Vermont Public Community Calendar

A forgotten dance that bridges generations, defies gender norms and pulses with life.

In "Save the Last Dance for Me", Italian creative artist Alessandro Sciarroni revives the Polka Chinata—a nearly extinct courtship dance performed exclusively by men in villages near Bologna beginning in the early 20th century.

The piece was created in collaboration with Giancarlo Stagni, a Filuzziani dance master who rediscovered the form through archival footage from the 1960s. When Sciarroni encountered the dance in December 2018, it was practiced by only five people in all of Italy.

These performances by dancers Gianmaria Borzillo and Giovanfrancesco Giannini will be followed by workshops designed to share and revive this vibrant popular tradition on the verge of extinction.

Sciarroni is perhaps the most intriguing performative artist currently active in Italy. His enormously varied body of work addresses issues around personal and communitarian identity through the reconfiguration of performing practices that are often far from what is conventionally thought of as dance. Preferring to characterize himself as a creative artist rather than as a choreographer or dancer, Sciarroni was nevertheless awarded the Golden Lion Prize for Lifetime Achievement by the Venice Biennale of Dance in 2019.

Performances:
Fri, Apr 24 at 2 & 5 p.m.
Sat, Apr 25 at 2 p.m.

The Paramount Players, our very own community theatre initiative, which brought you such memorable productions as Mamma Mia (2019), Shrek The Musical, (2022), Wizard of Oz (2023), Little Shop of Horrors (2024) and Urinetown (2025) is bringing their next production to life on stage this coming April!

THE ADDAMS FAMILY MUSICAL, a comical feast that embraces the wackiness in every family, features an original story and a dilemma that’s every father’s nightmare: Wednesday Addams, the ultimate princess of darkness, has grown up and fallen in love with a sweet, smart young man from a respectable family—a man her parents have never met. And if that wasn’t upsetting enough, Wednesday confides in her father and begs him not to tell her mother. Now, Gomez Addams must do something he’s never done before—keep a secret from his beloved wife, Morticia.

Everything will change for the whole family on the fateful night they host a dinner for Wednesday’s “normal” boyfriend and his parents.

Full of comedy and your beloved childhood characters, this theatrical production is rated PG for occasional adult humor and mild language.

Violinist Laurie Smukler returns with New York City colleagues — violist Tal First, cellist Natasha Brofsky, and pianist Qing Jiang — for an all-Fauré evening. The program includes two chamber music masterpieces-both Piano Quartets, the radiant Violin Sonata No. 1 in A major, and the brilliant Fantaisie for flute and piano with flutist Karen Kevra.

Violinist Laurie Smukler returns with New York City colleagues — violist Tal First, cellist Natasha Brofsky, and pianist Qing Jiang — for an all-Fauré evening. The program includes two chamber music masterpieces-both Piano Quartets, the radiant Violin Sonata No. 1 in A major, and the brilliant Fantaisie for flute and piano with flutist Karen Kevra.

Two jazz legends. One unforgettable evening.

Vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater and pianist Bill Charlap—each a towering figure in American jazz—join forces for a night of intimate, electrifying music-making.

A three-time Grammy winner and NEA Jazz Master, Bridgewater brings her unmistakable voice, theatrical flair and fearless spirit to every note. Charlap, one of the most sensitive and swinging pianists of his generation, is celebrated for his deep knowledge of the Great American Songbook.

The duo will interpret classics by iconic composers such as Ellington, Porter, Sondheim and more—reimagining each song with warmth, wit, and soul.

Made Here Film Festival is a regional festival for filmmakers residing in New England and Québec. MHFF is New England’s only competitive festival dedicated entirely to films made by creatives based in our region. Made Here Film Festival takes place at Burlington Beer Company in an historic building constructed in 1903 as the North American factory of Auguste and Louis Lumière, the film pioneers often credited with the invention of motion pictures and the first cinematic presentations.

MHFF is free to the public. Donations are encouraged.

Films are accepted through Feb. 6, 2026.

The Paramount Players, our very own community theatre initiative, which brought you such memorable productions as Mamma Mia (2019), Shrek The Musical, (2022), Wizard of Oz (2023), Little Shop of Horrors (2024) and Urinetown (2025) is bringing their next production to life on stage this coming April!

