How to Trance Dance

Trance Dance is a shamanic ritual dance used to promote mental clarity, emotional health and spiritual awakening. It is accompanied by music comprised of a combination of percussion rhythms and healing sounds, devised especially for trance dancing. Although trance dancing has been done in shamanic cultures for many centuries, contemporary dance combines ancient tradition with more modern techniques.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Bandanna (optional)
• Trance music
• Candles or other subtle lighting

1. Use candles, if possible, to create the best ambiance for trance dancing. Small white Christmas tree lights or other very subtle lighting is also appropriate. Avoid bright lights and florescent fixtures.

2. Choose instrumental music that begins with strong but slow percussion and then moves to a varied tempo with both slow and fast rhythms.

3. Close or tie a bandanna around your eyes, experience a few minutes of silence, and begin to focus on your intention to enter a deeper spiritual place within yourself. Center yourself, relax and breathe deeply as you concentrate on the rhythms.

4. Move slowly, gently moving and stretching your body as you gradually build speed. As you begin to move faster, do what feels good and natural, allowing yourself to relax and move into a spiritual state.

5. Dance as long as you feel comfortable, and then allow your body and mind to gradually return to reality, relaxing, moving slowly and taking deep breaths.

Tips & Warnings

• Locate a trance dancing group, and get to know the other dancers in the group. It's important to build a sense of friendship and trust with other trance dancers.