Illumi-Naughtie Occult Burlesque and Ritual Rhythms Chicago have come together to celebrate the Pagan festival of Beltane by presenting our own take on the maypole! A variety show of pole performance, burlesque, bellydance, and live music, featuring the otherworldly sounds of Ultra-Violet Archer, and a gathering of gorgeous and talented performers! Join us for an evening of frivolity and reaching across the veil to touch the earthly divine!
Hosted by MC Frater Fabulosa and head Illumi-Naughtie Vivian Meretrix!
Please be advised:
The Newport Theater is up a flight of stairs (no elevator) but a private entrance with a railing and seating near a side door/wheel-chair restroom can be arranged with advance notice. Email newporttheater@gmail.com for more information or learn more at newporttheater.com/safety
Doors open 30 minutes prior to the show.
PERFORMERS
Ultra-Violet Archer
Ultra-Violet Archer is a singer, songwriter, and sound-collage maker from Chicago. Her driving question is: how can we work with music as a personal and societal medicine? She draws inspiration from natural and urban soundscapes, her Celtic and Appalachian roots, the soundscapes of community, and by that specific shade of deep blue the sky turns just before sunrise and just after sunset.
Emerald Ivy
Emerald Ivy is thrilled to be back with Ritual Rhythms Chicago for her second show. Ivy is a Burlesque Dancer, Pole Dancer, and Fire Spinner and can be found wiggling on stages all over Chicago. She is thrilled to be starting the second season of Fire Starters a beginner fire spinning workshop co-lead with Rogue Fire Dancers. Ivy is excited to be channeling her Celtic lineage by bringing the Fire to Beltane
Frann Fatale
Frann Fatale (she/they) is a feral housewife that will burn your dinner + break your bed. Her ripe debut was in 2021, after participating in Gaea Lady’s Pvssy Magic burlesque program. Before that, she was shaking a wing for a good thing with The Fly Honey Show — femme powered, queer punk, communal striptease — since 2013. Exploring the tantalizing intersections of burlesque, flow arts, + kink, her work finds the soulful embodiment of intimate alchemy. She traverses the paradoxes between sacred / profane, shadow / light, + desire / fulfillment. Currently based in Chicago, she has performed at The Newport Theater, Elastic Arts, Epiphany Center for the Arts, Eco Collective, The Ace Hotel, The Art of Balance, + Between the Trees Festival.
Stella Mortadella
Stella is a Chicago-based burlesque performer, instructor, choreographer, and producer. She is the founder of the Windy City Witches (@windycitywitches), Chicago’s sluttiest queer coven. She was an instructor at Siren Chicago for the entirety of its existence, and has been able to teach hundreds of students all over the world, through her Burlesque Babes performance series, her specialty workshops, and her signature seasonal class, Witch Shit. Stella is excited to celebrate Beltane at one of her very favorite places, the Newport!
aros
aros is pole dancer driven by the visceral nature of powerful emotions such as wrath, obsession, and despair. Their movement explores tapping into the taboo, thinly veiled by feats of strength and softness that serves to blur the line between embracing and uplifting the deepest parts of yourself, or succumbing to them.
Juniper Faewild
Juniper Faewild is the co-producer of TBOY TUESDAY (a queer pop up strip club) and QTPOC from Chicago, IL! He’s an artist of many mediums such as oddities, costuming and performance. His style ranges from cheeky & chaotic to gothic & erotic. He’s inspired by the weird & wonderful and invites you into his world.
Emma Lucia
Emma Lucia grew up a competitive gymnast before moving into aerial and dance. She currently teaches pole and pole silks at The Pole Palace in Midlothian. She loves this community and is very grateful to be a part in it!
Indica Moon
By day, she’s a mental health clinician and community social service provider. By night, she’s a tree-worshipping muse and conduit of creativity. Since her debut in 2024, she has gained notoriety for her graceful Egyptian Raqs Sharqi, powerful fusion belly dance, and seductive static pole dance techniques. Indica Moon is her name, but she is simply a vessel of divine and sensual feminine energy.