An Alcohol Free and Intentional NYE Party in Oakland

Arula and Nick Johnson

This New Year’s Eve Ecstatic Dance Oakland is ringing in the New Year while dancing to global beats in a meditative state without alcohol. Mirage, hosted by the Black-and woman-owned collective Ecstatic Dance Oakland, will take place on December 31, transforming a historic, wood-floor ballroom downtown into an immersive night of performance, ritual, and electronic fusion while welcoming all ages to ring in the New Year with intention.

Trade in the cocktails for cocoa offerings, teas and elixirs to enjoy in cozy nooks and intentional spaces where, according to the organizers, the goal is to create “a celebration where connection is the substance.”

New Year’s Eve Event Details:

What: Mirage by Ecstatic Dance Oakland
Starting is a prayerformance by ARULA, setting our collective intention ASADI & XYE then take us into ecstatic heights with their Persian trap alchemy. We close out 2025 and welcome 2026 with DRĖĖĖMY’s embodied ceremonial ritual and dance celebration.
Where: Sweets Ballroom, Oakland - 1933 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94612
Details: Wednesday, December 31st starting at 7pm and runs until 2am - Tickets are available here:https://heyupto.com/t/e1D7sJQC82Dkz
More Event Details here

Flyer for the event

More About Ecstatic Dance Oakland:

Some of you may be familiar with Ecstatic Dance Oakland as it’s had a community dance event at Sweets Ballroom for years. Although Ecstatic Dance is a global movement, Ecstatic Dance Oakland is run locally by a small group who assumed leadership after serious allegations led to a necessary transition away from the previous organizers.

These leadership changes have brought in a new energy behind the dance event with special attention on how to create an even stronger focus on community, care, and creating safe spaces for attendees. At the heart of Ecstatic Dance Oakland is a commitment to safety and care for everyone who enters the space. I spoke with one of the new leaders, Nick Johnson, about how the leadership shift came to be, their plans for the future, and the vision they’re holding for what comes next.

When asked about the origin of the new leadership, Johnson said, “The seed was planted in March of 2024. My partner Arula had just DJed the dance, and afterward we went to Lake Merritt with friends who had been there that night. At that point, word was beginning to circulate about the previous owner’s legal challenges, and many in the community were unsure how to engage with the space moving forward.

During that conversation, a friend casually said, ‘You know who might be good to help carry this? Nick.’ I laughed it off at the time, but when we later shared it with our dear friend Ian, he reflected it back with thoughtfulness and offered his support, business experience, and partnership. What started as an offhand comment slowly became something we listened to more deeply, guided by conversations, trust, and a sense of responsibility to the community.

This leadership transition is rooted in shared stewardship. After witnessing what unfolded under the previous ownership, we recognized the importance of moving away from a single-leader model and toward a team that can hold the space with care and balance.

We also observed that the space had been lacking feminine leadership, and we felt called to bring that presence to the forefront. Arula’s heart and intuition have been integral to this shift and have been deeply received by the community. Alongside this, we are committed to greater diversity, transparency, and accountability. To support these values, we formed the Ecstatic Dance Oakland Community Council, composed of longtime community members with backgrounds in somatic healing, conflict mediation, and restorative justice. Their role is to help guide the community through challenges and to hold us, as stewards of the dance, accountable, ensuring that the past is not repeated.”

The new stewards of Ecstatic Dance Oakland

Reuniting Community And a Focus on The Future:

In 2026, I believe there will be even more of a conscious effort as a community and create experiences that bring people together rather than divide us. Ecstatic Dance Oakland is creating events that do just that with emphasis on strengthening their own foundation with clearer communication and deeper accountability.

Johnson described to me a vision for the future rooted in building relationships rather than hierarchy—one that prioritizes trust, care, and shared responsibility as the foundation of the dance floor. He said to me, “One of the most important pieces of this is the formation of a Community Council - a group of trusted community members who help offer perspective, guidance, and feedback as the space evolves. This council exists to ensure the dance is not led by a single voice, but shaped in relationship with the people it serves.

We’re also prioritizing trauma-sensitive facilitation, strengthened consent culture education, and clearer systems for support and conflict resolution. Our intention is to create a space that feels grounded, transparent, and welcoming - a container where people can move, connect, and belong with greater trust and care.”

We can look forward to more coming from Ecstatic Dance Oakland in 2026 which will include their special events, sound journeys, a monthly acoustic concert series, and community-building gatherings throughout the year. Looking toward the future, Johnson shares, “We’re also planning a series of collaborations with local musicians, embodiment guides, and cultural leaders to keep expanding the creative ecosystem around Ecstatic Dance Oakland.”

As Ecstatic Dance Oakland steps into a new chapter grounded in shared leadership with an emphasis on building and nurturing community trust, their New Year’s Eve event feels like the most meaningful way I could imagine welcoming the New Year—an alcohol-free and heart-centered celebration.