THE ADDAMS FAMILY MUSICAL, a comical feast that embraces the wackiness in every family, features an original story and a dilemma that’s every father’s nightmare: Wednesday Addams, the ultimate princess of darkness, has grown up and fallen in love with a sweet, smart young man from a respectable family—a man her parents have never met. And if that wasn’t upsetting enough, Wednesday confides in her father and begs him not to tell her mother. Now, Gomez Addams must do something he’s never done before—keep a secret from his beloved wife, Morticia.

Everything will change for the whole family on the fateful night they host a dinner for Wednesday’s “normal” boyfriend and his parents.

Full of comedy and your beloved childhood characters, this theatrical production is rated PG for occasional adult humor and mild language.

Applauded for his mastery of all styles of playing, Bowles, a Steinway Hall of Fame Artist, will treat us to a wide-ranging program.

Domenico Scarlatti — Three Sonatas
Franz Schubert — Impromptus, Op. posth. 142, D.935
Max Reger — Five Humoreskes for Piano, Op. 20
Franz Liszt — Venezia e Napoli, S.159

Join Vermont residents and professionals for a day of workshops and speakers, discussing topics related to supporting the health care, education, and well being of Vermont children/youth with disabilities and special health needs. Keynote speaker, Jeneva Burroughs Stone, is an author and advocate for health care and disability rights.

WORKSHOP TOPICS:
• Strategies Navigating Complex Systems
• Shared Decision Making: When Families and Care Teams
Decide Together
• Beyond High School: Resources & Supports to help Students Build Their Best Life
• Understanding the ‘Why’ Behind Absenteeism: Family Centered Approaches to School Attendance
• Executive Functioning: Common Challenges & Effective Supports
• A Seat at the Table- What Youth with Disabilities Want You to Know

January 8-April 23rd, 2026
Reception: January 17, 5:30-7pm

ZERO CELSIUS unfolds at Mad Arts and Sugarbush Resort, bringing together artwork that explores the textures, tensions, and transformations of winter. From the hush of frozen landscapes to the volatility of a warming climate, the exhibition reflects on how the cold season shapes—and is reshaped by—human and environmental relationships.
Featuring sculpture, installation, sound, photography, and digital media, ZERO CELSIUS examines winter as material, concept, and metaphor: crystalline, fleeting, and ecologically vital. Visitors are invited to consider the fragility of snow in a changing world, reconnect with winter’s wonder and silence, and share their own stories of a season both timeless and increasingly imperiled.

January 8-April 23rd, 2026
Reception: January 17, 5:30-7pm

ZERO CELSIUS unfolds at Mad Arts and Sugarbush Resort, bringing together artwork that explores the textures, tensions, and transformations of winter. From the hush of frozen landscapes to the volatility of a warming climate, the exhibition reflects on how the cold season shapes—and is reshaped by—human and environmental relationships.
Featuring sculpture, installation, sound, photography, and digital media, ZERO CELSIUS examines winter as material, concept, and metaphor: crystalline, fleeting, and ecologically vital. Visitors are invited to consider the fragility of snow in a changing world, reconnect with winter’s wonder and silence, and share their own stories of a season both timeless and increasingly imperiled.

Join us for an 8-class series taught by Technology for Tomorrow! Designed to help adult learners build advanced workplace-ready technology skills, BTC's Tier 2 Digital Literacy course is intended for learners who already have basic computer experience and are ready to strengthen their confidence using Google Workspace, Microsoft Office, cloud-based tools, and cross-platform navigation. Each 1.5-hour session provides hands-on, practical instruction using Google Drive, Docs, Gmail, Calendar, Sheets, and Slides, with clear connections to how these skills transfer to Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

VSAC tuition assistance may be available to eligible adult learners and can cover all or part of the program cost. For more information or to inquire about eligibility, contact btcadulted@bsdvt.org.

Celebrate America's 250th anniversary with an evening of powerful music.

To mark the occasion, the acclaimed Dover Quartet brings their signature blend of brilliance and heart to a program that reflects the complexity, spirit and evolving soundscape of America. Renowned for their glowing sound, the Dover Quartet has emerged as one of the most compelling chamber ensembles of their generation.

The evening features "Strum" by Jessie Montgomery and "Rattle Songs", an arrangement of traditional songs by Pura Fé, newly reimagined for string quartet by composer Jerod Tate. Tate's voice returns in a compelling new commission—music that speaks to Native identity, memory and continuity. The program culminates in Dvořák's "American" Quartet, written during the Czech composer's stay in the US in 1893. Infused with echoes of spirituals and folk songs, the program is a luminous reflection on the idea of America.

Don't miss a pre-show talk with the artists.

