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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. Plebian 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
River’s Way Movement Studio
https://riverswaymovement.com/
RevolVT
Murmurations
https://murmurationsaerial.org/
Lines Studio
Vetica
Higher Ground , Showcase Lounge
1214 Williston Rd
South Burlington, VT, 05403