AUSTRALIAN FILMMAKERS MICHELLE Mahrer and Nicole Ma's Dances of Ecstasy is simple but tackles a complex subject: our need to express ourselves through movement. It's an instinct that goes back to the predawn of civilization, and one that seems to get suppressed the more urbanized we become. There may be a few too many long, panning shots in this documentary, which traces ritualistic dancing around the globe, but the material gathered from Nambia, Nigeria, Turkey, Morocco, Brazil, and Korea is quite special. It's fascinating to see how the circle and a connection with the earth reside at the core of all these dance rituals. Some of those showcased in the film are more well known, such as the practices of the whirling dervishes, but others, like Hadra (from Morocco) and Kut (Korea) are less familiar. Intriguingly, the filmmakers also include contemporary practices that help people get in touch with their inner rhythms, such as the Firedance Festival in the Santa Cruz mountains and the Rainbow Serpent Festival in Australia. A global dance party with DJs Cheb i Sabbah and Dragonfly follows the screening. 8 p.m., 314 11th St., S.F. $12-$15. (415) 252-7666, www.studioz.tv. (Rita Felciano)