Dancing,
not prancing
If you believe that bellydancing is merely burlesque’s exotic cousin, a slightly risqué skill to be picked up as a primer for pole-dancing, guess again.
“You will always get those who go out and prance around in a little costume ’cause they’re cute, many of whom have never had any training,” says Hadia, an instructor with one foot in Montreal and one hip on the international stage. With 38 years of experience teaching and performing around the world, Hadia hopes to change attitudes about “Oriental dance” (that’s the term she prefers), not just with her own instruction, but through the moves of the dancers she’s showcasing this weekend, from Australia, South Africa, Spain, France and Korea. The dancers have traveled from the four corners of the planet to take Hadia’s professional training course, and for the grand finale, they’ll present a series of solo performances for the public at la Sala Rossa on Sunday, July 22, 7:30 p.m., $20 ($10 for kids under 14).
“The thing is to present top quality people to show others what the art form can be,” she says. “When people see the difference, then that says everything.”
by Lorraine Carpenter
Queen in session
After the success of Life Beyond the Sun, a show structured around drum, voice and dance, multidisciplinary performer Odessa “Queen”  Thornhill returns to the source with The Session. “I thought it would be good to include the Kalmunity aspect, and bring in other artists,” says Thornhill. Her guests include Côte d’Ivoirian hip hop prophet Foblaze, Afrocentric Rastaman Zibs Black Current and spoken word artist Blu Rva. “Blu Rva’s very metaphorical, and she really can flip words around and relate to life as a game of Scrabble or a game of Battleships,” says Thornhill.
They’re all performing tonight at Zanzibar Lounge (1252 Bleury) with special musical guests JahSun, on percussion, guitarist J-F Hamel and bassist Patrice Agboukou. Thornhill will be performing some pieces from her forthcoming EP Who I Am. “I want to be able to talk with the crowd, not just perform but share with them,” says Thornhill. The Session takes place tonight, July 19, 8:30 p.m., $10.
by Vincent Tinguely
Midsummer movements
Open-sky dance fans are in luck, as the Théâtre de Verdure’s (Parc Lafontaine) summer dance program begins today. Quebec-based choreographer Harold Rhéaume and his company Le fils d’Adrien danse kick it off tonight at 8 p.m.
Rhéaume created his latest piece, CLASH!, with a specific idea in mind: “I was tired of people saying that contemporary dance is made for few people,” he explains. So he decided to create a work that would appeal to an all-age audience of various backgrounds.
 Made up of dynamic contrasting tableaus, this upbeat work for five dancers and an on-stage DJ is, according to Rhéaume, about “the desire in competition to be the best, better than your lover, neighbour or colleague.” He describes CLASH! as a departure from his previous works, which were darker and more intimate. The performance will mark the company’s first show at Théâtre de Verdure.
Then, on Friday, July 16, same time, same place, local choreographer Roger Sinha brings us another group piece, Apricot Trees Exist. Keep on top of the schedule all summer long at ville.montreal.qc.ca/culture.
by Marites Carino
Is it art?
GET LOST: For anyone who grew up with Jim Henson’s Labyrinth, and fondly remembers David Bowie’s reign as Goblin King Jarreth—clad in  tight grey leotards, revealing a bit too much for a PG rating—the idea of traipsing around a maze replete with jesters, knights, magicians and other medieval characters, might actually sound appealing. For those of you who are more familiar with the labyrinth at the end of The Shining, where a crazed Jack Nicholson chases his son through a snowy maze, maybe not so much.
Either way, now’s your chance to test your spatial abilities. Le Labyrinthe, a travelling theme park, where a giant corn maze is designed by a different architect in a different country each year, is in Quebec through August. The maize maze covers 20 acres, and this year’s theme is “Merlin.” It’s in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu (30 min. from Montreal), and for $12 you can get lost among corn stalks, jesters and other medieval rogues wandering the maze with tricks and performances. More a-maze-ing info at www.lelabyrinthe.ca.
Arts
hole
FAIRWEATHER FARE: There’s plenty to see and do outdoors, while continuing to broaden your artistic horizons. Repercussion Theatre takes drama for an outing with its 19th annual Theatre in the Parks. The fest gets off to a good start with open-air Molière—Scapin: The Schemer is now migrating between various grassy venues, see www.repercussiontheatre.com for a complete schedule. DANCING IN THE PARK: Speaking of parks, Jean-Drapeau will be buzzing with festivities for yet another Week-end du monde event, the Festival International du Merengue de Montreal. While there, take the opportunity to cha- cha your way through the various installations that are part of this year’s Artefact, a nomadic outdoor exhibition.
Artistat
Number of concerts that classical music buffs can still catch before the end of le Festival de Lanaudière on Aug. 5 (info at www.lanaudiere.org): 14 |
