Kohl Mayberry/DJ Big Heart’s Birthday Ecstatic Dance and Ecstatic Dance Batavia’s 1 Year Anniversary!

Kohl Mayberry/DJ Big Heart ‘s Birthday Ecstatic Dance and Ecstatic Dance Batavia’s 1 Year Anniversary!

August 3rd 2:00 pm-8:00 pm

*Showing up late to the event is permitted and we have an open door policy. Please do not burn anything that creates any type of smoke anywhere within the building thank you*

Event will take place at Torus Center For Integrative Healing, event space is on the second floor of the building.

Admission is a love donation pre-registration of $33. Pre-registration can be done through the Torus website or via PayPal (jkrusetherapy@gmail.com). We are asking that everyone pre-registers in advance please.

Nobody is turned away for lack of funds. Please contact Kohl at kohl.mayberry@gmail.com if you would like to help at the event in order to cover your admission price. Kids are free to the event. This is a family friendly dance and there will be young kids joining in on the dance and kids are encouraged to join.

Doors open at 2:00. At 2:15 there will be an opening Kirtan activation offered by Shanti, Sven, and Shri.

Immediately following will be an embodiment practice offered by Matthew Stackowicz.

Next will be the opening circle with discussion of guidelines and community engagement.

The opening circle will be led by DJ Big Heart  (aka Kohl Mayberry). After the opening circle will be the dance music. The theme of the music is “authenticity.” 90 minutes of dance music will be shared DJ Big Heart .

The music is set in a wave format inviting everyone to experience different states, moods, and levels of consciousness. Consider staying present within the movement and letting your body move to the music. Ecstatic dance is a freeform focused movement practice for all. During our dance we will be invited to let go of judgement of ourselves and others, embrace whatever emotions arise, and feel free to move, shake, and groove however our bodies choose. We are invited to listen to our bodies and move in any way that we feel is authentic, safe, and personal for us. The dance space is free of consumption of alcohol and intoxicating substances as this creates a sober environment inviting dancers to come as they are. We step out of verbal conversation as well as the use of any cell phones or photography. During our dance we are silent/no talking (please have verbal conversations outside of the dance floor, thank you for your understanding).

When the music ends it will be followed by a double sound healing offered by Yolanda Lozano and Jenny Bergold concurrently with a guided whale breathing offered by Mary Rondenet.

Immediately following will be the community closing circle led by Kohl.

The goal is to wrap up the closing circle by 8:00 p.m CST.

As always-peace, much love, namaste.

Please refer to the bios of all individuals offering practices during the birthday celebration:

