Los Angeles (AP) — Weekly on one of Southern California’s most famous beaches, dozens of people gather and dance quietly as no one sees, just before the sun sets in the Pacific Ocean.
People swaying on the sand wearing wireless headsets with decorative LED lights that stream music from nearby DJs are ecstatic dance practitioners. Participants will move and immerse themselves in the music, explaining most of their spiritual experiences.
Meetings in Venice Beach and hosted by Ecstatic Dance LA are usually held indoors and are held under clear guidelines aimed at keeping participants from becoming self-conscious.
“Be free. Dance as you like. No judgment,” the dance community said in a promotional material.
However, when the coronavirus closed the indoor gathering, the community moved the gathering to the beach. They abandoned privacy and amplified live music, but community co-founder Robin Parish said the move was successful and sunset was a fair trade-off.
Like all their events, it does not contain drugs and alcohol. Pets and children are allowed, but cameras and phones are not allowed. I don’t recommend talking.
According to Parish, silent dance is the only social activity they carry out for some participants trapped inside during a pandemic.
Chase Beckerman, the full-time mother of two children, is among them.
“I wasn’t interested in coming when I was actually indoors. Being here in Venice Beach and being in the ocean made me try ecstatic dance for the first time,” she said. rice field.
“It’s my church. It helped me get through this pandemic a lot.”
At dusk, the DJ switches from the dance track to calm “healing music” and meditation begins.
Some future events will eventually return indoors. Just as dancers prefer ocean views, Parish said people are missing out on the vibrations of live music and dancing on hardwood floors.
“Some people aren’t ready to go inside, so you have both options,” he said.