by MARITES CARINO

First up for 2006 is one for the kids: CHUT!!, Hélène Langevin’s latest choreographic escapade with her company Bouge de là, which specializes in dance for young audiences, features creepy creations by shadow-artist Marcelle Hudon. It reels spectators into the world of the mischievous Julie, who happens across curious creatures along her chimerical trek. The Montreal run kicks off at the Saidye Bronfman Centre Jan. 19–20, then skips on to the Théâtre Outremont Feb. 5–6.

This weekend, it’s all about Kudelka—James Kudelka the choreographer, that is—in a triple-bill soirée conceived by Coleman Lemieux & Compagnie. It opens with Fifteen Heterosexual Duets, which was created in 1991. In another choreography built for two, Soudain, l’hiver dernier, a male duo moves to the music of Gavin Bryars. Rounding off the evening, the quartet it is as it was features the distinct voice of Canadian counter-tenor Daniel Taylor and his group Theatre of Early Music, a period-instrument ensemble. It’s all happening at the Centre Pierre-Péladeau until Jan. 21.

At the tail end of the month, there’s a variety of dance going on in all corners of the city. Over at the Monument-National, Danse-Cité and choreographer David Pressault offer up Lost Pigeons, which draws upon the architectural design of Carina Rose (Jan. 25–Feb. 4). Further east at L’Espace Libre (Jan. 26–28), Gustav Klimt’s “The Kiss” was inspiration for choreographer Johanne Madore’s creation Le Baiser, a collaboration with Quebec’s integrated dance troupe Corpuscule Danse. Then, groove back west if you’re a fan of the Solid State Breakdance Collective. The girls are back with a repeat performance of the lively It’s not you… It’s me at Tangente Jan. 26–29.

Also on the b-tip is iDJ’s Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo, Feb. 4 at the SAT, with guest DJs, visuals and dancers with mad moves galore.

Introspection and insomnia

February is buzzing at l’Agora de la Danse. Kicking off the month is an introspective septet by Tony Ming Chong, I See Much Less Than It Is to Come (Feb. 1–4). The following week, Feb. 8–11, choreographer Lina Cruz turns to the creations of surrealist writers and painters for creative impetus in a poetic duet with Elinor Fueter entitled Coquille D’Oeil. Then, Isabelle Van Grimde presents Vortex 1, a work for five dancers with the participation of musicians from le Nouvel Ensemble Moderne (Feb. 22–25).

O Vertigo’s Ginette Laurin premieres her new intimate, dreamlike septet ANGELs at the Cinquième Salle at Place des Arts (Feb. 7–16). However, if you’re having trouble slipping into dreamland and just happen to have a bout of insomnia Feb. 25 from, let’s say, about 11 p.m.–3 a.m., head over to the O Vertigo headquarters for a walkthrough visit of Installation chorégraphique no 7 or wander by the Cinquième Salle to check in on the nocturnal dance-live image-music happening by Paul-André Fortier.

Cold feet

Speaking of happenings, the Montreal High Lights Festival has become a February staple outdoors in the city’s frigid downtown core. Now in its seventh edition, dance has cultivated a strong presence. There’s something for everyone here, from Dave St-Pierre’s head-turning La Pornographie des âmes, to contemporary tango by the Nuevo Ballet Español. It runs Feb. 16–26, more info at www.montrealhighlights.com

Apart from the winter fest extravaganza, there’s a smaller-scale event taking place mid-February. Pop in to the MAI for the Studio 303 cross-discipline event mini projo 2006, spotlighting the work of about 30 artists, Feb. 10–12.

As for March, call it a hodgepodge of movement. At Tangente, it’s all about jigging outside the box during the Gigue Contemporaine series, March 9–12. Onward to the Village, specifically to Usine C, Holy Body Tattoo-ers Noam Gagnon and Dana Gingras return to Montreal March 1–3 with their explosive Running Wild, which delves into the murky waters of human relationships in a collection of short pieces. At the month’s end, les Grands Ballets Canadiens present an evening dedicated to the works of Czech choreographer Jirí Kylián at Place des Arts, March 30–April 1.