5 Questions for Johanna Köb
— Founder of Ecstatic Dance Zurich —
September 2026
Johanna Köb is the founder of Ecstatic Dance Zurich. She speaks about what sets free dance apart from other forms of movement, what happens in the moment people let go of self-control – and what makes a shared space truly come alive.
"What led you personally to Ecstatic Dance – and what has kept you with it to this day?"
From the very beginning, I was moved by the possibility of arriving back fully in myself through the body. I always felt that movement could change something within us – but with Ecstatic Dance I experienced how deep that could go, when there is no choreography, no expectations, and no "right" or "wrong".
For me, Ecstatic Dance is a space where I can rediscover myself again and again. Sometimes the dance is wild and ecstatic, sometimes very still and delicate. Everything is allowed to be there.
We need such spaces today more than ever: spaces where we don't have to function, but are simply allowed to be.
What has kept me with it to this day is this combination of freedom, presence, and community. And also the feeling of being able to accompany people as they rediscover trust in their own body and their own expression.
"Ecstatic Dance is often described as dance meditation. What's the difference to other forms of dance – and what happens in the body and mind when people move without instructions?"
For me, the big difference is that Ecstatic Dance is not aimed at a performance or a specific outcome. It's not about looking good, mastering a particular technique, or following a choreography. The movement arises from within.
We don't just hear the music – we also listen to our body.
When we stop thinking about how we "should" move, something very natural can emerge. The body begins to find its own rhythm. We can release tension, move emotions, and our perception often becomes much more immediate.
At the same time, our relationship to others changes too. We dance together without needing to prove anything to each other. Each person has their own space, and at the same time a sense of connection emerges. This is exactly where the meditative quality lies for me: we are very awake, very present, and at the same time fully in the moment.
"Many people hesitate at first because they feel shy about dancing freely in front of others. What do you observe in that moment of overcoming – and what helps?"
That's actually something I observe very often. At the beginning, many people arrive with a certain inner observer: "How do I look? Can I even dance? What do the others think of me?"
And then, often at some point, something quite beautiful happens: this inner observer becomes quieter. Perhaps only for a moment at first – and then for longer and longer. The body takes over, and the joy of movement becomes more important than the question of how one looks while doing it. I find it moving, again and again, to witness this transition. It's often like a small letting-go of control.
What helps most is that Ecstatic Dance carries no expectations, and the framework – no talking, no phones – removes distraction. No one has to dance. No one has to feel or show anything specific. You're also allowed to simply stand, sit, breathe, or make very small movements. And of course, the music plays a big role too: it can take us to a place our heads sometimes can't reach on their own. The facilitator also creates, right from the start, a space in which everyone feels comfortable enough to show themselves.
We create a space where people feel safe enough to let go of their usual self-control for a moment.
"The festival brings together dance, music, breathwork, yoga, and conscious community in one place. What makes a shared space truly work for you?"
A space that truly works isn't created just by a good programme, for me. It's created by the quality of presence of everyone who comes together within it. It matters to me that people feel welcome – regardless of whether they already have a lot of experience with bodywork or Ecstatic Dance, or whether it's their first time.
At the same time, it needs clear boundaries and respectful interaction with one another. For me, freedom only really works where safety and mutual respect are also present. When this foundation is there, something magical can happen: people begin to open up, connect with one another, and experience community without having to give up their individuality.
Connection, without conformity. Freedom, without limitlessness. And community, without losing yourself.
"What do you personally wish for the future of Ecstatic Dance in Switzerland – and what does Landguet Ried mean to you as a festival location?"
I wish for two things. First, that Ecstatic Dance reaches even more people in Switzerland while preserving its quality and its essence – that it doesn't simply become another trend, but remains a space where people can experience themselves, their body, and other people in an immediate way.
Second, that more and more people discover that they don't need alcohol or other substances to feel free, alive, and connected – that we can access these states from within ourselves, through music, movement, breath, voice, and community.
Landguet Ried is a truly special place for this, for me. The nature, the openness, and the atmosphere create a beautiful transition out of everyday life.
You're not simply at an event – for a while, you step into another world.
And that's exactly what I wish for the future too: that Ecstatic Dance creates spaces in Switzerland where people can breathe out, move, connect, and perhaps arrive a little more fully in themselves.
Interview: Stefanie Weilenmann
Johanna and her team invite you to the Ecstatic Dance Festival Switzerland from Friday, 25 to Sunday, 27 September 2026 at Landguet Ried – three days of dance, music, breathwork, yoga, sound healing, and conscious community, amid wide meadows and old trees just outside Bern.
Would you like to experience for yourself what emerges when freedom and connection come together? Find all details about the Ecstatic Dance Festival here >>>
Johanna Köb is the founder and organiser of Ecstatic Dance Zurich. For years, she has created spaces for authentic expression, free dance, and conscious community – weekly in Zurich, and now, with the Ecstatic Dance Festival Switzerland, also at Landguet Ried.