Facilitators

We’ve got an amazing lineup of facilitators with diverse workshops to expand, inspire, and connect us!

Marco Esccer (he/him)

  • Marco Esccer has a diverse background from the technical to the therapeutic aspect of dance. His experience as an immigrant in Vancouver has expanded the possibilities of his questions and helped him embrace the nuances of his doubts and gifts. As a queer, Mexican dance artist - blurring the labels into interdisciplinary artist-, cultural worker and incorporating a Dance Movement Therapy lense in his practice, Marco holds a profound interest in creating spaces for awareness of motion, feelings and thoughts. He believes in Art & Movement as enhancers of our humanity to be more connected with creativity and in synergic communication and respect with others and the environment; and he is interested in art as a bridge for compassion and understanding finding the common threads between cultures into humanity.

  • Connection in Movement

    My Body in Motion: Movement Potential

Laurie King (he/him)

  • I'm a queer British-Kiwi whose current home-base is Amsterdam. My passion is creating spaces that cultivate healthy, thriving human-to-human relationships, helping people take off their masks, feel their sensations and celebrate their aliveness on Earth. With a background in the Vipassana meditation method, I strive to bring deeper awareness into all areas of life, especially the interpersonal.

    Since 2019, I have organised and facilitated hundreds of Authentic Relating, Dating and Embodiment workshops in Oceania and Europe. My training includes the Authentic Life Course, The Embody Lab, and the Connection Institute. I have facilitated at internationally acclaimed festivals such as Stretch, and organisations such as ART International.

    For more info, check out itoiauthenticrelating.com.

  • Authentic Relating

    Embodied Relating

Jojo Bear (he/him)

  • JoJo Bear is a Somatic Sex & Intimacy Guide and educator based in the vibrant San Francisco Bay Area. Through somatic coaching, language, and embodiment practices, he empowers individuals to transition from their "heads" to their bodies, fostering a deeper connection with themselves.

    Dedicated to cultivating a safe space, JoJo welcomes male-identified individuals (cis, trans), as well as non-binary individuals assigned male at birth, whether single or in relationships, to freely explore their needs, desires, and sexuality.

    In addition to his teaching role at the Body Electric School™ and facilitation of the Wheel of Consent™ at the School of Consent, JoJo serves as a mentor for teachers, sacred intimates, sex workers and somatic professionals,

    For more information, please visit his website: www.somaticguide4men.com

  • The Language of Pleasure: Exploring Consent and Desire

    Daddy's Playground: Where Power Meets Pleasure

Lui Gervais (he/him)

  • Lui Gervais is a writer, teacher and ritual artist. His book The Nipple Whisperer: And Other Erotic Epiphanies is a somatic guide to awakening pleasure and is used as a resource in erotic massage trainings around the world. He is the founder of The Embodied Institute, which offers creative somatic workshops, public rituals, sex/intimacy coaching and Sacred Intimacy trainings. He is a guest teacher for the Body Electric School and offers DateNite events in Portland, OR for couples.

  • Intimacy/Sensuality/Sexuality: The Three Rooms of Embodied Pleasure

    The Nipple Whisperer

    The River of Love

Sunray (he/they)

  • Sunray is a Filipino-American traveling yogi based in the Pacific Northwest. He is a community builder, yoga teacher, and naturist. He has facilitated and taught at various retreats in Canada, the US and Mexico and continues to share his unique perspective of the Eastern wisdom and spirituality from a Western point of view. Sunray likes to combine elements of Tai Chi, Qigong, meditation, power yoga, and Yin practices to his classes. He aims to create a space for balancing fluidity, strength, and self exploration to achieve personal transformation.

  • Harnessing Male Sexual Energy with Qigong & Yoga

Pono Stewart (he/him)

  • Pono is a Somatic Sex Educator, Certified Sexological Bodyworker and Faculty Member for the Body Electric School. He is a self-pleasuring enthusiast and activist, and enjoys encouraging others to feel pleasure in their body in new and different ways. He makes a home on Vancouver Island with his partner Ron Stewart.

  • Open the Door to the Temple of Self Pleasure

    Aging Gracefully in Our Bodies

Trevor James (he/him)

  • Trevor James is a Touch & Cuddle Therapist and Masseur from LA, who focuses on touch, connection, intimacy and community to help men rebalance their relationship with body, mind, spirituality and sexuality. Through his group workshops, massages, individual cuddle sessions, and coaching couples, Trevor helps men to explore and connect with their bodies and emotions in a healthy way, leading to a more balanced and satisfying relationship with touch, intimacy, mindfulness, and sexuality.

