What is “tantric” about Dance Meets Tantra?

For us - tantra is the practice and art of inner union and being fully alive. Our intention with Dance Meets Tantra is to support people in coming into greater love and relationship with themselves, each other, and the earth. We believe that dance, eros and tantra are fundamental aspects of being alive, empowered, and creative - so we invite various practices in support of liberating our creative life force.

Many of the exercises we offer play with various expressions of energy, archetypes, and relational embodiment. None of these activities are sexually-focused.

We respect and acknowledge the teachings, teachers, and lineages of classical tantra. Dance Meets Tantra is influenced by but not representing itself as classical tantra. 

I’m a beginner with tantra, is this event right for me?

Maybe! Dance Meets Tantra is a beginner-friendly space. You will definitely have the opportunity to learn new skills, connect more deeply with yourself, expand your horizons, and practice at the edges of your comfort zone. As long as that sounds good to you, then you’re in the right place! However, if you cannot explore the edges of your comfort zone from a place of personal responsibility, we encourage you not to attend.

Do I have to do anything sexual?

No. There is nothing explicitly sexual about Dance Meets Tantra and the activities we offer. We do not guide sexually-focused tantra activities.

Every activity we offer is an opportunity to practice connecting more deeply with ourselves and our truth. Sometimes there are opportunities to connect with others. Sometimes sexual energy may be what authentically arises in a connection between two consenting participants. However, if you are desiring not to explore sexual energy during the immersion, that is 100% possible, encouraged, and celebrated if that is what is true for you. In addition to this, if you ARE open to or desiring to explore sexual energy, we place deep emphasis on consent culture and embodying boundaries.

Because sexuality is a part of our nature as humans, and we’re dancing, playing with energy, and exploring connection with self and others, sexual energy may authentically arise for various participants throughout the experience. And again, none of the activities are sexual by nature.

If I don’t want to be sexual, can I still have a good time?

Yes, you can have an absolutely rocking, potent, and soul-shaking experience at Dance Meets Tantra without exploring sexual energy.

Do I have to take my clothes off or get naked? Does nudity happen?

Depending on the needs of our venue, nudity may be permitted. However, there are no activities that require removing any clothing and nudity is never encouraged. Also, every activity and facilitation cue is offered in the form of an “invitation". This means that all participants are welcomed to choose how they interact with each invitation made.

Is Dance Meets Tantra a trauma-informed space? Are the facilitators trauma-informed?

"Trauma-informed": to create a safe environment that supports control, choice and autonomy, and fosters trauma-resilient skills.

We recognize that we cannot make any environment completely safe for everyone. That being said, we place extreme emphasis on creating as clear and safe of a container as possible. This looks like extensive focus on navigating consent (verbally and non-verbally), sovereign choice-making, attunement to self and other (both verbally and non-verbally), and recognizing, understanding and expressing boundaries (both verbally and non-verbally).

Some of the main themes of our container are: Boundaries, Consent, Sovereignty, Rewriting stories & history, Non-verbal communication and sensitivity

Amongst other things - Dance Meets Tantra is a welcoming and supportive space to practice freedom of expression and working with our edges and re-writing old patterns. This means that triggers do sometimes come up. In fact - we’d be surprised if any of our past participants made it through an immersion without working through a trigger. By no means is this a space which avoids trigger. So, if someone has never taken a dive into shadow-work, purposeful activation or exploration of trigger, this is not the place to start. That being said, if someone does have a foundation with shadow-work, our space can absolutely hold them through the difficulty, dysregulation, and discomfort that may arise.

Our facilitation team, as well as several additional team members, track the room for those in need of additional attention and provide attuned, 1-1 support when needed.

Our facilitation team has extensive training in trauma-informed modalities including trauma-release breathwork and craniosacral therapy.

Is this a polarity-oriented tantra experience where participants are separated based on gender?

