Ascension: Dark Fusion Dance Festival & Retreat
IN PERSON for the First Time!
April 10-12, 2026
Jordan's Warehouse | St. Louis, MO, USA
Just as Persephone ascends from the Underworld, so shall we this spring - with the first ever in-person Ascension Dark Fusion Festival!
Celebrate our resurgence from the dark winter months with our Festival + Retreat weekend! full of dance and connection, Ascension brings together an eclectic group of dancers who push boundaries, embrace authenticity, and share a deep sense of community and support.
Secure your spot today before we sell out!
Early Bird Pricing ends January 31st (save $50)
Stygian Collective members get even deeper discounts - learn more here.
Registration Options Available:
🌹Full package of workshops + lodging
🌹Workshops only (coming Dec 1)
🌹Recordings only
Join us April 10-12, 2026 in St. Louis, MO for...
12 Hours of collaborative, invigorating workshops from the ever-astounding Amy Sigil (California), Ami Amoré (St. Louis), and Mama Stygian herself, Daewen
Community Lodging in the beautiful converted warehouse, Jordan's Warehouse, in Downtown St. Louis - Stay in our circle of belonging and simply walk downstairs to your workshops (Limited to 28 registrants!)
Social Hours and Community Building - Stay connected between workshops with dancers like you. Lunches and dinners will be spent together in St. Louis (at dancers' expense), with one special community dinner courtesy of our amazing Stygian Brother, Chris
Mini Photo Sessions and Performance Photos with Russo Photography
Performance photos will be included your registration.
Mini Session pricing, booking, and details coming soon!
Private and intimate Showcase Soirée featuring our instructors and participants (with limited +1s available as space allows)
Sunday Closing Circle of gratitude and celebration - closing the weekend but opening the opportunity for continued friendship, growth, and inspiration
Workshop & Instructor Details
Amy Sigil
Amy Sigil is an international instructor in dance and team building, director of UNMATA, owner of Sigil School, and the creator of Improv Team Sync. She has been studying dance for over 20 years with training in Bellydance, American Tribal Style, Hula, Tahitian, Studio Hip Hop, Volleyball, Basketball and Track.
Dance Class with Sigil!
Saturday, April 11th: 9-11am
Show up and show out with an experience in Sigil Style! A dance workshop filled with fast
and fun fusion movements put together in a small choreography we can drill together. Great
movement with a great playlist! Let’s party!
GENERATING and Embracing your YES
Saturday, April 11th: 2-5pm
You know how I do it … all yes all the time!
Silence the critic and feed the creation. Explore tools and methods to get out of the mud and into the joy of creating. This workshop is all about making dance pieces quickly and with joy! See you in the YES!
Movement for the SPIRIT
Sunday, April 12th: 1-4pm
Connect movement to the soul and spend energy in areas that inspire passion and growth. We will crack open our bodies and hearts to take a spiritual dance journey together. See you in the spirit.
Ami Amoré
Ami Amoré is a St. Louis area fusion dancer who has been dancing since 1999. Besides being a soloist, Ami is the founder and director of Lunar Fusion in St. Louis and a proud member of The Stygian Collective. Ami teaches in the St. Louis area and has taught at festivals around the nation - including 3rd Coast in Texas, Waking Persephone in Rhode Island and Seattle, and at Fusion Evolution in Chicago. Her classes and workshops are filled with sass, humor, and encouragement for the dancer to use critical thinking skills and put their own creative stamp on their dance.
METAL CHVRCH
Sunday, April 12th: 9-11am
Svnday mourning, say your prayers as we take a deep dive into the catacombs. In this two hour workshop, set to a moody industrial+metal sovndtrack, we're going to vnwind, tune in, and worship self. We'll start with an oracle card draw, then do some centering to segway into thought-provoking journal prompts. Then onto a drippy, slow, sinuous metal flow that slowly transcends into a slow yoga dance blend, culminating into a deep reverence of our own divine existence with two short combinations that invoke the light and dark. Please bring your dance grimoire (journal), writing implement, and yoga mat (contact us ahead of time if you need a mat). All levels.
Daewen
Daewen is the founder of the Stygian Collective and the pioneer of Metal Fusion dance - a dark, powerful blend of heavy music and fusion belly dance. Drawing inspiration from heavy music, strong emotions, strength, mythology, horror, fantasy, magic, and her mentors, she’s carved a niche in the fusion world as both a performer and instructor. Since 2020, Daewen has built a thriving international dance community, producing online festivals, leading workshops, and offering a comprehensive Stygian Certification Program for dancers of all levels. With a background in psychology, coaching, and rune divination, she combines technical expertise, emotional depth, magickal flair, and a passion for personal growth to support dancers both on and off the stage. Known as “Mama Stygian,” Daewen balances her dark, powerful performances with warmth, humor, and a deep commitment to community.
Cathartic Dance
Friday, April 10th: 7-9pm
In this workshop, Daewen will take you through her cathartic dance method to move through pain, loss, frustration, or any negative emotion that needs release. Prepare to dig deep with guidance through movement exercises in a safe and supportive environment.
ALL styles are welcome! Bring a notebook and an open mind.
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Find Where You Belong!
Looking for a place to truly belong in the fusion dance world?
The Stygian Collective is an international community built for metal and gothic belly dancers who crave both individuality and connection. If you've been feeling a bit disconnected or missing opportunities to grow and share your dance, this is your invitation to come home.
With all-levels instruction, creative freedom, and genuine camaraderie, our members don’t just learn—they belong.
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We are devoted to a community of inclusion and all are welcome with us. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status. If you have an experience that isn’t consistent with these values, we want to hear from you so we can do better!
Disclaimers
Dance is a physical activity. Stygian Dance and affiliated instructors will not be held liable for any injuries that may occur from using these videos. If you engage in this program, you agree that you do so at your own risk. Trust your body, and if needed, consult a physician regarding any concerns you may have.
Stygian Style is informed by MEHNAT traditional dance. We acknowledge and love our roots in raqs sharqi and Middle Eastern dance traditions. Many of our members dance and perform in both worlds, and we encourage students to research the history of this danceform.
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