Customer Reviews

Dances of Ecstasy

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This DVD is awasome in that is totally takes the viewer on a real journey into the EXPERIENCE of Trance Dancing. As a dancer myself and a teacher of ecstatic dance, I can't reccomend this DVD highly enough. By the end of the film all you want to do is get up and go wild dancing the night away in your living room. I have shared this DVD with friends and created whole magical full-on dance nights around it as there is not only the movie which is SUCH an invitataion to BOOGIE!!! But then there are all these COOL dance track to follow and a whole workout with Gabrielle Roth.
I feel this DVD is a uniqe item , one of it's kind as it lures you aurally as well as visually to strip away all inhibition, turn down the lights, pump up the music and unveil your ecstatic passionate dancer!

The dynamics of the film follows the usual dynamics of most altered state rituals. The compilation of respective stages of trance-dance rituals from different cultures forms an united experience on its own. Well chosen music and (a bit naive) computer visuals do the smooth merging. But to stay interested the whole almost an hour of the film it is preferrable to be a type of person who can enjoy Discovery Channel and National Geographic. (Btw, an abridged version of the film is freely floating over the Net). More warnings: this is not an action film and not a romantic story, it is absolutely not the thing for a funny Saturday evening with beer, coca-cola and popcorn. Some scenes move near the limits of our cultural taboos - if you cannot stand the sight of people losing self-control, then better look for something else.

For people interested not only in enjoying the experience but also in understanding it, 5 original rituals are included in unmixed form on DVD 1. My favourites are San of the Kalahari and Yoruba - they seem to be very authentic and taken seriously. If I were an anthropologist... /big dreams dismissed/. Anytime, you can use the DVD as a catalyst to get different educated opinions on the theme.

DVD 2 consists of a nice new-age half-an-hour ecstatic dance workshop by Gabrielle Roth (worth trying, of course) and 14 trancy music videos by Crystal Silenz etc. These tracks are usable, but a bit soft and smooth for me. It is better to make your own compilation with your own favorites in right order and tempo for you, if you are determined to have a look from inside. Kalo taxidi! ;)

This DVD is a work of art, filled with the beauty and power of music and dance, reminding us all that the potential for wonder and serenity lies in the total emergence of one's self in the moment of passion, and what a metamorphosis lies patiently in store for those willing to surrender to the joy of dance and music!

This is a brilliantly colourful whirl of a journey around the world showing diverse peoples' use of dance to induce a trance state of consciousness. From the Whirling Dervishes of Turkey to the plains of Africa, it is shown that all nations share a common root in dance; we see the same group dynamics in Sufi, Muslim & San cultures. The drum beats are hypnotic, the dancing, at times, frantic. It was touching to see small children of different cultures joining in with such enthusiasm and abandon. The camera work is trance-like in itself, intensifying the scenes of ritual and interspersing the short interviews of those healers and dancers taking part.

Kathleen Roth, (healer, philosopher and artist, known for her dance workshops in the States) appears in the film along with her students dancing far away from the plains of Africa and the Middle East, where it originated, and apparently achieving the same ecstatic state. The aim is for the dancer and the dance to become one - a form of meditation also advocated by Osho, the infamous Guru from India. He taught his followers mind-body balancing through meditation, and his recommended meditation often included movement in the form of dance.

This film is more than an anthropological documentary; it brings our attention to the spiritual and what different nations have managed to retain and regain in our modern, mechanical world.

The first DVD shows many cultures and religions using dance to enter different mental states so it is a pretty good quality documentary. The second DVD shows her five rhythms method in action using some of her better dancers from her classes.

I bought the DVDs before attending a weekend retreat. She and her son are very loving, aware teachers. They were very good at helping us to feel into every part of our body to allow it to dance. Trance can take you below thought or above thought into acute awareness just as meditation can. My intention at the retreat was to drop all resistance to flow. Gabrielle recognized the instant I did that and danced over to congratulate me.

This is one of the best documentaries that I have seen about the spiritual journey of human beings. Dances of ecstasy is very well done, and explores the journey towards individuation through movement. I was able to understand much more how does movement and dance influences our lives, and how it is through that, that we can truly embody our spiritual selves. Spirituality through ideas or beliefs becomes spiritual bi-passing. Spirituality grounded in the body, becomes metabilized. This documentary shows us how do we integrate our spiritual selves into our lives and material existence (body).

I highly recommend it for people interested in experiential therapies such as Holotropic Breathwork, Dance/Movement therapy, BioDanza, Authentic Movement, Shamanism, etc...

IT's pretty good. Authentic. Impressive that these film makers can blend in so well. A big plus on film composition.

When I first watched this I also wanted to throw it in the bin...then whilst reading the other reviews realised that you can view the rituals by themselves without the agonising (but well intended) el rapido jump cuts and computer graphics which turn the specific cultural forms into a new age- its all manic ADD bliss- anthropological shambles...Yes its all one...in a blinding blurr of sort of related images in the editing suite...There seems to be a standing assumption that whizzy digital animation enhances the spiritual/dance experience or is somehow consumate with it...everyone does it right...???? But on a more serious note, trance and possession may involve dark entities and psychosis... which is of no consequence I suppose in New York lofts. Whilst there may be collective archetypes in there somewhere its annoyingly diffuse. Anything goes anywhere and thats trance? Moreover the commentary, such as it is, is only ever a few vaguely decontextualised fragments. The accompanying booklet helps a little here. Still, I'd recommend the DVD for the separate rituals and its kinda nice to hear the film makers relating their experiences in a fairly niave way..gives us a picture of how most Westerners view cultural diversity and how our 'spiritual language' fails to get far beyond new age cliche. (not saying I'm any less gulity here but I have done some research into shamanic possession states both via academic sources and with an initiated shaman. The guy I worked with never ceased to be amazed at how the new age movement manages to obscure the darker side of religious forces in other cultures locating them all in their own western trad- which don't dance) In simplest terms if you open your self up without having a clue what your doing why think only the good guys or vibes rush in? (all is one right?) From a Jungian point of view the shadow is actually enhanced by such denial. The point I'm trying to make is that the FORM of the main film turns these ancient rituals into advertising grabs for western consumption- ie pastes them into a get as much as ya can as fast as ya can shop...The more documentary style accompanying film has poise and lets you catch your breath occassionally. More importantly it gives the viewer (at least some) time to open their heart toward the participating individuals who have so generously let the digitalised crew in on their sacred worlds...
This said, I like Gabriels wave dance videos for the same reason...when you get past the new age tone of the speak, the actual action and how she mobilises the process makes for an inspiring dance along...

Me encanto el DVD. Un grupo de amigos lo estamos usando para hacer meditacion activa una vez a la semana.

THIS PRODUCT COMES WITH TWO DVD'S. AFTER WATCHING THE FIRST I CHOOSE TO DESTROY BOTH OF THEM. I WAS NOT ALLOWED TO GIVE IT 0 STARS.