Ibiza is increasingly home to festivals that push the boundaries of their genres. From electronic music festivals such as the Ibiza Music Summit, to World Music celebrations such as the Ibiza Roots Festival. From huge weekend extravaganzas like the famous Ibiza Medieval Festival, to small, local, crowdfunded festivals like Ai Carai. Plus a whole ream of recent art festivals, from surrealist Bloop to Urban in Ibiza, showcasing cutting-edge street art and held in the lavish gardens of the incomparably beautiful Atzaró.
So it’s really no surprise to see another small, local festival, now in its second year, having blossomed quickly into an event that half the island seems to be enthusiastically involved in. The date for your diary ladies and gents, is Sunday October 5, 2014.
Celebrating life
Ibiza Spirit Festival is a holistic event with a fascinating programme that spans dance, Tantra, workshops and talks, Yoga, a chill-out zone, music therapists, birthing woman, oracle readers, special events and a fabulous children's area. While last year’s resoundingly successful inaugural event was at Casita Verde, this year they’ve grown, expanding into the much larger, stunning surroundings of Atzaró. For the full programme, just check out their website.
The organisers, Jerry and Sabina Brownstein, assisted by local media good guy, David Moss and Café del Mar producer Ingmar Hansch, have declared the day long event ‘a day of inspiration and celebration.’ All are devoted to promoting 'conscious living' to improve health, happiness and longevity.
A World transformed
The organisers are collectively focused on providing a day that provides a glimpse into an alternative reality, one in which the participants (that’s you and me) get to envision ‘a World transformed.’
Transformed into what? You may ask. And rightly so. The answer, in short, is a World transformed for the better of all. One that embraces freedom, equality, cooperation, compassion, respect and joy in each other's lives. This is a World of singing and dancing, to inspire and be inspired by, an inclusive, peaceful World of art, of beauty, of learning and playing.
Well we definitely like the sound of all that!
Ancient Rituals
The event runs from 11am until 8pm and entry is by voluntary donation. You can expect a dramatic closing ceremony from 7.30pm, with accomplished performer Zinnia performing a beautiful sacred dance for Tanit, the ancient Carthaginian Goddess of Ibiza. She will dance for Tanit as an ancient priestess, asking for blessings of prosperity, joy and protection.
Naturally, Atzaró will be providing delicious food & drinks for the occasion.
The festival is sponsored by Greenheart Transforms and Fundacion por el Futuro, two non-profit organisations dedicated to “envisioning a World transformed”. These charities generously fund positive projects, conferences and events throughout the world. All donations generated from the event will assist these two organisations with their various existing and future projects.
Below is a summary of the programme:
Dance and movement: Essential elements of The Spirit of Ibiza, the festival will bring people together in creative dance, sensual Tantra and soulful musical meditations.
Inspirational talks and workshops: Presented by fascinating people from Ibiza and around the World, who will invite you to explore new ways of finding health & happiness in mind, body and spirit.
Music is the messenger: The festival features wonderful DJs and musicians who will fill the air with healing and uplifting sounds, all day and well into the evening. At sunset everyone is invited to celebrate and dance to the beats of DJ Ohm G's new "Quantum Collage".
Yoga classes: At the beautiful Pagoda, you can experience different styles of Yoga presented by the accomplished teachers of Ibiza. This will begin with a spectacular ‘spectrum of Yoga’ exhibition at 12 midday.
Therapy room: You can receive a variety of alternative treatments including different styles of Massage, Reflexology, Reconnective Healing, Reiki, Cranio-Sacral, Crystal Healing and much more.
Ibiza art: Will be on display with several local artists showing their work.
The children's area: At the entrance to Atzaro you'll find fun, creative activities going on all day... face painting, puppet shows, Yoga for kids, arts & crafts, storytelling, workshops and more.
There is also a special area dedicated to feminine empowerment called Birthing Woman.
Ibiza Spotlight welcomes this relatively new event onto the Ibiza festival scene. It sounds like a unique opportunity to really meet the alternative, holistic people of Ibiza and get some much needed end of season recuperation (particularly those who have partaken of the Ibiza closing parties, ahem). We’ll be down there trying out some new therapies (mmm, massage…) and enjoying the blissed-out ambience of Atzaró. See you there?
WORDS | Jane Charilaou PHOTOS | Ibiza Spirit Festival