January 8-April 23rd, 2026
Reception: January 17, 5:30-7pm

ZERO CELSIUS unfolds at Mad Arts and Sugarbush Resort, bringing together artwork that explores the textures, tensions, and transformations of winter. From the hush of frozen landscapes to the volatility of a warming climate, the exhibition reflects on how the cold season shapes—and is reshaped by—human and environmental relationships.
Featuring sculpture, installation, sound, photography, and digital media, ZERO CELSIUS examines winter as material, concept, and metaphor: crystalline, fleeting, and ecologically vital. Visitors are invited to consider the fragility of snow in a changing world, reconnect with winter’s wonder and silence, and share their own stories of a season both timeless and increasingly imperiled.

January 8-April 23rd, 2026
Reception: January 17, 5:30-7pm

ZERO CELSIUS unfolds at Mad Arts and Sugarbush Resort, bringing together artwork that explores the textures, tensions, and transformations of winter. From the hush of frozen landscapes to the volatility of a warming climate, the exhibition reflects on how the cold season shapes—and is reshaped by—human and environmental relationships.
Featuring sculpture, installation, sound, photography, and digital media, ZERO CELSIUS examines winter as material, concept, and metaphor: crystalline, fleeting, and ecologically vital. Visitors are invited to consider the fragility of snow in a changing world, reconnect with winter’s wonder and silence, and share their own stories of a season both timeless and increasingly imperiled.

January 8-April 23rd, 2026
Reception: January 17, 5:30-7pm

ZERO CELSIUS unfolds at Mad Arts and Sugarbush Resort, bringing together artwork that explores the textures, tensions, and transformations of winter. From the hush of frozen landscapes to the volatility of a warming climate, the exhibition reflects on how the cold season shapes—and is reshaped by—human and environmental relationships.
Featuring sculpture, installation, sound, photography, and digital media, ZERO CELSIUS examines winter as material, concept, and metaphor: crystalline, fleeting, and ecologically vital. Visitors are invited to consider the fragility of snow in a changing world, reconnect with winter’s wonder and silence, and share their own stories of a season both timeless and increasingly imperiled.

The two choirs join forces to present Mendelssohn's 'Elijah'—a sweeping oratorio that delves into faith, doubt and resilience through stirring choruses and deeply human storytelling.

Filippo Ciabatti, director

The Montpelier Contra Dance happens every 1st, 3rd, and 5th Saturday at the Capital City Grange Hall. We dance to live music with contra dance bands and callers from around New England and beyond. Beginners, singles, and all ages are welcome; all dances are taught. We use gender neutral role terms. There's a newcomers lesson at 7:45 pm and dancing 8-11pm. Please bring clean soft-soled shoes. More info at www.montpeliercontradance.org $12 adults, $5 kids/low-income, $20 dance supporters. Cash preferred. Venmo or CC accepted. Questions? 802-225-8921 or cdu.tim@gmail.com.

Baritone Igor Golovatenko stars as the title character opposite soprano Asmik Grigorian in Tchaikovsky's lyrical Pushkin adaptation.

Following her acclaimed 2024 Met debut in Puccini's "Madama Butterfly," soprano Asmik Grigorian stars as Tatiana, the lovestruck young heroine in this ardent operatic Pushkin adaptation. Baritone Igor Golovatenko reprises his portrayal of the urbane Onegin, who realizes his affection for her all too late.

Stephanie Blythe sings the role of Tatiana's nurse, with mezzo-soprano Maria Barakova playing Tatiana's sister Olga and baritone Satnislas de Barbeyrac portraying the ill-fated poet Lenski. The Met's evocative production set in nineteenth-century Russia, directed by Tony Award–winner Deborah Warner, "offers a beautifully detailed reading of … Tchaikovsky's lyrical romance" ("The Telegraph"). Timur Zangiev conducts.

January 8-April 23rd, 2026
Reception: January 17, 5:30-7pm

ZERO CELSIUS unfolds at Mad Arts and Sugarbush Resort, bringing together artwork that explores the textures, tensions, and transformations of winter. From the hush of frozen landscapes to the volatility of a warming climate, the exhibition reflects on how the cold season shapes—and is reshaped by—human and environmental relationships.
Featuring sculpture, installation, sound, photography, and digital media, ZERO CELSIUS examines winter as material, concept, and metaphor: crystalline, fleeting, and ecologically vital. Visitors are invited to consider the fragility of snow in a changing world, reconnect with winter’s wonder and silence, and share their own stories of a season both timeless and increasingly imperiled.