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Saturnalia is an ancient Roman festival celebrated around the winter solstice in honor of the god Saturn. Its true origin is somewhat mysterious, but it is clear that its purpose was to call back the Golden Age, a time over which Saturn, god of time, abundance, and freedom ruled.

On December 18th, in Higher Ground’s Showcase Lounge, an eclectic group of Vermont creatives will gather to showcase movement, music, and art with a nod to this ancient tradition. The innovative and immersive format could be compared to Cirque du Soleil meets House of Yes with a Vermont DIY spirit; guests will be entertained by the area’s finest pole dancers, aerialists, and movement artists, abstract projections and light-based installations, and curated sets by DJs who are lighting up Burlington’s underground electronic music scene. They’ll be invited to participate, interact, and celebrate the season together.

Partake in revelries and witness the dance of celestial bodies, bathed in light, and revolving in time to the music of the night… The program will be split into VII chapters, each with a curated visual, kinesthetic, and musical tone.

I: SATURN, God of Time

II: VENUS, Goddess of Love

III: JUPITER, God of Weather and Law

IV: MERCURY, The Messenger of the Gods

V: MARS, God of War

VI: LUNA, the Moon Goddess

VII: SOL INVICTUS, the Unconquerable Sun God

As the winter solstice approaches and the nights stretch to their deepest hues and longest hours, we look to the sky to observe celestial bodies in their neverending, revolving dance. We illuminate the night with the light of our own creativity, set our own bodies in mesmerizing rotation, and prepare for the Dies Natalis Solis Invicti, the Return of the Invincible Sun.

Guests are encouraged to dress in attire that calls to the classical age (Romans called it synthesis) and participate in Roman festivities like dice games, social experiments, and elections of the “Saturnalicius Princep” as deities of the party. Plebeian or patrician, god or mortal, all should come prepared to act and indulge as true citizens.

Featuring music carefully curated from DJs of Vermont’s Sunset Watchers Club, the immersive performance will feature dancers from renowned studios River’s Way Movement Studio, RevolVT, Murmurations Aerial, and Lines Vermont.

Join us in traveling through time and space. Io Saturnalia!

Collaborators & Links

Sunset Watchers Club

https://www.instagram.com/sunsetwatchersclub

OffLimits Events

https://offlimitsevents.art

River’s Way Movement Studio

https://riverswaymovement.com

RevolVT

https://revolvt.com

Murmurations

https://murmurationsaerial.org

Lines Studio

https://www.linesvt.com

Vetica

https://vetica.us