Samhain gathering · November 14 · Bethesda
Come get a little
witchy with us this fall.
You know you want to.
Step into the magic
of Samhain.
A candlelit night of dancing, ritual, sisterhood, and some much needed laughter.
Wear something that makes you feel fabulous and come shake your tail feathers with us.
Claim your spot
What is Samhain?
Samhain is the original Halloween: the old Celtic festival that honors the ancestors and welcomes a new cycle. We turn to their practices and wisdom teachings—ritual and movement that help us feel connected, alive again and ready to move forward.
Dancing with our ancestors
Remembering the women who came before us.
Breaking patterns
Choosing what we’ll take from our lineage, and what we’re ready to lay to rest.
Listening to our intuition
Reconnecting with the wise voice within, sharing a collective exhale, and building the deep, genuine friendships we’re all craving.
This isn’t a sit-in-silence kind of women’s circle. Expect ancient roots, playful modern magic, embodied practice, and—of course—lots of cackling.
Our evening
An evening to joyfully dive deep. Honor your ancestors through Qoya-inspired movement, get a little—or a lot—wild, and dance until you’re sweaty—with ritual, laughter, mocktails, and fondue along the way.
Sip a mocktail, visit with lovely women in our circle, and help create our community altar.
We’ll honor our ancestors and reconnect with ourselves through guided movement and free dance—slowing down to listen, shaking things loose, and moving in whatever way feels good. No choreography or dance experience needed.
Share fondue, great conversation and creative ritual to welcome a new cycle. We finish at 9:15.
Questions about Samhain
Who is this for?
Sisterhood for women, femmes, and gender-expansive folks. Every body, every race and ethnicity, every sexuality, every ability, every age. Trans women, nonbinary, gender-fluid, gender-nonconforming.
Is this a therapy group?
Nope! We are licensed therapists who know how to hold a safe and grounded space, but this is a community gathering for connection, ritual, and fun. It is not psychotherapy.
Is it okay to come solo?
Yes! Come with a friend or come solo. We’ll help you settle in and meet the other women in our welcoming community.
What is Qoya?
Qoya is a system of sacred, feminine movement that is both spontaneous and structured. Depending on when you look in, it might look like a women’s circle, a dance class, or a wild party. It’s based on the idea that through movement, we remember our essence is wise, wild and free.
Qoya defies the cultural judgments about what our bodies “should be” and offers a sacred relationship with the body as it is. Women and gender non-conforming people of all ages and levels of physical fitness are welcome. Move at your own pace, to your body’s rhythms. Your body, your choice. As Qoya creator Rochelle Schieck says, “If it feels good, you know you’re doing it right.”
Qoya is a Quechua word meaning “Queen.” The practice flows from the Q’ero people of Peru, shared with permission and blessing through Qoya Inspired Movement.
What if I have physical limitations?
Qoya is a full body movement practice. Rest is full participation.
What should I bring?
A yoga mat, a journal and pen, a water bottle. Clothes you can move in. An open heart.
What should I wear?
Wear whatever feels comfortable. If you feel like dressing up, wear something that makes you feel fabulous—dressing up is entirely optional.
Should I eat before?
Please eat before you arrive. Light snacks and fondue will be served between Qoya and ritual.
How can I contribute to the community altar?
An altar sits at the heart of our circle. Bring something to add if you’d like — a flower, a stone, a photo, anything that holds meaning.
Getting there
Unity Dance & Movement, 4853 Cordell Ave, PH-9, Bethesda, MD, on the 16th floor of the Triangle Towers Building. Enter the lobby and turn left to the elevators. Go to the 16th floor, turn left, then left again at the split in the hallway. Suite PH9 is on the right.
Parking: metered street parking, a metered surface lot across the street, and four Montgomery County garages within a 4-minute walk: Garage 40 (St. Elmo and Cordell Ave), Garage 35 (Woodmont and Rugby), Garage 36 (Auburn and Del Ray), Garage 11 (Woodmont Corner). Unity Dance is an 8-minute walk from the Bethesda Metro (red line) and a 4-minute walk from the Woodmont and Cheltenham stop on the H2 bus.
From past Qoya circles
“Erin joyfully embodies this exuberant movement process, facilitating a circle that feels safe and connected. My usual self consciousness went out the window and I was able to connect to a soulful, wise and empowered part of myself that I had not previously felt.”
Laura Reagan, LCSW-C
“Qoya offers just the right balance of intuitive free movement as well as structure and support to keep you grounded and connected to your intention. If you’re nervous about dancing in front of others, or worried that this is a dance class where you won’t know the steps — know that this is so very different.”
Hannah Wilson, LCPC
Keep the spark alive.
Can’t make it to our autumn gatherings, or live outside the DC area? Sign up for our list and stay in the know. We’ll keep the spark alive and notify you about future seasonal events—both in person and online.
Saturday, November 14 · 5:30–9:15pm
Unity Dance & Movement · Bethesda
$95 · $75 · $45. Choose your rate.