Kevin Plyer, 39, brings the practice of ecstatic dance to the Memphis community. For those unfamiliar, ecstatic dance, sometimes known as conscious dance, is a free-form, unchoreographed dance practice held in a safe environment, often with music from a live DJ. The practice of ecstatic dance is often performed sober, barefoot, and with limited communication between participants. Kevin describes it as the carefree feeling you have dancing in your house alone, but with a group of like-minded participants around you, sharing their individual journeys in a group setting.
Many people have had this experience with live music, but typically combined it with alcohol or other inebriants. The sobriety associated with ecstatic dance increases the mindfulness of the experience and creates a safer environment for participants. Kevin, who himself has been sober for over a decade, remembers a time when he refused to get on a dance floor. Now, his ecstatic dance practice is a regular part of his life and brings him joy daily.
Kevin’s journey to becoming an ecstatic dance facilitator and DJ began with an interest in yoga, meditation, and other wellness modalities. He had been teaching yoga for over 10 years and realized he had started taking his practice very seriously. “I was creating this rigidity, not giving myself a place of softness and acceptance. I decided it was time to let go of this seriousness,” Kevin says. He then attended an ecstatic dance experience, and loved the ecstasy and freedom he and the rest of the crowd expressed. Later, in a meditative cacao ceremony, Kevin recognized the calling he felt to become certified as an ecstatic dance facilitator and conscious DJ.
In November 2023, Kevin trained through Dance the Movement in the United Kingdom, the top program in this field, and received his Level 1 certification. He is now Level 2, meaning he has begun training other participants to become facilitators. “If I am going to offer something, I want to be well educated and offer the best quality experience,” Kevin says.
The pillars of ecstatic dance are a safe and comfortable space, consent between participants, and allowing yourself to be guided and facilitated by the music. “If I am doing my job right, the people around me will feel joyful, free, and safe,” Kevin says. He hopes that people who attend his facilitated sessions become more open to the unexpected while feeling liberated and having fun. “The fitness and endorphins released are just a bonus.”
Stay tuned for upcoming ecstatic dance opportunities with Kevin by following his Instagram, @kevikenn.
By Zoe Harrison
Photo by Tindall Stephens
