A celebration of life through ecstatic belly dance, sacred sound & the Zaghrouta cry - joy, freedom & connection in motion.
Zaghrouta زغروطة is a 90-minute embodied and ecstatic belly dance ritual inspired by ancient Middle Eastern traditions.
In Arab culture, the zaghrouta is an ululation - a cry of joy, freedom, and victory. This gathering invites you to embody that same spirit through movement, sound, and community.
Guided by belly dance–inspired gestures, flowing hair and hand movements, and the celebratory Zaghrouta ritual itself, we’ll journey through the elements of sand, wind, and water. Our live DJ blends traditional Arabic and North African rhythms with modern beats to create an immersive soundscape for release, connection, and renewal.
Come as you are. Let the rhythm awaken your senses, let your body move as prayer, and celebrate the sacred joy of being alive.
What to expect:
Gentle arrival and guided meditation to ground and set intentions
Introduction to belly dance–inspired movements: hip circles, chest lifts, torso undulations, snake arms
Freeform ecstatic dance, weaving learned techniques into personal expression
Human mandala and vocal Zaghrouta ritual to honour connection and joy
Closing circle with reflection and optional herbal tea for integration
What's included:
90-minute guided ritual and dance journey
Live DJ set with traditional and modern Arabic/North African music
Closing mandala ritual and collective vocal celebration
Herbal mint tea for grounding before you leave
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About your facilitators -
Rowa @dr.emotionss
Rowa (She/Her) Trauma-Informed Belly Dance and Yoga Teacher. Born and raised in the heart of the Middle East, surrounded by musical rhythms and the joy of dance, Rowa is a Melbourne-based dance and wellness movement teacher and a professional performance artist. With over 6 years of dedicated study and practice, Rowa has honed her craft in yoga and dance, specializing in trauma-informed techniques that empower individuals to heal through movement.
Since beginning her yoga teaching journey in 2018, Rowa has developed a unique approach that integrates belly dance, yoga, and movement medicine. Her classes are designed to stretch and strengthen the body, release tension, restore balance, and foster a deeper connection to breath and inner consciousness. With a passion for helping others, Rowa uses movement as a transformative tool to unlock, unwind, and renew, allowing her students to reconnect with themselves and heal through the power of dance and mindfulness.
DJ Matab @djmatab
DJ Matab's style highlights global dance music with a focus on Middle Eastern, Italo, Afro, Latin and other world grooves. DJ Matab transforms forgotten favourites and ignites new passions with his electrifying mixes. He is the creator of Dounya El Disco parties, and hosts the Dounya show on PBS FM and Al Zaytouna show on Radio AlHara.
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Things to note:
Centre of You has plenty of bolsters, blankets, and cushions for you to get cosy with. We recommend wearing comfortable, loose clothes to enable deep breathing and sitting/laying upon the floor with ease. Something to cover your eyes, if you wish to do so (eg. eye mask, scarf). A journal is recommended as are any familiar personal items that will aid you in feeling grounded (crystal, teddy, scarf, etc).
Personal responsibility: Please make an assessment on whether you are feeling stable and resourced enough to explore the practices on offer in this event.
No Photo/Video Content Will Be Captured: We recognise that being at an event where content is being captured can impact the personal comfort and nervous system regulation of our community. As such, it should be known upfront that this event is a photo and video free space. No content will be captured. We ask all participants to honor this agreement in respect of the shared experience by placing any recording devices away on arrival.
Arrival: Endeavour to arrive between 6:15pm - 6:30pm. To preserve the experience for all involved, doors will close at 6:45pm. Truly, it breaks our heart to have to turn latecomers away yet the disruption to the whole group experience by virtue of lateness does require management. We ask that you find understanding and consideration for the timebound nature of the container and make every effort to arrive on time.
Driving: Know Centre of You is on Chapel St and ample time to find a car spot is best to be factored into your plans. Park direct on Chapel St (spots unmetered after 5pm) or in Anchor Place, the open-air parking lot in the side street that runs opposite Centre of You (unmetered after 4pm).
Public transport - tram: Both the number 6 tram & 78 tram stop on the corner of High St/Chapel St. This is stop 31 on the number 6 tram (Moreland/Glen Iris) & stop 45 on the number 78 tram (North Richmond/Balaclava).
Public transport - train: Both Prahran & Windsor stations along the Sandringham Line will get you walking distance to Centre of You.
Finding Centre of You: Centre of You is nestled within the arcade that Chapel St Bazaar is in (217 Chapel St). It is up a flight of stairs with a wide landing at the half-way-point. Unfortunately, this current version of Centre of You does not have a wheelchair accessible lift. If you could use support in getting up the stairs or would like to discuss ways to make your experience at Centre of You more comfortable, please reach out via hello@centreofyou.com.au or via DM over on Centre of You Instagram.
Accessibility: At COY we aim to ensure our community and events are inclusive and accessible while alongside upholding the needs and responsibilities of our business and the businesses of our collaborating facilitators. Should you be in a time of financial challenge and unable to pay the full ticket price comfortably, please reach out via hello@centreofyou.com.au or via DM over on Centre of You Instagram
Ticketing T&Cs: We get it, life happens, therefore we will gladly refund you up until 24hrs before the event start time. After that, we have a strict no refund/no transfer to future events policy. If you are no longer able to attend and wish to pay forward your ticket to someone within the community, be in touch via hello@centreofyou.com.au or via DM over on Centre of You Instagram.
Questions? Email hello@centreofyou.com.au or reach out via Instagram DM.
Tickets: $30.00 early bird, $35.00 general exchange.