MUSIC & DANCE
Experience electrifying music with world-leading musicians, Ecstatic Dance DJ & embodied movement practices.
40+ FACILITATORS
Our skilled teachers are here to share their gifts in benefit of your experience.
100+ Workshops
The daily program offers activities from early in the morning till late at night.
BREATHWORK
Transformative SOMA Breath workshops offer inclusive, science-backed experiences for collective growth and community enrichment.
Step into a Bold New Era
A 5-day immersive festival experience brimming with Ecstatic Dance, Breathwork, live music, embodied movement, shamanism, education, play, art, performances, and a thriving community.
Ecstatica sparks personal growth and the inspiration to become the change our world needs.
Ecstatica was born on the crystal island of Koh Phangan Thailand, in 2017, where it quickly became a thriving Festival, attracting people from all over the globe. The festival grew in popularity over the years and in 2023 the first European Ecstatica was held in Austria. As the festival grows in momentum and size, Ängsbacka is honored to be hosting Ecstatica for the first time.
Join us in celebrating life, love, community, and our profound connection with nature.
Embrace the unknown, embrace love, and seize every moment to live life to its fullest.
Whether you arrive as a solo attendee or with friends you are warmly welcomed, provided you are 18 years or older.
Join us from July 29th to August 2nd 2024
CHECK-IN & CHECK-OUT
Check-in: 15.00 – 18.30
Dinner first night: 18.00
Welcome ceremony: 20:00
Check-out*: 15.00
*Clean your room before this time. You don’t need to formally check out at the reception.
MUSIC
Get ready for an electrifying musical experience at Ecstatica with world-leading musicians and Ecstatic Dance DJs. Our musical lineup is designed to amaze, offering a diverse range of events. From serene and soothing concerts to wild and ecstatic dances, including dances in nature. This year, we will be debuting the “Octo,” a circular arrangement of 3D virtual sound to immerse you in the electronic world music soundscapes. Arranged in an octagon structure outside in nature, designed to fully envelop you in the ecstatic experience.
Embodied movement
Throughout the festival, you’ll have the opportunity to explore a variety of embodied movement practices. These holistic practices seamlessly integrate the mind, body, and spirit. Whether it’s morning yoga, the lively ‘Boogie Body Burn’ (where you can groove and connect with your body), Qigong, playful Martial Arts, the evocative Butoh Dance, African Dance or the trance-inducing Shamanic Dance, there’s something for everyone to explore.
BReathwork
SOMA Breath, a key partner and sponsor of the Ecstatica Festival, is dedicated to empowering individuals with transformative tools and science-backed Pranayama techniques. During the festival, the SOMA Breath core team will offer a number of workshop experiences, they will collaborate with skilled breathwork facilitators from diverse lineages to share their expertise. At the core of SOMA Breath’s mission is inclusivity, as they strive to create a nurturing community that encourages open discussions, knowledge exchange, and collective growth.
Meditation, Sound baths & stillness
Nestled within Ängsbacka’s lush forests, Ecstatica offers rejuvenating Gong Baths and guided meditation in a serene lush forest space. This is your chance for personal reflection, a moment of stillness, and a deep connection with nature’s restorative energies. In the heart of the forest, let the gentle vibrations of gongs and the peace of meditation nurture your mind and soul, facilitating moments of self-discovery and renewal.
Join the festival
Journey into boundless joy and connection at Ecstatica, where every moment is a dance of the soul.
Talks and seminars
Explore a diverse spectrum of talks and seminars at Ecstatica. Delve into “Biohacking for Mind and Body Optimization” for insights into enhancing mental and physical well-being. “Consciousness Exploration” offers a journey into expanded awareness, discussing history, research, and responsible usage. Find solace in “Mindfulness and Meditation for Everyday Life,” where practical techniques reduce stress and foster inner peace amidst a fast-paced world. These sessions inspire personal growth and transformation within the festival’s vibrant atmosphere.
ICE BATH & SAUNA CEREMONY
Our guided sauna ritual, infused with healing herbs, is a celebration of heat and purification. As you bask in the warmth, prepare for the thrilling contrast of the invigorating ice bath, a practice known to invigorate and improve circulation. It’s a harmonious blend of relaxation and invigoration in one unforgettable ceremonial experience.
SWEATLODGE & TEMAZCAL
We’re delighted to offer the opportunity to experience the rich traditions of both Celtic and Temazcal (Mexican) sweat lodges. These distinct practices provide unique and rejuvenating rituals for cleansing and renewal. Immerse yourself in the Celtic and Temazcal sweat lodges, connecting with ancient traditions from different corners of the world, and experience their transformative benefits.
PLAYFULNESS & CREATIVITY
We have a world of playfulness waiting for you, from Cacao wrestling to Hula Hooping, Laughter Yoga, interactive art installations, face painting, costume making, treasure hunts, and much more. Get ready to unleash your creativity and embrace the spirit of joy and discovery!
