El Pronove

El has been dancing ecstatic dance since 2019, and since about 2022 she has had the privilege of facilitating ecstatic dances and cacao circles in Costa Rica, the Philippines and Oaxaca, Mexico. For El, ecstatic dance has been a powerful way to express emotions and feelings that may have been locked away in the body, and to feel connected to her ancestors and the ancestors of the land she's on, wherever that may be. "What I love about ecstatic dance is that we remove the screens: our phones, yes, but also the screens and masks we put on for others and for ourselves day to day. It's a chance to embrace your ugliness and your beauty, and be with the whole spectrum of who you are." El grew up in the Villa Park and Elmhurst area and now lives in Arlington Heights. She played cello for years and loves global groove for dancing, along with classical music and jazz.