Soulstice: A Dance Through Time
An Ecstatic Dance Nyack Offering

At the turning of the year’s great wheel—when the sun stands still and the day stretches into its fullest light—we gather. Not merely to celebrate, but to descend inward, to listen, and to remember. This is the season of ripening. Of growth made visible. Of becoming who we already are.

Soulstice is a ceremonial journey through the inner landscape of the soul—moving through the life cycle from innocence to wisdom, from embodiment to expansion. We begin with a heart-opening Blue Lotus tea ceremony to soften the gates of perception and enter sacred space together.

From there, a guided movement ritual invites us to embody the arc of becoming—connecting with the child, the elder, and the timeless self that lives beyond roles and ages. As our awareness deepens, the energy crescendos into an ecstatic dance, where rhythm becomes the language of release and revelation.

We complete the evening in stillness, held by a meditative sound journey to integrate, reflect, and land with grace.

This is not a party—it is a rite of passage. A space to move through time, memory, and identity, and return home to what is most essential.

Ecstatic Dance is a form of freeform movement where participants let go of inhibitions and dance to the rhythm of the music without following any structured steps or routines. It's a way to express oneself authentically through movement in a supportive and non-judgmental environment.

Ecstatic Dance Nyack's program features five key components:

5:30–6:00 PM – Doors Open, Mix & Mingle
6:00–7:00 PM – Blue Lotus Tea Ceremony & Opening Sound Journey. Led by Caroline Aitchison with live music by Chris Dingman.

7:00–7:30 PM – Transition & Arrival Flow

7:30–8:30 PM – Moving Alchemy Dance Warm-Up. Led by Caroline Aitchison with live music from Chris Dingman and Zaneta Sykes.

8:30–10:15 PM – Ecstatic Dance with Jennayni

10:15–10:45 PM – Closing Sound Bath with Chris Dingman

Jennayni is a spiritual artist, DJ, and sacred space-holder who uses music as a vehicle for remembrance, healing, and cultural connection. Guided by the principles of reciprocity, service, and presence, her sound journeys are both grounding and elevating—bridging ancestral memory and contemporary rhythm.

Her path has been shaped by solo travels through South America, where she deepened her relationship to the elements, Indigenous traditions, and the healing power of sound. From voice activations with Quechua children in the highlands of Peru to offering food and clothing in remote mountain communities, her artistry is inseparable from her commitment to community care.

Her sets are rooted in service and shaped by intuition—drawing from global sounds, ceremonial frequencies, and the ecstatic pulse of movement. In every offering, Jennayni invites dancers into a living ritual of gratitude, transformation, and connection to the sacred. https://jennayni.com/

Chris Dingman - Vibraphonist | Composer | Sonic Journeyer

Chris Dingman is a Nyack-based, award-winning vibraphonist and composer known for his rich, immersive soundscapes that invite deep listening and emotional connection. His music blends meditative textures with lyrical complexity, offering a spacious and transcendent experience rooted in the moment.

Over the past two decades, Chris has performed around the world with iconic artists such as Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter, as well as visionary composers like Ambrose Akinmusire and Linda Oh. His solo work has been described by The New York Times as “dazzling,” with a unique gift for combining “airtight logic and burnished lyricism.” His recordings and performances span continents, and his work has been supported by the Doris Duke Foundation, Chamber Music America, New Music USA, and others.

Whether in a jazz club, sacred ceremony, or a contemplative sound bath, Chris brings his full attention and heart to the vibration of each note, creating sonic portals that open space for healing, reflection, and wonder. https://www.chrisdingman.com/

Caroline Elizabeth is a creative arts guide based in New York. With each journey, she invites the soul to dive deeper into embodied presence and remember its innate harmony. Caroline draws from the power of breath work, parts work and visualization to welcome the body, mind and soul into a dance of integration. She is currently expanding her facilitation through graduate studies in the spiritual psychology of learning at Columbia. Caroline is grateful to share these practices and further encourage creative self-actualization. Off the grid, she is an eager mountaineer who embraces creative training to reach any summit https://www.amovingmeditation.live/

Zaneta Sykes (they/them) is a queer, multi-Filipinx sound artist and nature field recordist based in Ramapo Lenape territory. Rooted in the healing lineage of their great-grandmother, a village hilot, their work bridges ancestral Filipinx practices with ecological care through sound. Their immersive soundscapes weave field recordings, storytelling, and environmental study to explore how listening can restore our sense of belonging with the land. Their work has been featured at the Brooklyn Museum, the LA Natural History Museum, and the Climate Imaginarium. Follow them @soundartmagic or on Substack at Moon Pool.

We believe dance should be accessible to everyone. If you need financial assistance to attend, please email us at ecstaticdancenyack@gmail.com, and we’ll do our best to support you.

For those who have the means to give more, we offer a "Generous Dancer" ticket option—your contribution helps ensure that someone else in our community can join the dance. Thank you for paying it forward and keeping the spirit of generosity alive! ❤️✨