Event Details
Friday, 30 January 2026
6:30–8:30 PM
Rodenkirchen – Beats & Barré
Mittelstr. 35, 50996 Köln-Rodenkirchen
Donation-based |
Registration required
What to Bring
Mug or cup (for your cacao)
Water bottle (stay hydrated!)
Blanket and/or cushion (for the meditation sounds)
Comfortable clothing in layers (you’ll want options as your body temperature changes)
What is Cacao Dance?
This isn’t your typical ecstatic dance event where you arrive alone and stand awkwardly in the corner while strangers dance around you. We believe connection comes first – so we create the space for that connection to happen naturally and authentically.
Cacao Dance is designed around two equally important elements: one hour to connect, and one hour to dance. The result? A room that feels less like a gathering of strangers and more like an evening among friends.
1 Hour Connect
We start with connection. Before the music begins, we gather in a warm, intimate atmosphere – dimmed lights, candles flickering, and ceremonial cacao to open our hearts. This isn’t about forced icebreakers or spiritual rituals; it’s more like arriving at a friend’s gathering where conversation flows naturally.
The cacao itself is a gentle facilitator. This ancient plant medicine naturally opens the heart, helping us feel more present, connected, and at ease with one another. As you sip your cacao and chat with others, you’ll find that initial awkwardness melting away. By the time the music starts, you’re surrounded by familiar faces – people you’ve already shared laughs and stories with.
This connection time transforms the entire experience. When you step onto the dance floor, you’re not dancing among strangers; you’re moving freely in a space held by people who already see you.
1 Hour Dance
When the music begins, the focus shifts inward. This is your time – time to feel, to move, to express, to release. The dancing portion is less about interaction and more about your personal journey with the music.
Our carefully curated musical journey takes you through different rhythms and energy levels, each designed to evoke and honor different emotions and states of being. The set flows intentionally, creating space for whatever needs to move through you.
Musical Journey includes elements of:
- Gentle meditative sounds and ambient textures
- World Music Fusion that grounds and centers
- Tribal Beats that awaken primal energy
- Afro(house) and (Electro)Cumbia rhythms that invite playful movement
- Downtempo electronic waves for introspection
- Melodic Techno for transcendent states
- Psytrance for peak energy expression
- Drum & Bass for powerful release
Each Cacao Dance event features a unique musical journey – no two nights are exactly the same. This keeps the experience fresh and allows the music to meet you wherever you are in that moment.
After the dance
The dance journey ends with meditative sounds, creating a gentle landing space. As the music fades, you’re invited to stay for a moment if you wish – to rest in the stillness, share a few final words, or simply absorb the experience.
There’s no pressure to linger or to socialize. Some people feel called to connect and share what moved through them. Others prefer to carry the experience home quietly. Both are completely welcome. Follow what feels right for you in that moment.
If you do choose to stay for about 15 – 20 min and connect, you’ll often find these post-dance conversations surprisingly meaningful – people are open, grounded, and real after moving together. The usual social masks have fallen away, and what’s left is genuine, warm, human connection.
Who is This For?
Cacao Dance welcomes everyone – whether you’ve already joined an ecstatic dance before, dance as a hobby, or have never had anything to do with dancing. Maybe you don’t even feel like you have a sense of rhythm. None of that matters here.
This isn’t about performance, skill, or pressure. There’s no “right way” to move. It’s simply about dancing for yourself and expressing whatever you feel, however that looks. Awkward movements, wild gestures, tiny sways, standing still—it’s all perfect because it’s yours.
You don’t need to be a “good dancer.” You don’t need any experience. You don’t need to be spiritual or know anything about cacao ceremonies. You just need to be curious and willing to show up as yourself. Many people come alone and
find that the connection hour makes it easy to feel at home. Others come with friends and discover new connections. However you arrive, you’ll leave feeling more alive, more connected, and more yourself.
A Safe Space for Authentic Expression
We are committed to creating an environment where you can be completely yourself. Move however your body wants to move. Express whatever emotions arise. Dance wildly, dance gently, stand still—whatever feels true for you in the moment.
There is absolutely no judgment here. No one is watching critically. No one is comparing. Everyone is on their own journey, and that journey is honored and respected.
This is a substance-free space—no alcohol, no drugs. Just you, the music, the cacao, and the collective energy of people choosing to show up authentically. It’s remarkable how free you can feel without any substances, simply through
music, movement, and genuine human connection.
Your host: Laura
Laura has been dancing since childhood, and her passion for Latin America has shaped her journey profoundly. For 12 years, she’s been dancing Salsa, with Cumbia holding a special place in her heart as her favorite music. These Latin American influences weave through the music sets she lovingly curates for each Cacao Dance event.
In recent years, Laura has immersed herself deeply in nervous system regulation – particularly through somatic body practices like clapping, shaking, and intuitive movement. This path naturally led her to ecstatic dance, which resonated with her immediately because it’s not about skill or performance; it’s about feeling. What dancing was always about for her.
For Laura, movement is one of the most powerful tools we have, alongside writing and speaking, to understand ourselves better and regulate our emotions. And perhaps most importantly, it should be fun – joy is essential, not optional.
Through Cacao Dance, Laura shares these experiences and beliefs. She creates spaces where humans can be authentic, move freely, and connect without pretense. With warmth, intuition, and careful attention to detail, she crafts evenings where magic naturally unfolds and strangers truly do become friends.
Dance Floor Guidelines
To maintain the sacred and safe quality of the dance space, we follow a few simple principles:
During the dance:
- Silence is golden: We don’t talk during the dancing portion. You’ll have plenty of time to connect before and after – the dance hour is for inner exploration and movement.
- Solo dancing is welcomed: Most people prefer to dance alone, in their own bubble. Respect this by being mindful of personal space.
- Reading cues: Eyes looking down, closed eyes, or a gentle head shake clearly signal “I’m in my own space.” Honor these boundaries without taking it personally.
- Natural interaction: Sometimes, spontaneous connection happens naturally. Eye contact with a friendly smile or a nod signals openness to interaction. These moments are beautiful when they arise organically.
- Boundaries matter: You can set boundaries at any time, and others will respect them. This mutual respect is what makes the space feel safe.
Ready to explore Cacao Dance?
Registration is required as space is limited. This intimate setting allows everyone to be truly seen and held by the group.
A room where strangers become friends. A night where you remember what it feels like to be completely free.
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