Top Ecstatic Dance Sets

This was an epic Sunday at Kalani.  
You wouldn’t know, but I was absolutely devastated to find after arriving for sound check I’d forgotten my headphones. 
What does that mean?  It means I can’t pick the next song by hearing it.  Headphones let me scrub through my songs while I’m DJ’ing and find what song I feel sounds and feels right to play next. 
I spent an hour before starting, head in my hands, accepting how poorly it was going to go.
Fortunately a set of headphones showed up.  Dean Odysseus Yacalis drove over an hour, bringing his.  That’s family.  That’s PLUR.  That’s ALOHA.
It had been a drought on Big Island and everyone’s wells were dry.  
But today it rained.  Waves of rain roared over the canopy above, invoking cheers and joy as the luscious, emotive, and sometimes sexy beat dropped, one wave after another.  
A small crowd of wild and beautiful people danced merrily in a puddle right outside the building, half naked, swimming through the sky's natural shower. They cheered, whooped, and called out like animals.
I glanced over from my station to see them and felt the most joy I’ve felt in a long, long time.  It’s one of those memories I’ll keep with me forever… pure freedom, innocence, and ecstatic bliss. 
I’ve finally come to a point in my DJ journey where I no longer want the experience to be about me… at all.  
Finally, I feel like my ego is no longer leading the way.  
I'm able to just dance, be in my body, feel the emotions of my lifetime wash through me... and let that guide the selections of each song, moment by moment.
I just want the dance experience to be deep.  I want it to be smooth.  
I want it to warm the body up slowly, until the point where it explodes with energy… coaxed by sounds that touch the heart, body and soul…


Tracklist (Improvised Set):
Mary Isis: Circle of Belonging (live performed)
Garth Stevenson: Dawn
Temple Step Project: This Love (feat. Madhu Honey)
Porangui: Iluminar
Moon Frog: I Can See
Ayla Schafer & Mose: Vuela con el Viento (Mose Remix)
Droeloe: Zzz
David Starfire: Soma Dreams (CloZee Remix)
Heartwurkz: Floating
Soohan: I’m Crazy Over You
CloZinger: Lone Wolf
Soohan: Tunak Tunak Tun - Daler Mehndi (SOOHAN Remix)
Soohan: Bakhshi
Soohan: Ritual - Adèle & Zalem (Soohan Remix)
Defunk: Shake feat. Willdabeast (Maha Quest Remix)
Equanimous & nok nok: Bumpin Bass Beatbox (Savej Remix)
Pantyraid: Wanting Moves
Missy Elliott: Work It (Falcons Bootleg)
Ahee: New World Sound
Dillon Francis & NGHTMRE: Need You (Yookie Remix)
Platinum Dog: Californian Knight (Short Edit)
ODESZA: It’s Only (feat. Zyra) [ODESZA VIP Remix]
Gianni Romano & Emanuele Esposito: Nene Man Ni
Klangkarussell: Sonnentanz (feat. Will Heard) [Sun Don’t Shine]
Jinjé: Amya
Captain Planet: Body Yako (feat. Kongo Elektro & Thornato)
VOLO: Island Sun
Maggie Rogers: Alaska (Tycho Remix)
Nightbirde: It’s Okay (Live)
Ollli: Rest In Great Natural Peace

Sky Makai Kalani Ecstatic Dance 2022-09-18

Ecstatic Dance @ Kalani

This day is kind of like two birthdays for me.  While it’s my 43rd, it’s also my 20th!
It was April 2003 that I moved from Kauai to Big Island where I found Ecstatic Dance in it’s early form.  It’s silly how much I can gush with gratitude for Ecstatic Dance.  But I do so because I believe it saved my life.

This is going to be hard to share and probably hard to read.

I wish I could say I came to Big Island with grace.  
When I came from Kauai, I felt utterly alone, heartbroken, angry, and confused.
It was the most painful, and difficult time of my life.  
My partner, newborn child and I were splitting up, and for good reason.
I was a mess in so many ways.  

