SANCTUARY - 5Rhythms at the Gorge Pavilion

SANCTUARY - 5Rhythms Dance at the Gorge Pavilion

Once a month, we dance in a treetop pavilion that bridges history, water, and wild presence—5Rhythms Dance at the Gorge Pavilion: where freedom meets form, and every body is welcome.  

We’ll come together in the Esquimalt Gorge Park Pavilion—a stunning, light-filled, Japanese-inspired sanctuary perched on the Gorge Waterway, with floor-to-ceiling windows, cedar beams, and sweeping views of water and gardens. It sits at the edge of Esquimalt Gorge Park, itself home to North America’s first Japanese Garden, designed in 1907 by Isaburo Kishida. This beautiful space bridges tradition and presence, inviting us to dance in the now.

5Rhythms is a movement meditation, a full-body workout, and a wild, grounding journey—all at once. It wakes up every part of you: body, emotions, instincts, and creativity. Here, there are no steps to learn, no choreography, only the space to move in your own way.

In this circle, we travel through the five rhythms—Flowing, Staccato, Chaos, Lyrical, Stillness—each a different landscape of movement, each a doorway into connection, release, presence. The music is wide-ranging, soul-stirring, and mixed live, carrying us deeper into the rhythm of our bodies and the arc of the dance.

These gatherings are equal parts medicine, adventure, and permission—to show up exactly as you are, alongside others doing the same.

No experience needed. Just your curiosity, your body, your breath.

All bodies, abilities, and ages (15+) welcome

WHEN:

NEXT SESSIONS: Thursdays: September 10, October 8, November 5 + December 3, 2026 | 7pm-8:30pm. 

And Monday, December 21, 2026 (special shortest night of the year class) | 7pm-8:30pm. 

WHERE:

Esquimalt Gorge Pavilion is located at 1070 Tillicum Road in Esquimalt Gorge Park. Nestled beside the Gorge Waterway and the Japanese Garden, the Pavilion offers a beautiful and serene setting. The venue is fully accessible, with elevator access, plenty of free on-site parking, and designated accessible parking stalls. Please join us in the Upper Level Pavilion Hall.

PRICE + HOW TO REGISTER:  

These sessions $25 per class and are offered in partnership with the Esquimalt Recreation Centre. Registration is required and quick.

Sign in with your Esquimalt Rec account, or create one in just a few steps.

Find Sanctuary 5Rhythms® Dance at the Gorge Pavilion, select your date(s), and reserve your spot.

GOOD TO KNOW:

 •These classes have been selling out with a wait list, so booking in advance is recommended.

 •You can cancel for a full refund up to three days before class through the Esquimalt Parks and Recreation Centre system.

 •If you’d like to pay in person with cash, or if you have any questions, call the Esquimalt Parks and Recreation Centre at 250-412-8500. They’re open daily from 5:30am to 10:30pm.

 • For those with limited income: Esquimalt Recreation offers an Access Pass (formerly the LIFE Program) for low-income community members. You are welcome to apply. If you hold an Access Pass, you are warmly invited to use it for this class, and your participation is fully honoured.

Refund policy: • You can cancel for a full refund up to three days before class through the Esquimalt Parks and Recreation Centre system.

Registration: Pre-Registration Required