The birthplace of the modern Ecstatic Dance, the non-profit educational retreat center ‘Kalani Honua’, closed after the Big Island lava flow of April 2018.  
The loss of this community resource drastically affected the area.  Kalani Honua was a social hub for many.

After many long months of deliberation, the board of Kalani Honua relinquished control to a new group; Lily Cash, Allie Parkins, and Alex Boggio.  Since then, they’ve been transforming Kalani, bringing life back to it.  And, they’ve given it a new name, Kalanimua.  “Imua” is the Hawaiian word for “strong”. 

It was again an honor to be the Musical Facilitator for Ecstatic Dance at Kalani.  This morning we danced again in the Blue Moon Room, where Max Fathom once played to the original Ecstatic Dance group, when it was about 30 people and had outgrown the Rainbow Room.  It was the first room I played Ecstatic Dance in, back in 2003.  

Everything came together perfectly this morning.  The heatwave settled for  a day and offered overcast and cooler weather.  About 150 of the community came to move together, filling the space, creating a cohesive and unified dance.  

This set was improvised from beginning to end; each song was chosen in the moment, and mixed/transitioned live.  Setlist below.

Improvised Setlist:

>> Ean Golden - Home (Featuring Jen Siah) @ean-golden
>> Charlie Roscoe - Radiant Atoms @charlieroscoecomposition
>> Jairamji-Charlie Roscoe - Stabilizing In Chaos @charlieroscoecomposition
>> Kaya Project - Up from the Dust @kayaproject
>> El Búho - Mirando el Fuego Feat. Joaquin Cornejo & Minük @el-buho
>> Tropical Twista Records - Sahalé & Samarana - Ntaolo @sahaleprods

- break for opening circle - 

>> El Búho - Yanima @elbuhoprods
>> Temple Step Project - Pachamama (Forever & Ever Remix) @temple-step-project
>> Volo - Last Nomad @volovibes
>> Zuco 103 - Chuva (Kraut Remix) @uco103
>> Liquid Bloom & Porangui - Fire Gathering (Mose Remix) @liquidbloom @porangui
>> Thornato - Chapinero @thornato
>> Soohan - Ana La Habibi - Fairuz (Soohan Remix) @soohan @fairuz-official
>> Dillon Francis, Nghtmre - Need You (Original Mix) @dillonfrancis @nghtmre
>> Opiuo - Pumpernickel (ft Hypnotech) @opiuo
>> MEUTE - Mental Help @meutesound
>> Gregor Salto & Sergio Mendes feat. Simon Fava - Magalenha (Extended Mix)
>> Be Svendsen - Bones (Zen Racoon - Tamales Remix) @besvendsen @zen-racoon
>> Ben Böhmer - Soulline @ben-boehmer
>> San Holo - Will Smith - Gettin' Jiggy Wit It (San Holo Remix) @sanholobeats @ will-smith-official
>> Jam iro quai - Alright @ jamiroquai
>> Hidden Orchestra - Alyth @hiddenorchestra
>> Infinite Brothers - Signals @infinite-brothers
>> Henriq - Sons do Monte (field recordings) @henriq-aka-zen-baboon

Ecstatic Dance @ Kalaninua - Sept. 29, 2019

Free Download

ECSTATIC DANCE @ Kalani (The Birthplace)

Sky Makai has the rare distinction of being a witness to the twenty+ year evolution of the Ecstatic Dance weekly movement journey. He's part of that very first generation of dancers to embody the magic of the community dance ritual. 
That's right, his participation predates the modern concept of Ecstatic Dance DJs. Like so many of us, Ecstatic Dance is the spiritual anchor that kept him living and thriving on this volcanic stretch of paradise.
As Sky has noted, "After going to Burning Man, Max and Eldon integrated more and more electronic music into the journeys. The popularity of Ex-static Dance grew. Soon, the group of 15 grew to 150, and it kept growing. At that time, Ex-static dance in this form wasn’t happening anywhere else. The 5-Rhythms based, silent, sober, electronic music infused musical wave journey, preceded by heartfelt poetry and intention, was unique to Puna, Big Island."
Sky Makai was committed to the Ecstatic lifestyle being forged. He was one of the first DJs, starting out as a warmup DJ under Max's tutelage to earn his place among the Musical Facilitators. 
When Elizabeth took over and shaped Ecstatic Dance into what it is today, Sky Makai took facilitator training directly from the source, and was forever instilled with a deep respect and resonance for the consistency, power, and responsibility that goes along with guiding a large group of people through a weekly sacred experience. 
He went on to found new Ecstatic Dance experiences in other cities and states he lived in, generously putting all the proceeds back into improving everything in which he participated.
Sky Makai was there through all the ups and downs that lined the path to this present incarnation. 
That's why it's very comforting knowing that he has a deep appreciation for the history and intention of our "Ritual Community Movement Journey.”

ECSTATIC DANCE @ Kalani (The Birthplace)

Sky Makai - Ecstatic Dance Music