Dancing like Ancestors: An ethnographic investigation of trance practices and principles in contemporary UK psychedelic trance dance culture

Abstract

Summary
This research investigated the claim that contemporary UK psychedelic trance culture (psyculture) is re-enacting ancestral trance practices by investigating psyculture practices and principles through an ethnography of a living culture particularly at outside gatherings.

Background
Psychedelic trance music culture is a growing global culture that aligns itself with complex belief systems, customs, and practices that are associated with re-connecting with ancestral practices long forgotten but still believed in, the re-enactment of rituals and ceremonies that promote trance through dance, music, sound, and environment to initiate altered states of consciousness potentially leading to personal and group transformation and healing benefits. Psyculture demonstrates many small-scale societal principles and practices in terms of contribution, community and participation that brings benefits to members and the community as a whole.

Current research
Current research indicates that there are similarities between past and contemporary trance dance and psyculture dance practices and principles. The literature reviews psyculture practices in terms of trance, dance, participation, contribution, community, participation, connectivity, the environment and nature, material culture, and music. There are gaps in the study of contemporary trance cultures in the UK, particularly psyculture, with few local, country specific investigations. The aim was to provide deeper insight in the practices and principles of trance dance principles and practices in UK psyculture.

Methodology
The methodological approach taken was a relativist ontology with an emic, qualitative, interpretive epistemology because of a desire to gain an in-depth understanding of participant’s interpretations of psyculture. The methods were an online survey and interviews to ascertain the opinions of psyculture participants, and to find what ethnographic fieldwork reveals with use of data thematic analysis, ethnographic observation at specific gatherings, and an autoethnographic account.

Findings
Findings have shown potential similarities of practices and principles of trance dance in many societies centred around dance, sound, music, embodiment and sensory experiences, landscape and journeys, and the benefits of participation and contribution from a dancer’s perspective. In fact, community is the central cohering around which the desire to return to dance for long period in natural landscape pivots. The findings demonstrate the importance of belonging, community, contribution, and participation that are integrated outside in the liminal, temporary spaces.

Conclusion
In conclusion, dance, trance, beliefs, spiritualities, purposes, the centrality of sound and music, the importance of place, and the benefits of participation as key factors in participants’ involvement. What is revealing in terms of an original contribution is the dominance of dance and dancing for prolonged periods in groups preferably outside as the determining factors for participants to return to gatherings.

Contribution
The original contribution comes from an in-depth study of psyculture as a living co-presence sociality providing a comprehensive understanding of the established practices and principles which may help establish a framework for future studies in different EDM genre and cultures and their unique practices and principles. The unique findings show how psyculture survives in an often hostile environment as a small-scale EDM based community that shapes participants’ lives and identities as well as being the force that holds the culture together sustaining its survival with a rich depth in practices and principles beyond shallow hedonism. Foregrounded is the importance of returning to the gatherings to dance together with rich communality, contribution, and participation evident.