Sonic Bloom ~ A night of ecstatic dance and synergetic immersion

                               Sonic Bloom 

~ A night of ecstatic dance and synergetic immersion ~

                  Reawaken, Renew, Reimagine 

< Experience >

Raleigh Ecstatic Dance and Rabbit Whole Productions bring in collaboration to you: Sonic Bloom, an immersive artistic experience. With the dawn of Spring, Sonic Bloom invites you to explore possibilities and reawaken into a world full of fresh potential. All of the senses will be engaged through sound healing, ecstatic dance, music, visual arts, and creative mixology to evoke inspiring synergy and community creation. Through the fusion of the arts and weaving together of the senses, new patterns of expression can be realized for transformation with the season.

The evening will begin with an opening circle lead by Raleigh Ecstatic Dance facilitators Gino Lerebours and Lauren Bartek. The opening will then flow into a relaxing sound journey woven by Donøvan Moran. From there we will float seamlessly into a three hour ecstatic dance with music live mixed by three DJs: Xylem // Phløem, Shawn Grijalva, and LoMain. The music will follow an energetic path of a wave, building up to a high energy peak, and then melting into stillness.

During the dance, visual projections will be displayed throughout the space by Recreational Therapy, spring-inspired mocktails will be served by Common Co-op, a large canvas will be set up for all to paint by The Colab Raleigh, an area to be filmed while dancing and interacting with the space will be set up by local J0iB0i Photography, and an area with graphite and paper will be set up for visual creation through movement and dance. 

We are excited to dive into this experience with you! The possibilities of coming together to experience and create are endless, and it may be surprising what can spark within through the fusion of artistic expression ~ See you soon!

< Schedule >

- 7:00 Doors Open

- 7:10 Opening Circle

- 7:30 Sound Journey

- 8:00 Ecstatic Dance Rise (Xylem)

- 9:00 Ecstatic Dance Sustain (Shawn)

- 10:00 Ecstatic Dance Settle (LoMain)

- 11:00 Closing

- 11:30 Emerge

< Details >

Location: Little City Brewing :

400 W North St Suite 120, Raleigh, NC 27603

Time: 7:00 - 11:30

< What to Bring >

-  Ear protection, for those that are noise sensitive

- Comfortable, loose clothing for floor sitting/lying and dancing

< About the Offerings >

- SOUND JOURNEY: We will begin the sensory voyage through an atmospheric immersion of sound and colour with a live electro-earthy sound journey. Participants are welcome to find a space of still, centered oneness as sonic landscapes are curated by a multi instrumental somatic odyssey, live looping of synthesizers, organic instruments, vocal toning, and chakra balancing solfeggio frequencies guide the mind and body into deep relaxation. Essential oils will be diffused alongside the audio-visual elements for a omni-somatic experience of physical and emotional release.  

- ECSTATIC DANCE: Throughout the three DJ sets, an intentional and safety-minded container will be facilitated where people from all walks of life are openly welcome to unite in the experience of a genuine moment through free expression and authentic movement to music, without shoes or talking.

- MUSIC: The three DJs  will live mix an hour long set each for the ecstatic dance. They will seamlessly guide the music in a long and gradual wave of energy to gently bring participants up from the sound bath into a euphoric peak of energy, and then back down into a blissful and restful stillness.

- VISUAL PROJECTION: Live visual projection mapping will be provided throughout the space. These meditative visuals will be synced to the beat and rhythm of the music during the dance and create a surreal, illusively multi dimensional experience.

- COLLABORATIVE CANVAS: A large canvas and paint supplies will be set up, ready for participants to express themselves on as they please during the dance. This morphing community creation will be overseen and tied together by experienced artists as it takes form. There are no mistakes, and though not every paint stroke will remain, every mark will influence the finished painting. Anyone who contributes can enter a raffle for free for a chance to win the final piece.

- PHOTOGRAPHY & CREATIVE FILM: An area of the dance space will be set up to invite participants to interact with spring-themed visual projections all while being captured via videography. Film and photos will be taken throughout the night and photography will be allowed during the dance only by our designated photographer. Cell phone use is encouraged to be limited to only when necessary during the event in order to keep the container of the space. Please reach out to Lauren or Gino if you do not wish to have photos of yourself shared from the event. 

- TASTE INFUSED EXPERIENCE: Three colorful and zesty mocktails will be made during the event for participants to enjoy. All tickets will include one free drink. These spring-inspired drink creations will be set out throughout the event with a sign describing the ingredients and non-verbal cues for participants to use in selecting their drinks. All ingredients are locally-sourced and vegan.