My waking hours were filled with anguish.  There’s no way to explain the extent to the suffering I was experiencing.  I can just say it was impossible to see a way through it.
One day while walking through Pahoa I was brought to Kalani Honua… to Ecstatic Dance.
It was just a few people dancing barefoot to classic rock, pop, and a few electronica songs.  
No talking.  Just dancing.  
No direction.  Just movement.
I felt at home.  

Where my emotions once felt like someone standing on my chest, they finally moved through me.
I felt relief, integration and a bit of community.  
It became my weekly church where I diligently returned in search of peace, movement, release, integration, and connection.

I soon started to DJ.  
I started having a greater sense of purpose.  
Creating a musical “journey” for the Ecstatic Dance became a creative outlet.  Before then, I didn’t know I was a creative!
The 30+ hours it took to make a set went by in a blink.  
I was in the flow, where time stopped and nothing else existed.  
And the sense of achievement after coming through the creative process gave me hope.

In 2009, Ecstatic Dance stopped happening at Kalani.  Only then I realized I’d taken it for granted the whole time.
I stopped going to Ecstatic Dance for nearly 10 years.
My health declined. I gained weight. I began drinking to excess, focusing only on work.
Until a few years ago I had the opportunity to start a new Ecstatic Dance in Southern Oregon.

It started with just my partner and I.  
Week after week, we showed up.  Just us.
I practiced speaking the guidelines I’d learned from the years before at Ecstatic Dance.
Then, one by one over weeks and months, a new person would join us.
I shared the intentions I understood Ecstatic Dance was founded on.
I found my voice in sharing these intentions.
And eventually, a community formed with Ecstatic Dance in Williams.

Since then, my life has never been the same.  
There’s a kind of magic in building community around a central idea.
This idea being that we can find a sense of introspection, inclusivity, and interconnectedness… a way to integrate, process, and overcome our emotional wounds, possibly “healing” them ourselves through movement,
I can’t stop talking about how amazing this experience has been for me.
Since then, I’ve stopped drinking. 
I’ve started doing therapeutic treatments.  
I’ve been going to group workshops for self improvement through meditation and breathing.
My 40th, 3 years ago, seems like it was a rebirth.  
I’ve finally found a way to forgive myself…  A, way to forgive my parents… and everyone else.
Where once I was seething with anger, a facade to cover up the fear and sadness, today I’m able to face the world… vulnerable, honest, flawed, but willing to keep improving.

I look back at everything I’ve been through… and everything I’ve put others through.  
I’m immensely sorry.  
I wish I could start over with the sense of empathy and care I have now.
But, I also feel immensely grateful.
Today, I get to be alive.
And that means I can still do good.

2023-04-09 Ecstatic Dance Kalani

Tracklist:
Alicia Sunflower - Spoken Word Invocation @alicia-gleason
Alice Allen, Rushil Ranjan - Vocalise @alice-allen-559310989
Alice Allen - A82 (Cello Version) @alice-allen-559310989
Sandrayati & Ólafur Arnalds - Vast (ANNA Remix) @sandrayati @olafur-arnalds/
nimino - Intro (Ascend) @niminomusic
Tiefe Wasser Berlin - Yoga @tiefe-wasser-berlin
Gone Gone Beyond - Rain Down @gonegonebeyond
St. Finnikin - Remedy @stfinnikin
Jungle Kitchen, Tamara, Kusht - Alghosa (Kusht Remix) @resuenomusic
Cafe De Anatolia, Anis Karek - Atlantis (Original Mix) @cafedeanatolia @21karek
Cozway - Bamboo @cozwaymusic
Balkan Bump & Kr3ture - Rabat (Kr3ture Remix) @balkanbump @kr3ture
Dirtwire - Stranger @dirtwire
Scott Nice - Yee Holla @scottnice
KREAM & Cazztek ft Shoffy - Enough (Dirty Extended) @kreamofficial @cazztek
Nai Barghouti ft. Skrillex - XENA @skrillex
AHEE - Alien Popsicle @ahee
AHEE - Splattermouth (feat. William Thoren) @ahee
Defunk - Waves @defunk-music
SOOHAN - These Boots @soohan
Sushu - Zalem Delarbre (Soohan Remix) @zalemdidg @soohan
MEMBA, Kahani - Transcendence @memba @kahani
Camelphat & Max Milner - Hope @camelphat
Notte, Vijay, Sofia Zlatko - Earth Groove (Extended Mix) @vijayandsofia
Palaisvert - Maasai @king-of-palaisvert
Madonna - Lika A Prayer
Fakear - La Chaleur Des Corps @fakear
Leo Cavalcanti - No Nus @leocavalcanti
St. Finnikin - Monarch @stfinnikin
Parra for Cuva - Paspatou @parraforcuva
Holloway - Gentle Mercy
Didacte - Solaces @didacte
Gåel - All in a Good Time @gael69477

