Ecstatic Dance Sets

One of my highlight Ecstatic Dance sets from 2022, recorded live at Kalani on Big Island Hawaii in October.

It was such an incredible experience and a privilege to have been invited to curate the music session for this beautiful community of people, and i can't wait to be back.

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Kalani Ecstatic Dance - 16-10-22

Was an incredible experience this time around playing on the energising ED Melbourne dancefloor

I traversed through a few different genres with this set; downtempo, world bass, hip hop, drum & bass, tech/afro/melodic house, all with the intention to get those juices flowing and that body moving!

Check out ecstaticdancemelb for their weekly Friday and monthly Sunday events!

Big Love
Mike

Ecstatic Dance Melbourne - March 2023

This was THE single most powerful ecstatic dance sets I have ever experienced, as either a music facilitator or as a dancer.

All because I arrived in Hawaii while the deadliest wildfires seen on US soil in over a century raged across the island of Maui, destroying the old capital city of Lahaina, leaving in its wake immense loss, pain, grief, anger, and sadness across the community.

I was extremely apprehensive about proceeding with this EDance as scheduled, because I felt ashamed that my role was non-essential in a time of crisis, and that there were more important things that could be prioritised. However the organisers and other dancers from the community reaffirmed with me in the lead up that this Dance was important, even amidst a crisis like this. 

They advised that even though many dancers in the community may need to attend to other priorities, those that were drawn to the sacred space would be there, as it has been cultivated as a space where the community can gather to process trauma, to express their grief, and to support each other.

We decided to proceed with the dance, and give the powerful intention of Strength & Resilience, to honour these attributes within the survivors and the community. 

All throughout the dance, there was a heavy grief in the air, a communal sense of loss and sadness that I saw expressed in waves of different human emotions. I witnessed a wide spectrum of responses - singing, crying, yelling, hugging, and more, amidst a sea of beautiful humans coming together in this space, dancing to music, just like we have done for thousands of years.  

When the dance was over, amidst the sea of sadness and grief, there was a notable feeling of relief, as the time and space given to express themselves through movement had been cathartic, and it was an honour to hear words of gratitude and love reflected back to me for facilitating this extremely raw, and powerful container. The power of this dance is a testament to the strength of the Maui dance community that I feel lucky to have witnessed.

I am extremely grateful to the Hulahula Kai community for having me there for the dance, especially during this difficult time, and I honour those that passed, and the strength and resilience of the survivors of this tragedy. 

With love and respect,
HAFNER

Ecstatic Dance @ Hulahula Kai, Maui 13-8-23

I hope you enjoy the live recording of this special ecstatic dance set, played at Kalanimua, the heart of the ecstatic dance movement born on Big Island back in the early 2000s.

One of the themes of this mix was to bring forth the transformative power of the water element, weaving lyrics, soundscapes and an invocation of 'agua de estralis' beautifully sung by local musician Gabby Holt throughout the journey.

Alongside this theme i chose to play some renditions of Vivaldis four seasons throughout the mix (reimagined by Max Richter)- 'Spring' to open up the floor with excitement and wonder, 'Winter' in the middle to challenge the dancers and transition to a more moody vibe, and 'Autumn' at the end to finish with a sense of beauty and gratitude.

The Kalani dancefloor is one of my favourites in the world. 
It is such an electric and incredible container for movement and connection, held by a beautiful and diverse range of dedicated local dancers, and throughout this set I felt the vibrancy of each and every individual on the dancefloor, which made for an ecstatic experience of my own behind the decks. 

Please enjoy and share the love <3
HAFNER

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Ecstatic Dance @ Kalani, Big Island Hawai'i 20-08-23

This is probably the most fun ecstatic dance set I have played in Melbourne to date! 

This set includes 20 minutes of warm up music before the invocation and dancing - and traverses through a wide range of genres; downtempo, classical, global bass, trap, glitch hop, drum & bass, world, afro/latin/organic house, arabesque, breaks & techno. 

I even teased in a 90s throwback i never thought i would play on the EDance-floor, ended up playing the whole song and it was one of the most memorable moments of the night.

If you you are keen for a journey, strap in and enjoy :)

Ecstatic Dance MELBOURNE - 9.2.24

This set was an absolute delight to perform, the second edition of seven, focusing on the Sacral Chakra & the water element - intending to evoke sensuality, creativity, sexuality, self-expression, bliss and flow. 

This is a super special journey that begins and ends with a beautiful poem centered around the journey of a raindrop from the skies to the ocean, created by the equally beautiful Emina Ashman. 

Was a privilege to work with the team at Centre Of You in Prahran, my first time at the venue and it felt like an embrace from an old friend.

Please enjoy and feel free to share this with anyone who may enjoy this musical and poetic creative expression.

<3 
HAFNER

Ecstatic Dance: Sacral Chakra Activation @ Energy in Motion

I had the privilege of being asked to play once again at the second Energy in Motion 'Spiritual Compass' Ecstatic Dance series for the Masculine themed evening, hosted at the beautiful Centre of You studio in Melbourne.

I was absolutely delighted to be able to work alongside some beautiful masculine energies on the night - with the theme of the evening being facilitated by Jason Seeman - a fellow father and close friend i met in the Melbourne Handpan community.

This musical journey begins with a bit more strength than i usually start my Ecstatic Dance sets as I felt it was important to carry forth the energy that was culminating in the room from the physically demanding activities that were artfully set to engage the inner masculine. 

Enjoy this recording of the musical journey

Energy in Motion - Spiritual Compass: Masculine

My recording for the Ecstatic Dance Festival 2020 - scheduled for March 27-29th but due to the Global pandemic decided instead to run the festival content online! Huge kudos to the Ecstatic Dance Festival team to pull this together and allowing us to dance together whilst being physically apart #Stayathome

This set is intended to provide some fun, uplifting grooves to help you wake up in the morning, and put a spring into your step!

Much Love
HAFNER

Ecstatic Festival - March 2020

I love to play emotive, energizing electronic dance music, often drawn towards deep, downtempo electronica influenced from instrumental and organic soundscapes from the many cultures of this world. 

My intent is to create meaningful musical journeys suited to anything from a meditative state of reflection, hypnotic movements, and all the way through to ecstatic dance. 

Creating, or shifting the vibe of a space with intention and style is the core element of my sets, using an ebb and flow of musical moods to mold that of the listener, and to move the heart, the body and the soul.