  • I is for Intimacy

    Cuddle Like a Pro

    Pleasure Garden

Ron Stewart (he/him)

  • Ron’s exploration into embodiment began as a dance artist where he trained in classical and contemporary dance styles. He began offering men's naked yoga classes, retreats, and erotic bodywork through Skyclad Yoga which he founded in 2005.
    His trainings in Sexological Bodywork (2011), and Somatic Experiencing (2016), created the foundation for his current, trauma informed practice as a Somatic Sex Educator/Sacred Intimate. He hosts private erotic embodiment retreats for individuals and couples from his home/retreat centre on Vancouver Island. He lives and works on the stolen territories of the Kw’amutsun people, colonially known as the Cowichan Valley.

  • Qualities of Touch

    Partner Yoga

Jordan Layne (he/they)

  • Jordan is a local ‘Vancouver’ resident, and has about a decade of history working with children and youth in addition to initiating and upholding diversity, equity and inclusion practices for organizations. His experience includes facilitating diverse groups, navigating energies, and fostering environments conducive to growth and self-discovery.

    He believes in the transformative power of collective healing and is committed to creating spaces where individuals can thrive and cultivate their inner balance.

  • QTBIPOC Caucus

Dallas Pootlass (he/him)

  • Dallas Pootlass, is part of the eagle clan from the Nuxalk Nation, blends his rich cultural heritage with modern expertise. With an MBA focused on change management, he’s also a certified breath master coach. Since 2016, Dallas has been coaching, culminating in his own practice since October 2020. Passionate about personal and professional development, he combines traditional wisdom with contemporary methods to guide others on their journey to success. His unique offering combines the power of conscious connected breathing, carefully curated music, and coaching to facilitate deep transformation.

  • Full System Reset

Andy Martin (any pronouns)

  • Andy is a heart-led community planner and facilitator, working at the intersection of personal development, cooperative culture, and regenerative design. Andy loves creating transformative and supportive spaces for meaningful connection, empowerment and flourishing through work for diverse organizations and community groups, so Andy is thrilled to be a co-creator of this year’s Ignite Festival! When not working on a passion project Andy can be found gardening, dancing ecstatically, singing prayerfully, wandering in forests, and swimming in wild waters.

  • Queer Ancestry Ritual

    Ecstatic Dane Journey

Mahan Kalpa (he/him)

  • Mahan Kalpa is a seasoned and dedicated practitioner of Yoga and Tantra who delights in exploring the energies of Yin/Yang, Masculine/Feminine, Power/Surrender, Domination/Submission, and Top/Bottom. In his Sacred Intimate practice, Mahan-Kalpa is devoted to helping people connect with their deepest desires and erotic intentions. He lives and practices in Asheville, NC.

  • Shibari: Sensual Japanese Bondage

    Blow Him Away

Daka Ziji (he/him)

  • Ziji has been studying Tantra and Buddhism for 16 years, and now offers eros-spirit massage, sacred intimacy and psychedelic medicine integration. He strives to create spaces where people feel safe, appreciated, and honoured in body, heart and mind. Ziji is Persian-Canadian and committed to increasing diversity and belonging in the realm of sacred eroticism. Based in Coast Sailish Lands (Vancouver), he is a steward of Men In Touch and a co-creator of the Ignite Festival. He loves being naked in the sunshine.

  • Queer Ancestry Ritual

    Blow Them Away

Mark Fleming (he/they)

  • Mark Fleming is a Sacred Intimate who has been exploring the healing connections between sex and spirit for 30+ years. His work toward Conscious Erotic Embodiment is underpinned by both Neo and Classical Tantra. Mark is a skilled traveler in the realms of subtle energy, breath work and varied states of consciousness. He is passionate about justice, poetry, meditation, consent, and touch. They live and work on the unceded lands of the Duwamish people.

  • Sacred Intimacy Panel

    Temple of Desire

Kevin Jesuino (he/him)

  • Kevin Jesuino is an arts & movement facilitator, somatics educator, activist and performance artist. He has facilitated movement and theatre workshops with the LGBTQ+ community, along with folks with limited mobility and/or varying disabilities. They are an ongoing educator with All Bodies Dance and Theatre Terrific in Vancouver, BC, and has recently completed his Artist as Changemaker Fellowship with Trico Changemaker Studio in Calgary, AB. Since 2004, they have presented performances and socially engaged/ participatory art work across Canada, Europe and in Asia. Bios (and language) can be limiting, and so, in the spirit of queerness, he encourages you to reach out and start a conversation with him and also read more about him at his website: www.kevinjesuino.com . Kevin loves cats, purple thistle, dark chocolate and summer days at the beach.

  • The Slow Dance

In addition to our amazing facilitators, there is a stellar team of organizers, contributors and volunteers making the festival happen behind the scenes. Deep gratitude to everyone who is giving their care and energy to bring this festival to life! 🙏❤️✨