- GRAPHITE MOVEMENT ART: A large sheet of paper and powdered graphite will be set up so that if participants choose, they may cover parts of their body with graphite and move on the paper during the dance to visually create. 

< About the Collaborators >

RALEIGH ECSTATIC DANCE INFO: Raleigh Ecstatic Dance (facilitated by Lauren Bartek, Gino Lerebours) has been hosting dances weekly since 2019, and has collaborated on and facilitated ecstatic dance events for hundreds of participants in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Apex, Hillsborough, Fairview, and Snow Camp North Carolina. Raleigh Ecstatic Dance strives to be a consent-positive space and draws from the energetic flow of a wave for their music to create an immersive container for free expression through movement.

DJs:

XYLEM // PhLøEM: Donøvan Moran is a sound alchemist living in Raleigh, NC. His creative sonic outlet has been multifaceted, continually evolving as inspiration feeds new melodic pathways. Through years of performing in bands, leading sound healings, and DJing ecstatic dances, Donøvan had found a way to fuse multiple aspects into a very unique experience. Deep melodic bass from the ethereal ocean, harmonic resonance and the hypnotic pulse of the celestial jungle ignite the inner fire of creative expression and cause the listener to drift on the breeze of an improvisational dream.

LOMAIN: A Raleigh-based DJ, Lauren started off her mixing journey working with MAD House, a local underground house show DJ collective, in 2020. She has moved into DJing locally at venues including Neptunes, The Fruit, The Rockford,  as well as private events. She draws inspiration from the rhythmic roots of Latin and Afro culture, and fuses these beats with techno and house sounds to bring crowds together.

SHAWN GRIJALVA: 

Shawn is a New York native influenced by underground eletronic dance music. This radically inclusive culture has inspired him to share, deep, melodic and uplifting sounds that carry an emotive energy wherever he plays.  Shawn relocated to Raleigh, NC in 2017 and has performed at venues such as Alchemy Raleigh, Watts & Ward, Halcyon, Proof, The Burrow, House of Art as well as Basement Charlotte and The Durham Fruit. This is when he discovered a demand for more mindful and immersive electronic music events. 

In 2019 Shawn co-founded Rabbit Whole Productions LLC. A platform with a focus on building immersive environments that synergistically merge artists, local vendors, and quality sound to create unique experiences. RWP’s has booked many local, regional and international DJs to share their sounds in The Raleigh/ Durham area. The frequency Shawn emits is a perfect translation of his belief that music is the universal language that brings people together.

COMMON CO-OP:  Common is a co-op project that strives to build community sustainability through food, art, relationships, and sharing. Our goal is to open a space where these things can coexist and where people can connect, create, care, and be taken care of. All proceeds we earn through the Common food projects go towards this goal!

THE COLAB RALEIGH:  The CoLab was formed in 2020 by a group of friends who met through the Raleigh art scene in 2019 as a way to continue working together and supporting each other during the depths of the pandemic. As an unincorporated not-for-profit, working on official status, the CoLab is focused on making art creation accessible to everyone. They follow the radical notion that everyone is an artist, that art thrives with support and collaboration, and that the community is stronger when every vision is expressed. With their new studio they continue to grow and engage in a variety of ways with the public: collaborative painting at events, weekly figure drawing, skill sharing workshops, a non-juried gallery, and more!

RECREATIONAL THERAPY:  Recreational Therapy, created by Justin Jones, is a multimedia experience that brings stunning visuals to life through expertly crafted projection mapping. Projection mapping is a technique where video content is projected onto a surface, often a building or object, to create an illusion of movement and 3D shapes. With a passion for technology and an eye for detail, Justin seamlessly blends music videos, animations, and live camera feeds into a cohesive visual journey that complements the DJ's musical selection. Get ready to be transported to different worlds, from psychedelic landscapes to futuristic cityscapes, as Justin creates a dynamic and immersive experience that's as much a feast for the eyes as it is for the ears.

J0YB0I PHOTOGRAPHY:  Landon is a photographer based in Raleigh who works with artists, creatives, and entrepreneurs to illuminate their current relationship with their work. From clothing companies like Ronny Bass to local woodworkers, visual artists, and musicians, the goal is the same- to be an honest mirror of how one feels expresses themselves, and orients themselves within their process.

Informed Consent Agreement:

By purchasing a ticket to this event you consent that you are physically and mentally healthy and able to participate safely, and that you will not hold the facilitators nor the facility liable for injury during the event.