Bellydance, poetry, music: Program explores the seasons - Dec. 20

Director Eliza Luminara, left, and Katie Jones are bellydancers with Gesserit Spice who perform ritual and spiritual dances as well as tribal fusion from nomadic, "Gypsy" cultures. Their focus is on Middle Eastern, West Asian and European movement.

Performers from Gesserit Spice and Mirabai Bellydance troupes will be featured in a program Friday, Dec. 20, at Barking Legs Theater. "The Wheel of the Year: Exploring the Seasons Through the Performing Arts" also will include poetry from Marcus Ellsworth and Melinda Brown, as well as live music provided by some of the dancers.

According to host Eliza Luminara of Gesserit Spice, which is presenting the show, "The Wheel of the Year" refers to the observance of eight ancient sabbats (holidays) of the pagan calendar of Europe.

"From the winter solstice, the spring equinox and the Witches New Year, we travel through these seasons with traditions and folklore using dance, poetry and live music," she says in a news release.

The goal, she says, is to "educate our audience on the roots of many modern-day holidays and their traditions."

For instance, Witches New Year, traditionally known as Samhain, is a Gaelic festival marking the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter, or the "darker half" of the year, according to online sources.