Teachers & Musicians
We are curating a wide and varied festival programme bringing together some of the world’s leading Teachers, Musicians & Ecstatic Dance DJ’s for an extra extraordinary experience for you.
Stay tuned for updates as we announce additional teachers and musicians to elevate your experience.
WHY ECSTATICA?
Ecstatica is a celebration that speaks to the universal human desire for authenticity, connection, and personal growth. Ecstatica transcends geographic borders and transcends cultural boundaries. Whether you’re a seasoned explorer of consciousness or stepping onto this path for the first time, you are welcome here. Together, we embark on a journey of self-discovery, transformation, and the celebration of life’s extraordinary beauty.
OUR ETHOS
Ecstatica is dedicated to celebrating life in its purest form, with music and dance at our core. We invite you to join us in an experience where the boundaries of self and others blur, and where the dance of existence unfolds in all its beauty.
“Life is the dancer, and you are the dance.” – Eckhart Tolle
We embrace the full spectrum of human existence, from moments of stillness in meditation to ecstatic celebrations and radical self expression and inclusion.
We believe that life is a canvas waiting to be painted with the colors of joy, love, and profound connection.”
“The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance.” – Alan Watts
PREVIOUS EDITIONS
Practical information
A typical day at an Ängsbacka festival
Our events all have their unique program of workshops and other activities, still there are some fixed points that you can expect at the festival:
- An early morning program is offered - yoga, breathing, meditation etc. - before..
- Breakfast - our first meal of the day.
- A gathering for all with music and togetherness setting the tone of the day is followed by..
- Morning workshops and other activities until..
- Lunch - the main meal of the day.
- Afternoon workshops and activities go on until..
- Dinner - a lighter, still fully nourishing meal.
- An evening program follows; workshops, dance, live music or a cozy hang-out in the café.
Once per day everybody meets in their sharing groups; all of us come together for the core practice of Ängsbacka!
Workshops on the program are described and categorized in such a way that you can find out how advanced or challenging exercises you can expect beforehand.
Accommodation
The basic festival ticket includes a spot in the camping area and you bring your own tent.
All our indoor accommodations come at hostel standard with shared showers and toilets.You will find outdoor toilets in connection to the camping areas and outdoor showers are available to complement the indoor facilities. We advise you to bring earplugs for better sleep if you are sound sensitive as the festival area can get loud at times (the program will end latest 02.00).
UPGRADE YOUR ACCOMMODATION
Depending on availability and your budget we offer the following options for indoor accommodation:
- dormitory (bunk bed)
- 4-6 bedroom (bunk bed)
- double room (twin bed)
- Single room
Indoor accommodation includes a blanket and pillow for each person. You need to bring your own bed sheets or a sleeping bag and a pillowcase. Towels are not included. We offer a possibility to rent sheets and towels at an additional cost.
CARAVAN OR CAMPER
If you would like to bring your camper or caravan - check availability when booking your ticket. Unfortunately we do not have the capacity to offer electricity for any of these spots.
OFF SITE ACCOMODATION
Sometimes you need more privacy or tranquility or maybe you want to bring your dog (no dogs allowed on site). Booking an off site accommodation can be a good option and many private house/flat owners offer spaces for rent during the summer. Please request the list of people offering off site accommodation by contacting our booking office at booking@angsbacka.se.
FOOD AND SERVING
The festival ticket includes all meals; breakfast lunch and dinner are prepared and served daily. Ängsbacka offers a vegetarian diet prepared with love. We use locally produced and organic products to a large extent. In connection with your booking, you can ask for a vegan diet (same as lactose free) or gluten and nut-free food options. For practical reasons, we cannot meet any other wishes related to allergies or diets during festivals. All meals are presented at the outdoor serving tent area.
ALCOHOL-FREE & DRUG-FREE
Ängsbacka has a policy of zero tolerance for illicit drugs and alcohol. We don’t serve alcohol, and it is not allowed to drink or to be under the influence of alcohol or other substances when you are at Ängsbacka. If you are found under the influence, we will ask you to leave immediately.
Please find our other general policies and guidelines here.
Code of ethics
Ängsbacka is continuously developing intentions for offering supportive and transformational spaces - read our Code of Ethics here.
PAYMENTS AND CURRENCY
Remember! We always request you to book and pay your event ticket online before arrival.
Both our café and the reception at Ängbsacka are cash-free, so once at Ängsbacka you will only be able to use card or Swish (Swedish direct payment service) as a payment method at our reception and in the café.
We only accept the currency SEK.
For cash withdrawal, there is a cash point at Coop in Molkom (the nearby village).
ÄNGSBACKA CAFÉ
The Café is a cosy meeting place for hang-out, new friendships and deep conversation. You can buy yummy home-made cakes, a wide range of coffee, teas, golden milk, smoothies, chilled beverages, chocolate, raw food goodies and more!
