Passion, Play, and Pleasure: A Night Under the Stars
Introducing musician OSOMO’s signature concept, the Horizontal Concert.
Photo by Evgenia Chetvertkova
If I had to choose one highlight from the Passion, Play, and Pleasure dance retreat in Portugal, it’d be the Horizontal Concert.
The retreat participants ranged from professional dance artists to engineers to martial arts teachers to board directors… you get the idea. (Although, many of us didn’t know what each other did until the end of the retreat; I believe it’s because there was no need to introduce ourselves with our careers. We accepted each other as human beings.)
In our mix was the very talented musician and artist, OSOMO. They carved out a space for us one night to listen to the symphony of their original music as the stars came out.
I don’t have the words to describe how unbelievably healing that night was.
Cozy? Yes.
Romantic? Yes.
Astonishing? Yes.
Yes, yes, yes.
One of the participants hit the nail on the head when he reflected, “I’ve lived on this earth almost forty years and never seen the stars come out.”
So, what is a Horizontal Concert?
The concept was created by OSOMO, wherein concert-goers lie down while the music plays. I believe we got an especially beautiful version of it, thanks to the open sunroof where we lay down, the crystal-clear sky, and the debut of some of OSOMO’s newest work, inspired by us! Timed to correspond with the stars coming out (a 90-minute playlist), it felt otherworldly.
The fun part? We could build our own cozy “nest” to lie down in. From blankets to pillows to mattresses, they had it all prepared. What they didn’t expect was for us to collectively pile our mattresses together in the centre of the sunroof, creating a huge family nest instead of individual pods! All without discussing it beforehand!
Photo by Evgenia Chetvertkova
I think we were all in awe that night. In the course of our lives, when did we forget to pause and appreciate the heavens above us? When was the last time we nestled in each other’s embrace?
It wasn’t just joy or play or admiration; it was love. Communal love, all around us.
The laughs we shared that night and the feelings… Those are blessings I will never forget.
As the stars settled in, and we quietened to a peaceful calm, constellations shone bright like diamonds. I saw the Big Dipper, Little Dipper, and what I think was the Archer.
I also tried to spot shooting stars the entire evening, and I made wishes on at least ten of them! … Until someone told me they were actually satellites. Some others did see real shooting stars, but, unfortunately, I missed all of them.
Nevertheless, I was comforted by the eternal timelessness of the stars. The poetry of the night sky has long fascinated artists and travelers and lovers. And down the road, when you feel you’ve lost your way, all you have to do is look up, and the stars will guide you home.
For a glimpse of the retreat experience, check out my video: Slow Living in Rural Portugal
Photo by Evgenia Chetvertkova (cropped for format)