Revels North Inc

BUILDING TRADITION THROUGH MUSIC, DANCE AND DRAMA.

THE CHRISTMAS REVELS HAS BEEN AN ANNUAL FAMILY-FRIENDLY CELEBRATION OF THE WINTER SOLSTICE SINCE 1975, PRESENTING SONGS, DANCES, STORIES, AND CELEBRATIONS FROM DIFFERENT CULTURAL TRADITIONS AROUND THE WORLD. PERFORMANCES HAVE FEATURED TRADITIONS FROM ENGLAND, IRELAND, SCOTLAND, WALES, APPALACHIA, FRANCE, ITALY, SCANDINAVIA, RUSSIA, EASTERN EUROPE, AND THE BALKANS. LOCAL CHILDREN, TEENS, AND ADULTS PERFORM ON-STAGE ALONGSIDE NATIONALLY KNOWN GUEST ARTISTS REPRESENTING THAT YEAR'S TRADITIONS. THIS YEAR WE INCORPORATED TRADITIONS OF THE ABENAKI NATION WITH THOSE OF ENGLAND AND NEW ENGLAND IN A TRUE CELEBRATION OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION. WE WERE ABLE TO PERFORM LIVE INSIDE THE LEBANON OPERA HOUSE FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2019 AND WELCOMED 5 GUEST ARTISTS TO ACCOMPANY OUR CAST OF LOCAL PERFORMERS.

THE ANNUAL SUMMER REVELS FESTIVAL CELEBRATES THE ARRIVAL OF SUMMER WITH TRADITIONAL SONGS, MORRIS DANCES, PICNICS, GAMES, HEALTHY FOOD, A BONFIRE, AND A FAMILY-FRIENDLY PERFORMANCE. THE SUMMER REVELS CHORUS IS ENTIRELY NON-AUDITIONED, WITH A CHANCE FOR FAMILIES TO PERFORM TOGETHER. SPRING SINGERS, LIKE SUMMER REVELS, IS A NON-AUDITIONED, MULTIGENERATIONAL CHORUS, GIVING FAMILIES A CHANCE TO SHARE AN ACTIVITY TOGETHER. THESE PROGRAMS REMAINED DORMANT IN 2022 DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, BUT WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF RESTRUCTURING OUR EDUCATION PROGRAMS WHICH WILL FACILITATE BRINGING THEM BACK IN 2023.

REVELS TRADITIONS IS A SUITE OF YEAR-ROUND PROGRAMS EMPHASIZING COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION. REVELS COMMUNITY DANCES ARE A FREE INTERGENERATIONAL EVENING OF JOYFUL DANCING, DRAWING COMMUNITY MEMBERS OF ALL AGES WITH EASY INSTRUCTION FOR NEWCOMERS. REVELS PUB SINGS ARE FREE, FAMILY-FRIENDLY EVENTS HELD AT A LOCAL RESTAURANT, AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE FOOD, DRINK, SONG, AND CAMARADERIE. REVELS BAND OF FOOLS IS AN ALL-AGES MUSICAL ENSEMBLE MODELED ON THE COMMUNITY STREET BAND, WITH NO MUSIC READING EXPERIENCE NECESSARY, USING WHATEVER INSTRUMENTS PLAYERS CHOOSE TO BRING WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO PLAY FOR OUR COMMUNITY DANCES. IN RECENT YEARS, THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN HELD AT THE LISTEN COMMUNITY DINNER HALL IN WHITE RIVER JUNCTION TO MAKE THE LIVE MUSIC MORE EASILY AVAILABLE TO LOW-INCOME FAMILIES, BOTH AS PARTICIPANTS AND AUDIENCE. WHILE THESE PROGRAMS REMAINED DORMANT IN 2022 DUE TO COVID-19 AND ORGANIZATIONAL RESTRUCTURING, WE NEGOTIATED A DEAL ON A NEW HOME FOR REVELS NORTH IN DECEMBER WHICH WILL PROVIDE SPACE AND GREATER OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND THESE OFFERINGS GOING FORWARD.