Party line

>> Studio 303 blows out 10 candles

by MARITES CARINO

After a decade spent supporting the arts scene in Montreal, Studio 303 can certainly be called an indie institution. This weekend, the sunny dance space, nestled on the third floor of the Belgo building, turns the big 1-0 and celebrates a boisterous decade of life with a celebratory bash at Cabaret Music Hall.

But first, a bit of history: it all started when a female trio of movers and shakers in the dance world--Martha Carter, Jo Leslie and Isabelle Van Grimde--had the desire to create an independent centre geared towards training, research, production and showcasing choreographies to a living, breathing audience. True to its original mandate, the studio continues to provide "a low-pressure performance zone," according to co-director Paul Caskey.

Two signs of evolution will be unveiled at the birthday bonanza: the official launching of a Web site (www.studio303.net) and a catalogue compiling the works of the past year.

Festivities also include a 10-act show, featuring a Canadian premiere by José Navas, along with works by Marc Boucher, Louis Guillemette, Mariko Tanabe and Alexandre St-Onge. Also, Les P'tites Géantes will humorously examine the physical vocabulary found in society, such as baseball hand signals and everyday gestures.

One of the two non-dance acts slated for the evening is Les Secrétaires Percutantes--"uptight secretaries that slowly become unleashed," Caskey says. This pulsating percussive group is made up of actresses, two dancers and singer Elizabeth Anka Vajagic.

After the performances, everyone busts loose to the music of DJ Adktyo and DJ Mim (the nocturnal alter-ego of Studio 303 co-director Miriam Ginestier).

Margie mania

If you're in Parc Lafontaine, be sure pass by the Théâtre de Verdure, where international dance star Margie Gillis will present a world premiere of Gershwin tribute called George. She'll also treat the crowd to past works like Thrall, Voyage and Loon.

Studio 303 Cabaret, Sat, July 3, Cabaret, 8:30pm, $10­12; Margie Gillis, Théâtre de Verdure, July 8­10, 8:30pm, free