, NZ
Kiwiburn @ Swing Fling, Paradox, Devour & Delight - January - Hunterville, NZ

2022
Splitfest - September - Temple Basin, NZ

2021
Mary Hush presents Simulation '75 - Dec 18 - Christchurch, NZ
Super Sounds w/ Harry Charles and Laminar - Aug 6 - Christchurch, NZ
Abracadabra Festival - July 23-25 - Waihi, NZ
Mary Hush Presents: Night Dive to Neptune - May 1 - Christchurch, NZ
Omnishakti Festival - Feb 28 - Takaka Hill, NZ
Shipwrecked Festival - Feb 14 - Te Arai, NZ
Kiwiburn - Swing Fling and Paradox - Hunterville, NZ
Flux First Birthday (with Beacon Bloom) - Jan 16 - Christchurch, NZ

2020
Slow Motion 01 - Dec 4 - Christchurch, NZ
XCHC: The Underworld - Oct 31 - Christchurch, NZ
Mary Hush Presents: Slow Boat to Centauri - Jul 25 - Christchurch, NZ
XCHC: Where the Wild Things Are - Jul 17 - Christchurch, NZ
Mary Hush Presents: Aftergloom Delight - Jan 17 - Christchurch, NZ

2019
Something Else Festival - Nov 15 - Lake Sumner Park, NZ


Header photo by Lukas Vacha during my set at Shipwrecked 2021