Sprocket is a conscious dance pioneer and co-founder of the Ecstatic Dance movement which originated at the Kalani Oceanside Retreat, deep in the Hawaiian jungle.

He threw his first dance party at age 12 at his high school in Germany. By age 16 he was playing gigs around town and able to catch live performances by some of his favorite artists. Anything from Kraftwerk to Tangerine Dream, Klaus Schultze, Queen, Zappa, Zeppelin, all the way to industrial, experimental, heavy metal and obscure punk bands like The Exploited and The Tubes.

Sprocket recorded loops and mash-ups on two UHER reel to reel tape decks and a KORG MS20 analog synth and whatever stuff he could make noise with, much like his inspiration Einstürzende Neubauten. With his best friends Lippus and Andreas he soon formed the punk band EGAL (who cares) and spent countless hours in their practice space (an old bakery) until their ears were bleeding (or the neighbors couldn't stand it any longer).

Fast forward a few years and Sprocket works with the groundbreaking Fairlight CMI at the Technical University and finds himself at the first Love Parade in the summer of 1989, when 150 people took to the streets dancing in Berlin. It was conceived as a political demonstration for peace and international understanding through love and music.

One of his favorite dance clubs and inspirations was the Far Out / Zorba The Buddha dance temple in Berlin. It had a wide variety of patrons and music and tolerant hosts. Everyone could be themselves.

His adventures took him to countless Burningman festivals since the 90s where he played sunrise sets on the Playa and met Max, the chef at a magical oceanside retreat center not far from Sprocket's new home on the Big Island of Hawai'i. The serendipity of their chance encounter soon banded them together like brothers and they played parties and developed a Sunday morning dance event based on their eclectic musical styles and love for joyous, exuberant and transcending dance journeys.

The seeds of Ecstatic Dance were planted into fertile volcanic soil and watered gently every Sunday morning. The event slowly became bigger and bigger and eventually evolved into a world-wide phenomena which now touches countless beings and brings much love, joy, connection, and healing into our lives.

Learn more about the history HERE