No. We play with various forms of polarity at Dance Meets Tantra, but we do not focus on gender or gender roles. We believe tantra is about inner union first and foremost, therefore we invite practice and play with various embodiments of archetypes and energy regardless of gender identification or sexual preferences. With that being said, we acknowledge that men and women are often inculturated differently and there is an incredible amount of individual and collective trauma related to the gender divide. At Dance Meets Tantra we hold a perspective that embraces the context of healing between the sexes, while including room for a broad range of sexual preferences as well as both gender-fluid and more gender-normative expressions.

Can I leave early?

DMT is closely held transformational container so we ask that participants plan to stay for the duration. If, however, someone decides they need to leave during the workshop, we support that choice. Please do not plan to come and leave early.

Are scholarships available?

At Dance Meets Tantra we understand that various forms of privilege can play a role in financial access to our containers. We believe that diversity is an important aspect of building a truly transformational journey and we desire to impact and support all people with our work. We are providing some partial scholarships for people from diverse backgrounds who may not otherwise be able to afford the full ticket price.

Partial scholarships are generally about 30-50% the cost of a regular priced ticket. 

Apply here: https://forms.gle/H6Dzc1KHB6o5B9u28

Is DMT the psychedelic medicine served?

Nope. Sometimes we use the acronym ‘DMT' because it is short for Dance Meets Tantra. DMT is a substance-free practice.

What is your consent policy?

Dance Meets Tantra is a consent-based body of work. We believe that consent can happen both verbally and non-verbally and we are committed to creating safer spaces for people to practice embodying their boundaries and desires.

How do I navigate consent and boundaries if we’re dancing and not using words?

Excellent question! In short - we practice! Verbal and non-verbal communication and navigation of boundaries and consent is part of our core practice in each Dance Meets Tantra experience.

What happens at Dance Meets Tantra? What is the schedule of the day and the content of the activities?

At any Dance Meets Tantra we are “breathing in and out” between more structured practices and rituals and less structured dance experiences where we embody what we discover in the more structured practices. The content of Dance Meets Tantra is inspired by conscious dance, contact improv, neo-tanta, shadow work, relational intimacy, nervous system resilience, attachment theory, esoteric teachings and compassionate self-inquiry. Any immersion we offer includes an opening circle with container/agreement setting as well as practice of embodied boundaries and consent. Beyond that, we do not share the content of workshops ahead of time as leaning into and following the unknown is a big part of our work. If you have concerns about any of this, you are so welcome to reach out to us at play@dancemeetstantra.com and share your questions or concerns.

I identify as queer or gay, is Dance Meets Tantra for me?

Absolutely. DMT is not a heteronormative tantra space. None of our activities involve a focus on heteronormative relating.

I’m single - do I need a partner to attend this event?

No partner needed. Dance Meets Tantra is great for singles.

I’m in a partnership - is this event only for singles?

Dance Meets Tantra is great to attend with a partner. During specific partnered exercises you are welcomed to stay partnered with each other or practice with other participants in the field. Please read the section about sexuality if you have questions about this.

I’m monogamous - is this event only for polyamorous people?

Any relating style can have a deeply fulfilling experience at Dance Meets Tantra. The intention at Dance Meets Tantra is not erotic connection with others, but rather deeper connection with self and community. If erotic interactions happen - we also celebrate that! Whether you are single and identify as monogamous or in a partnership that is monogamous, you are encouraged and celebrated in that choice and can have a deeply fulfilling experience at Dance Meets Tantra.

I’m older - is this event only for younger people?

At Dance Meets Tantra, our participant ages range from 20-something to 70s and even 80s. The median is probably about 40. In any case, it doesn't matter what your age is, Dance Meets Tantra can be a powerfully connective and deep experience.

I want to bring this to my home community - when are you coming here?

You can check out our events page for upcoming workshops. You can also apply here to help bring Dance Meets Tantra to your community.

Can I help assist at the next workshop?

Typically, we ask assistants to first come as a participant to establish the connection. At that point, we can discuss a possible assistant role for future immersions.

Do you have other volunteer opportunities?

Rarely.

Are children welcome in the space?

Though we love children and want to be as inclusive and supportive as possible to the realities of family - Dance Meets Tantra is not a suitable space for children. We’re open to discussing exceptions if you have had previous successful experiences of incorporating your child into transformational containers.