Entry No. 6 — the Des Moines file — filed under: ecstatic dance
Ecstatic Dance Des Moines
A substance-free, no-talking dance gathering held in a real ballroom studio tucked behind Gateway Market, where dancers stash their phones and move however the music takes them, no choreography, no judgment. Held in the studio right off the back parking lot by the accessible ramp.
The story
If you wander behind Gateway Market on a Sunday, you might expect to see delivery trucks or grocery shoppers loading up trunk space. Instead, you'll find a crowd stepping out of their shoes and slipping into a studio where three foundational pillars of modern social life—drinking, checking your phone, and making small talk—are strictly off-limits. Ecstatic Dance Des Moines occupies a room inside the Des Moines Ballroom building on High Street, turning a standard floor into a temporary sanctuary for completely unscripted movement.
There are no instructors leading eight-counts, no steps to memorize, and no partners to coordinate with. The premise is simple: you show up, stash your phone, shed your shoes, and move however the sound tracks push you to move for a couple of hours. Because speaking isn't allowed on the dance floor, the social anxiety of breaking the ice with strangers vanishes. You aren't there to perform or impress anyone—you're there to sweat out the week in total anonymity.
What it's like
Finding the entrance requires a bit of local orientation: skip hunting for a main lobby door on High Street and head around to the back parking lot, entering through the studio doorway right next to the accessible ramp. The small lot is shared with Gateway Market and spaces marked for 1925 High St fill up fast, so leave yourself a parking buffer. Once inside, drop your bag, stash your phone, and step onto the floor in socks or bare feet. The music usually builds from slow, grounding stretches up to high-energy rhythmic peaks before winding back down into silence. When it ends, walk straight next door to Gateway Market to grab snacks and finally break the silence.
The move: Go in with zero dance experience and surrender to it together: no phones, no talking, just freeform movement for a couple hours, then debrief over groceries-turned-snacks at Gateway Market next door.
📍 Before you go The dance lives inside the Des Moines Ballroom, the studio building tucked behind Gateway Market in the River Bend area just off High Street. Skip hunting for a grand front door: the gathering uses the studio off the back parking lot by the accessible ramp. That lot is shared with Gateway and marked "Parking for 1925 High St. only," with only a handful of spaces, so leave a little buffer. It is a recurring Sunday session that runs indoors year-round, so weather is never the issue. Come ready for a phone-free, no-talking, substance-free room, and no dance experience is needed. Gateway Market next door is the natural before-or-after stop.
- 📍 River Bend / Downtown (behind Gateway Market)
- 💸 $
- ⚡ Big night
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: Des Moines Ballroom, 1925 High St, Des Moines, IA 50309
Hours: Recurring Sunday session; phones/cameras must be stashed during the dance. Verify date/time on the listing before going.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- Ancient Ways — Pair a silent, phone-free dance session with a browse through ethnic drums, herbs, and occult books down on University Avenue.
- Inner Space — ZeroBody Dry Float & Salt Lounge — Follow up physical freeform movement with another unusual sensory reset—floating fully clothed on a heated water bed down on Keosauqua Way.
- Woodland Cemetery — City Receiving Vault & Baby Hill — Carry your post-dance stillness into a quiet stroll through 65 acres of Victorian monuments and historic vaults in nearby Sherman Hill.
Good to know
Do I need a partner or any dance experience?
Not at all. The gathering is completely freeform with zero choreography, no partner work, and no experience expected.
What are the core house rules?
The room is strictly substance-free, phone-free, and conversation-free on the dance floor.
Where exactly is the entrance?
Bypass the front of 1925 High Street and head to the back parking lot. Use the studio entrance right by the accessible ramp.
Where should I park?
Park in the lot behind 1925 High St shared with Gateway Market. Look for spots marked for 1925 High St, but note that spaces are limited, so arriving early helps.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · Facebook
last checked: 2026-06-06