Ecstatic Dance @ Kalani (Feat. Invocation by Alicia Sunflower)

This is a recording of the music of the 'Program' section of the 2 hour journey we enjoyed at Ecstatic Dance in Williams, Oregon, on October 8, 2017.  Between the Warmup (Part 1), and the Program, we had an opening circle in which we connected with words about the guidelines which create the Ecstatic Dance container, and a beautiful Invocation song by a community member.

It's Fall season in southern Oregon. The tiny Town of Williams, which normally consists of very private rural farmers suddenly is awash with migrant farm workers. Young and old, they come from near and far, and they love to dance. 
It's been freezing every night for a week, and fortunately the air isn't thick with smoke from the nearby forest fires. 
It’s night time, as the venue is booked in the mornings of the 2nd Sundays.  It’s a special Ecstatic Dance, when we get to dance in the night time energy.
As the first couple songs play, community members arrive and greet each other with huge smiles and bigger hugs.  For some of us, it’s been a while since we’ve seen each other.  For others, only a week.  Still, we immediately start filling the room with LOVE.
Playing one song into another, choosing each in the moment, we co-created the journey.  Myself as the Musical Facilitator did the technical work, but I feel that the energy we brought together was the true guide.
The recordings are for us to revisit the moments we had at Ecstatic Dance, and for those who weren’t there to potentially tap into the energy we shared.
This was, at this point, the most fun I’ve had at Ecstatic Dance… ever.  Thank you to everyone who participated.

Recorded Live October 8, 2017, Williams, Oregon
*Tracklist is on Album Art of Part 2*

Never Give Up

Ecstatic Dance @ Williams Oregon (Never Give Up Part 2) - October 2017

This is a fully improvised set, and a live recording of Ecstatic Dance at Kalani Honua, on January 21, 2018.  
It was a rainy day in Puna.  I'd flown from Oregon several days before, and jumped right into digging for songs to play at Ecstatic Dance.  
A week before, the day after I'd arrived on the Island, Maura Star played for Ecstatic Dance at Kalani.  Her set was absolutely flawless.  It was amazing.  The flow, the peak, the vibes... it was all so perfect.  It made me anxious to think that I wouldn't be able to bring the energy up as high as she had done, for the 300+ dancers who would come to get down!

Up until the day of the event, I didn't know what I was going to play.  I wavered back and forth whether to play 'on the fly', or to have 'it all figured out'.  I had a few songs I knew I wanted to play, and I was so afraid I wasn't going to do well enough.  But, after a couple songs, I got into the groove.  I closed my eyes and danced until I felt the music in my soul.  Then, I let the spirit of the Community help me choose what to play next.  I'm SO glad I did!!

