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Artist Residency with Ecstatic Dance Culture, February 2025

I’m excited to share an exclusive interview about my artist residency with Ecstatic Dance Culture (EDC). This residency has been a powerful journey, of exploration and collaboration, allowing me to create immersive visuals that shape an environment where movement, music, and imagery merge into modern-day dance ritual.



I spoke with EDC about my artistic background, what draws me to working in dance environments, and how movement, music, and visuals interact to create deeply transformative experiences.


Here’s the full conversation!


EDC: Let’s start with an introduction. Can you tell us a little about your background and artistic journey?

Sure. I’m a multimedia artist working in experimental film, digital art, photography, printmaking, and installation. My work explores altered states of consciousness- how art can change how we think, feel, and see the world. The ultimate expression of my practice is the creation of immersive environments – experiences that engage all the senses, shaping behaviour, mood, and collective connection. My MA research focused on how digital media can induce altered states, a foundation that has led me to this collaboration with Ecstatic Dance Culture. Dance spaces, for me, are the perfect environment for this work. They are constantly evolving, dynamic ecosystems where visuals aren’t just seen but embodied—becoming part of the sensory and emotional experience of the dance.

Danielle Jacques, studio talk, October 2024
Danielle Jacques, studio talk, October 2024

EDC: You’ve worked across different artistic disciplines. What is it about dance spaces that particularly draws you in?

Dance has been recognised as a powerful means to reach altered states of consciousness, release emotions and foster cultural cohesion. When people move together energy builds— there’s a sense of collective synchrony, shared emotion and deep connection. For me, Ecstatic dance takes the best parts of the contemporary rave culture and leaves the rest behind. It’s like clubbing meets mindfulness-no phones, no small talk, no judgment. It’s about losing yourself to the music, connecting with yourself and others, shaking off tension and expressing yourself freely. The emphasis on ritual, adds a deeper layer of intention and meaning to the experience creating a space for healing and transformation. And at the same time—it’s just pure, unfiltered joy!


In the past, we would have danced around the flickering light of an open fire. Today lasers, strobes, projections and LED screens take their place. My visuals extend that primal energy, capturing and amplifying the raw organic force of movement, light and rhythm. The dance space is alive, shifting and evolving - and my work mirrors that energy. Here, the visuals aren’t just something to watch—they are something to feel, interact with, and embody. They become part of the sensory architecture of the experience, helping to weave a space that is immersive, transformative, and transporting.



EDC: How do music, movement, and visuals interact within Ecstatic Dance, and how do you ensure they complement each other?

I see music, movement, and visuals as interconnected elements—each influencing and amplifying the other. Music sets the emotional tone and rhythm, movement is how the body interprets and expresses that rhythm, and visuals serve as a bridge, expanding and deepening the energy of both. Rather than rigid synchronisation to a beat, my approach is more fluid. I design the visuals to mirror the energy of the space, creating peaks and troughs that evolve organically rather than following a mechanical structure. The mind naturally seeks connections between sound and image, so rather than forcing synchronisation, I help create an environment where these elements feel organically linked, allowing the dancers’ perception to make the connection in a way that feels natural.


Visuals inviting exploration of fire and ice created for the Cold Moon, December 2024

EDC: Where do you draw inspiration from when creating visuals for Ecstatic Dance Culture?

Each month, I take inspiration from symbolism, lunar cycles, and seasonal shifts. The full moon is a key starting point—I explore its historical and spiritual significance, drawing visual themes from its energy. I also consider where we are in the astrological calendar, the position of the sun and moon, and what dominant elements and archetypes are at play. A full moon in a water sign might lead me to create fluid, ethereal imagery, while a fire sign might inspire something more intense and bold.


I also take cues from the natural world. The weather, the sky, the shifting light of the season—these elements shape my choices in colour palettes, textures, and motion. Increasingly, I’ve been introducing figurative imagery through AI—mythological presences and hybrid forms that allow dancers to see themselves reflected within the visuals. It creates a sense of storytelling, of stepping into an unfolding narrative rather than just watching an abstract pattern unfold.


AI generated image created for the Wolf Moon, January 2025
AI generated image created for the Wolf Moon, January 2025

EDC: Your work is deeply immersive. What do you hope dancers take away from the experience?

I aim to create an experience that is more than just visual—it’s about crafting a space where dancers feel deeply connected to themselves, to the music, to the movement, and to each other. I want them to step into an environment where they can let go, explore, and transform, where they feel held by the space, inspired to move, and free to express themselves fully.

I hope the visuals encourage a sense of wonder and expansion, guiding the dancers through emotional peaks and moments of stillness, reflecting the rhythms of both the music and their own inner experience. At the core, it’s about creating something that feels greater than the sum of its parts—a moment where music, movement, and visuals merge into something truly immersive, something that moves beyond words and into feeling, presence, and transformation.

Dancer interacting with visuals at inaugural Women's Full Moon Dance, November 2024
Dancer interacting with visuals at inaugural Women's Full Moon Dance, November 2024

EDC: That’s a beautiful way to put it. Thank you for sharing your process with us—it’s been a pleasure!


Ready to Dance Under the Full Moon?

🔗 Grab your tickets now on Eventbrite.


Follow Along

Stay updated on the latest news and behind-the-scenes insights by following @djartworks and @ecstaticdanceculture.ldn.

© 2024 by Danielle Jacques
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Danielle Jacques, Visual Artist, London, UK

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