Universal Language Dancing with Ryan Herr

To watch us dance is to hear our hearts speak.
~ Hopi Saying ~

Ryan Herr is our guest Minister of Music this Sunday!  He says, “Right now I feel very inspired by the global ecstatic dance movement thriving in so many amazing places around the world. As I traveled all throughout Europe this summer, doing ecstatic dances in several different countries, it was beautiful to see the common thread of an ecstatic dance container transcending all the various language & cultural barriers that might otherwise exist.

My theme for this Sunday is on the idea that both music and movement harness the power of true and genuine communication all around the globe, and likely the universe 😉 By practicing movement as a way to express ourselves, I believe we strengthen our ability to communicate with anyone and everyone with a clarity that words simply don’t have.

What I love most about playing for ecstatic dance is the improvisation, welcoming the unknown, exploring the edges of intensity, and the subtleties of sweetness.  For me, ecstatic dance is about exploring balance. It is an opportunity to let my mind off the hook for at least a little bit…to give myself permission to let the somatic wisdom of my body lead for a while and teach my mind to trust that process.

In closing, I just want to say it again: I LOVE coming to Santa Barbara Dance Tribe!  It’s one of the longest continuing dance container/communities that I’ve had the pleasure of co-creating with. SBDT has played a major role in my development as a musician and for that I am very grateful.”

Ryan Herr has been weaving his mix of live and electronic music for festivals, events, ecstatic dances, and retreats throughout the world for nearly 20 years. His sets are loved for his synthesis of original and live elements and his uniquely designed blend of genres and cultures, both contemporary and classic, mixed with on-the-spot compositions and original remixes. Many have come to know his music through his collaborations and performances with The Polish Ambassador, Wildlight and Ayla Nereo. He has performed at many major festivals around the country, including Lightning in a Bottle, Symbiosis, Beloved, Lucidity, Arise, Imagine, and Phases of the Moon. He focuses much of his attention on the medicinal aspects of music and dance, and always incorporates a healthy dose of improvisation into his live sets.

Learn more at ryanherrmusic.com.