I really wish there were photos of Ecstatic Dance at Kalani.  I'm going to hold the memory of us all getting AS DOWN AS DOWN CAN GET for as long as I can!
After nearly 10 years since the last time playing music for Ecstatic Dance at Kalani Honua, I'm facilitating again.  It's been far too long.  Thank you to everyone who helped make it happen.  I LOVE you!

https://kalani.com/ecstatic-dance-saved-life/

Setlist (Improvised):
>> Deya Dova - The Winged One @deya-dova
>> St. Petersburg Chamber Choir - Chorale @stpetersburg-chamber-choir
>> Desert Dwellers - Give Thanks (vajra mix) @desertdwellers
>> Phaeleh - Ochre @phaeleh
>> Yaima - It's Written In The Wind @yaima-music
>> Existance - Miles Apart (Concepts) @cutmusic
>> Friend. - New Familiar @friend_music
>> SOOHAN - Kya Dekh Rahe Ho Tum (SOOHAN & HÄANA Remix) @soohan
>> Sakchyam - Saathi (SOOHAN Remix) @soohan
>> Random Rab - 39 Circles (feat. Lapa) @random-rab
>> Dirtwire - Taiga feat. Kongar-ol Ondar (Dimond Saints Remix) @dirtwire
>> Mos Def & Talib Kweli - Definition @mos-def-official talibkweli
>> ill-esha - Crossroads (Buku Remix) @ill-esha
>> SOOHAN - Somos Sur - Ana Tijoux (SOOHAN Remix)@soohan
>> SOOHAN - Elephant Man @soohan
>> CloZee - Baiana @clozee
>> SOOHAN - Missy Tribute @missyelliott @soohan
>> CloZee - Koto @clozee
>> Tha Trickaz - Heritage (CloZee Remix) @thatrickaz @clozee
>> CloZee - Secret Place (Tor Remix)@clozee
>> Dirtwire - Still There (feat. Jed & Lucia) @dirtwire
>> KiloWatts - The Other Side Of The Earth @kilowatts

Ecstatic Dance

Ecstatic Dance @ Kalani Honua

This is a live recording of Ecstatic Dance at SoulPlay Festival, on June 10, 2018. 
It's a dream come true playing for Ecstatic Dance at SoulPlay Festival and it will remain in my mind and heart forever.  
It was a warm morning in Pinecrest, CA.  The attendees of SoulPlay Festival had been hard at work, diligently acting to improve themselves for the past several days.  
The Ecstatic Dance started out calmly, with several Souls stretching out and meditating to the music while others stood outside in the sun.  As the journey progressed, the dance floor filled and exploded in Ecstatic Movement.
I couldn't help but cry several times during the set as the songs resonated so strongly with me.  Many of the songs were released within the past few days and I'd never played before.  
Thank you to everyone who came and moved with me this Sunday morning at SoulPlay!

Improvised Set List:

>> Entheo - Perfection @entheo
>> Crystal Nada - 弁財天 - Benzaiten @crystalnada
>> Agnes Obel - Familiar @agnesobel
>> Totem - I'm Gonna Shine (feat. Pharaoh MoonKat) @totemuzik
>> What So Not - Us (feat. Daniels) @whatsonot
>> David Starfire - Soma Dreams (Clozee remix) @davidstarfire
>> Aztek - Drone @aztekbeats
>> Big Wild - When I Get There @bigwild
>> Soohan - Elephant Man @soohan
>> What So Not - Touched @whatsonot
>> Hataah  - Webra (Skrude Remix) @hataah
>> Opiuo - Huxley Hustle @opiuo
>> Barbatuques - Kererê (CloZee Remix) @clozee-remixes
>> Volo - Mystic @volovibes
>> Infinite Brothers - Signals @infinite-brothers
>> Cobalt Rabbit & The Penguin District - Invisible Friend @official-cobaltrabbit @thepenguindistrict

SoulPlay 2018

Ecstatic Dance @ SoulPlay

Puna is where the Ecstatic Dance moniker started.  I remember the first CD I burned for Max Fathom, who was vetting me after I offered to play Warmup sets for him.  Near 15 years later, Ecstatic Dance is still a mainstay of the Puna - Hawaii Community.  
I awoke this Sunday morning feeling anxious.  I really, *really* wanted this homecoming set to reintroduce myself to the Community with as much *love* and *passion* as possible.  