During the summer our café is a tech-free zone, so the café is not a place for work or gaming on your digital devices. Charging your digital devices can be done in "The Hub".
SAUNA
Our amazing and newly renovated Sauna is open all evenings of the festival. Come relax and enjoy the heat in the company of new and old friends. It is a requirement to bring a towel to sit on in the sauna.
KARMA STORE
At Karma Store you find organic yoga clothes, beautiful jewelry, books, beauty products and more.
Holy Tree crafts and instrument shop
In the Holy Tree shop you find a unique selection of music instruments such as shamanic drums, flutes, rattles and more.
SIMSALA CHAI
Simsala Chai is beautifully situated a short walk into the forest next to the festival area. Welcome to treat and nourish yourself with a cup of chai in the presence of nature. Here you also find hand crafted music instruments. Come, take a break from the intensity of the festival and let yourself be held by the spirit of the forest.
Healing Circle
The Healing Circle offers personal sessions for bodywork, energy healing, massage, counselling and other forms of therapies/modalities. Make sure to bring your own towel to your session to lay on. You can book and pay (by card) your sessions through the reception, or the Café when the reception is closed, during your stay at Ängsbacka
FESTIVAL GALLERY
Information about workshop leaders and Festival programs for each day can be found in the Festival Gallery outside the barn. The Festival program can be changed with short notice, so please check it often.
Here you also find opening hours for café, shops, reception and more.
THE HUB
In The Hub, the tent next to the Festival Gallery, you can find more information about the amazing work our workshop leaders are doing outside of Ängsbacka.
If you need to charge any of your digital devices you are more then welcome to use our charging stations located in The Hub.
LOST ITEMS
As a visitor at Ängsbacka you are solely responsible for your personal belongings at all times. During the actual event Ängsbacka will support you to retrieve any items lost by setting up, and maintaining specific “Lost & Found”-labelled boxes nearby the workshop-spaces.After each Festival the lost & found boxes will be emptied and all collected items will be stored in our Lost & Found tent for a total of 2 weeks upon completion of the event.
Valuables such as wallets, digital devices, keys and similar are handed in and kept at our booking office for a maximum of 3 months and will be returned upon description. Valuables are the only items that will be sent to you after the event is over and you will be charged for the postage plus an administrative fee of 100 SEK.
Please be aware that Ängsbacka does not take any responsibility for personal belongings - the above is to be considered a service and not a guarantee that you will be able to retrieve lost items whether valuables or others, such as clothing.
WELCOME LETTER
A welcome letter with more detailed information about the festival will be sent out to all participants.
LANGUAGE
Ängsbacka is an international course and festival center with people from all over the world. The main language spoken during the festivals is English.
Tristan Gorski
Festival Creator and Director
Tristan Gorski, the visionary behind Ecstatic Dance Koh Phangan, calls the serene island his creative hub. His journey is shaped by a love for conscious dance, sparked during his DJing days in the underground rave scene in the late 1900s. The relentless nights and corporate burnout led to a pause in his DJing career in 2003. Years later, he rediscovered his passion for DJing and conscious movement at a Tantra Festival. Today, Tristan’s diverse DJ sets create spaces for inner exploration and connection, blending rhythms and soulful sounds. His experience in tantra and shamanic practices enriches his transformative music and dance. Globetrotting as a DJ, Tristan’s journey reflects how music and conscious movement helped him overcome an addictive and destructive lifestyle, inspiring transformations worldwide.
Niraj Niak
Festival Creator and Sponsor
Niraj Niak, known as the Renegade Pharmacist, is a certified UK pharmacist who transformed into a holistic wellness expert, brain-training enthusiast, and a globally sought-after spiritual ceremony facilitator. His remarkable journey began during a challenging phase of corporate burnout, leading to a year of debilitating chronic illness. Remarkably, he healed himself through the practice of Breathwork and dietary adjustments, inspiring his mission to share this wisdom with others. Today, Niraj leads a thriving global breathwork community and trains numerous breathwork experts using his SOMA breath framework, which is widely adopted in wellness centers worldwide, with training centers spanning Europe, the USA, and Asia. In this masterclass, Niraj offers a magical guided experience of his top-rated breathwork technique, enabling you to rediscover your path to vibrant health and well-being.
Nadine Edstrand
Festival Program Coordinator
Nadine is a dynamic force in the realm of movement and expression and the co-creator of Ecstatic Dance Journey Stockholm. Her journey has been shaped by her deep passion for dance and yoga, both of which have been integral to her life since a very young age.
After an accident and burnout that heightened her sensitivity to the world of sound and movement led her to fully embrace the transformative power of ecstatic dance and dive deeper into the world of embodied communication, authentic relating, psychosynthesis and breathwork.
Driven by a passion-fueled dedication and an unwavering belief in every individual’s right to dance their unique, unapologetic dance, Nadine curates the program for Ecstatica Sweden 2023 in collaboration with Tristan & Niraj.