1. Kohl Mayberry (DJ Big Heart) started novice amateur DJing 20 years ago when he fell in love with electronic dance music. 7 years ago when Kohl had hit rock bottom and was in debilitating chronic physical pain with nowhere to turn, he stumbled upon an ecstatic dance. This dance completely cut Kohl wide open to the core and shook his entire being. He started dancing through his pain regularly both at home and in the community. Ecstatic dance has now become his obsession and he has participated in over 400 ecstatic dances. 5 years ago he started DJing ecstatic dances and in 2023 Kohl formed the organization now known as “Ecstatic Dance Batavia” where he started hosting and DJing ecstatic dances for the community to give back for the healing that he was gifted upon him and to share “the Gospel of ecstatic dance.”
2. Sven Hansen was born to Norwegian immigrants in the American Midwest, where he raised four children and owned a greenhouse and florist shop. Sven has lived and studied in Norway and India, and is a certified yoga teacher and sound healer. He creates and performs events incorporating music, poems and sound healing. Sven also plays tabla and percussion in bands in the United States. Sven has studied Vedic science and holds a degree in world literature from Maharishi International University in Fairfield, Iowa. He lives in DeKalb Illinois.
3. Shri Steep is a humble student, an ardent devotee of Devī, and a soulful carrier of song. Her voice has been described as activating, opening, and unlocking, enlivening an ancient remembrance within all who have the ears to hear. When she is not gallivanting around the world humming heart songs of harmony, she can be found singing to the many medicinal plants she tends to in her gardens, and listening for the songs they sing back to her.
4. Matthew Stackowicz is a Contact Beyond Contact level 3 dance facilitator, embodiment coach, ceremonialist, men’s circle facilitator, breathwork guide, shamanic reiki master, international photographer, retreat facilitator, and father of two amazing children. His home base is in South Bend, IN and Chicago, IL but he travels the world to lead sacred circles, retreats, dance and embodiment workshops and photographs humans in connection to their own hearts and each other. He currently hosts sacred circles, embodiment practices, dance containers, and other workshops in South Bend, IN, Chicago, IL, and other nearby locations.
5. Jenny Bergold started practicing yoga in 1999 and teaching in 2009. Jenny discovered yoga to calm the body and strengthen the mind. Jenny has her 200 Hour Hatha certification from Heaven Meets Earth Yoga in Evanston, IL and her 200 Hour Kundalini certification from Spirit Rising Yoga in Chicago, IL. Jenny is also certified in Prenatal, Restorative, Yin, and Radiant Child Yoga. Jenny’s classes and sound healings focus on the mind and meditation, healing the body through asana and sound, and uplifting the spirit through inspiration.
6. Yolanda Lozano’s vision is to support the Awakening of our planet by encouraging people to live with purpose and have a meaningful life.  Her mission is to help individuals become grounded so that they can navigate through their own issues in the present time with practical guidance and practices from the East, West, and Shamanic Paths. The value she provides through a variety of healing practices includes healing sound sessions, intuitive readings, flower rituals at rivers and oceans, medical intuition, and practical whole living.
7. Mary Rondenet, “The Whale Whisperer of Chicago,” is a multifaceted individual whose journey of triumph over challenges and a deep commitment to helping others embrace their authentic selves has led her to become an IPEC Certified Professional Coach, EnergyTouch® Practitioner, and Certified Transformational Breath® Facilitator. Mary has delved into the wisdom of whales and incorporated it into her transformative practice, WhaleBreathing. This harnesses the power of conscious breathing, to facilitate emotional release, mindfulness, and connection to nature. Mary’s work demonstrates the profound impact breathwork can have on promoting peace, harmony, and joy in one’s life. In Mary’s world, breath becomes a tool of empowerment and a conduit to memory and clarity. Through her expertise, compassion, and unique connection to whales, Mary empowers individuals to release what no longer serves them and find their inner strength and power.
8.  Shanti (Wendy) Warnimont has been a sacred space holder of the shamanic creative vibrational healing arts since 1990. As a lover of mantra, sacred music, meditation and ecstatic states, Shanti’s passion is to be an open channel for catalyzing loving awareness. Shanti specializes in practices that move energies through the body and the voice to create a deep connection to self and source. Currently Shanti shares kirtan mantra meditation events with her ensemble Ananda Lila. Some of Shanti’s teachers and influences include: Meditation study with Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach, TM, Ten Directions Zen and Osho, Nada Yoga of Sound study with Russill Paul, mantra and kirtan study with Jai Uttal, Deva Premal and Miten, Himalayan Yoga philosophy teachers, Hindustani music and vocal study with Rajiv Kumar Malik Rajnain, Yoga and Vedantic studies with Sivananda Yoga and Vivekananda Vedanta Society, Shamanic apprenticeship with Sandra Ingerman, Incan shaman Alberto Villoldo, Hawaiin shaman Serg King, Laugher Yoga Facilitation certification, Sufi practices with Adnan Sarhan, 5 Rhythms study with Gabriel Roth, as well as many other kirtan wallahs and wise being. Currently Shanti is hosting workshops on Bhakti Yoga Appreciation, Shamanic Journey, Moving Meditation and Mindful Music Meditation. More info: www.facebook.com/anandalilalove