This is a recording of the full 2 hour improvised Ecstatic Dance Journey at Hawaiian Sanctuary on 2018/10/14.

Improvised Setlist:
>> Crystal Nada - 弁財天 - Benzaiten @crystalnada
>> Danit Treubig - Cura Sana (Andres Cordoba Cover)
>> Nicola Cruz - Cocha Runa (ft Tanya Sánchez) @nicolacruz
>> The Gaudan Project - Bal @the-gaudan-project
>> Vicious - This Dub Is Untitled @vicnorman
>> Ayla Nereo - Show Yourself (The Human Experience remix) @ayla-nereo
>> Pacific Patterns - Early Bird @pacificpatterns
>> CloZee - Spiral @clozee
>> Eduardo Castillo & Bora Uzer - Road to Tulum (Original Mix) @eduardocastillo
>> Nicola Cruz - La Cosecha (Captain Planet Remix) @nicolacruz
>> Soohan - Trap Mome! - Oratnitza (Soohan Remix) @soohan
>> Missy Elliot vs DJ Snake x Artistic Raw - Get Ur Freak On x Magenta Riddim  (Scooter Bootleg / Moombahton) @missyelliott @djsnake @artisticraw
>> Kozmo & Provider - Mumbo Jumbo @kozmoradio @providermusick
>> Masia One - 3 Warriors Tongue (Illgates Remix) Eq'd [Dks]  @masiaone @ill-gates
>> Simcha - Airtist (Soohan's Shake Dem Dreads Remix) @soohan
>> Zakir - Save the Children (David Mayer Remix) @zakir_a
>> MEUTE - Rej @muete
>> Pablo Fierro - Baobab @pablo-fierro-official
>> Volo - Atlantic @volovibes
>> Elder Island - Bamboo @elderisland
>> Bonobo - Second Sun @bonobo
>> Henriq - Sons do Monte (field recordings) @henriq-aka-zen-baboon

Puna Ecstatic Dance

Ecstatic Dance @ Hawaiian Sanctuary - October 2018

Sky Makai is one the facilitators of the original Ecstatic Dance on Hawai'i Island. 
A dancer at heart, Sky joined Ecstatic Dance at Kalani Honua in the early days when Ecstatic Dance was only a handful of people and unheard of -  except as a concept in Gabrielle Roth’s seminal book: Maps to Ecstasy 
Sky began providing opening music with Ecstatic Dance’s founder, Max Fathom.  Later, Sky took part in the original Ecstatic Dance Facilitator workshops, becoming one of Kalani Ecstatic Dance's core team of facilitators.   

Staying true to the roots of Ecstatic Dance, Sky's sets observe a distinguishable arc.  These musical journeys pay homage to Gabrielle Roth's influential practice of observing and moving through a “Wave” of musical selections.  The practice involves considering how waves are inherent in all of nature; our life cycles, our relationships, and in our most intimate moments.
Sky’s musical journeys are designed to reach intense and energetic ecstasy while also encouraging introspection and emotional release.
We love Sky’s passion and dedication to our Ritual Community Movement Journey, his dedication to personal growth, and his love of helping others.

Today, Sky is a steward and resident Facilitator of Ecstatic Dance at Kalani Honua, having previously been co-founder of Ecstatic Dance at Honoka’a as well as Ecstatic Dance in Williams, Oregon.

In an effort to preserve the history this worldwide phenomenon, Sky created on an unofficial Ecstatic Dance Facilitator Guide: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MeU3X6Gz3BIXrEFEfFpmZJhrO0GsWDOL4hWMPdYT6IY/mobilebasic

Top Ecstatic Dance Sets

Sky Makai - Ecstatic Dance Music