Sound, stage and specters

Normally, composer Michel F. Côté works with musicians to create his orchestral soundscapes, but this time he was asked to do something a little different.

A year ago, Daniel Soulières, artistic director of Danse Cité, approached Côté to head-up a cross-disciplinary project that would involve selecting and working with a group of dancer/choreographers. Months of initial composition resulted in 19 musical pieces of varying lengths. Côté then asked the choreographers to choose selections from the pieces to create a 12-minute solos. For the past three weeks, he's been working with dancers Estelle Clareton, Emmanuel Jouthe, Dominique Porte, David Pressault and Catherine Tardif in piecing together 63 Apparitions, which runs at the Théâtre La Chapelle (3700 St-Dominique) until June 5.

"I was composing blindly since the music was created before," Côté says of the cut-and-paste process. So how does he define his role in it all? "I am in a curious position," he explains. "First of all, I'm the composer, I'm not a choreographer. But I do like to think of myself as the first spectator who has the ability to change things if they don't look right." » Marites Carino

Neon riders

Galerie Harwood isn't your standard house of high art. A year ago this month, Ihor Todoruk - who came of age in San Francisco's '60s golden era and managed to weave his way through its rock culture as an artist and concert promoter before ending up in these parts - opened the building in the rollin' hills of Hudson (3663 Harwood). Since then he's been carving a rock niche in the place - "SoHo with a little bit of Hudson," he calls it.

This weekend, the gallery celebrates the big number one with a mix of photography, neon and chrome. In Vroom, Hum & Rock, Vermont-based photo-moto journalist Ken Aiken's shots of choppers share the space with Montrealer François Alfred M.'s neon work - including some of the pieces that were shown in his 1999 solo show at L.A.'s Museum of Neon Art (MONA). There'll also be a couple of hogs on hand, elevated to sculpture status and airbrushed by Fitto (whose most prominent work adorns the mask of Habs goalie Jose Theodore). The show revs up on May 29 and rides on until Aug. 1. » Matthew Woodley

Tune in, tire out

"Most of the money in advertizing is spent on cocaine," reads the warning at the beginning of Funki Porcini's dreamy Work in Progress video series. "Very little that you watch will actually be good for you. Watch the person next to you to see what to do."

An ocular accompaniment to his latest Ninja Tune release, Fast Asleep, Porcini (aka James Bradell) hooked up with Team Alcohol (aka Rupert Small) to create the sleepy series of images in the eight-video DVD set to six tracks from the new album and two from elsewhere. Dream on at Oboro (4001 Berri, #301) until June 19. » Matthew Woodley

¡Baila tango!

"I've been dancing the tango for over 15 years now, and it haunts me," says former O Vertigo dancer Marie-Claude Rodrigue. "It's a passion - a passion that lives in my body." That established, it's only natural that Rodrigue's first professional production revolves around the intense South American dance form. Her Tango sous influences, which is part of the ¡Danza! Dança! series, opens at Tangente (840 Cherrier, 525-5584) today, May 27, and runs until the 30th. This work was inspired by her Chilean husband's octogenarian parents José Ulises and Rebeca Venegas) who met while dancing the tango more than 60 years ago.

In the first piece of the evening, Rodrigue is joined by O Vertigo dancer Mélanie Demers in the fiery duet, Palestra tanguera. Following that, Rodrigue toys with emotion and tension in this trio for men. Be sure to get there early because tango demonstrations will take place before the show. » Marites Carino

Is it Art?

SMOOOOTH SLEEPIN': Not that there's anything wrong with a hot, steamy night, but when it means waking up face down in a sweaty noggin' sponge, there's got to be some relief. Well, Chillow is one cool pillow - and not just impossible-to-stop-saying-out-loud cool. Chillow is an electricty-less, slumber-silent headrest that keeps chill night after night, thanks to something inside that "works as a heat sink and refrigerator." Proven in tests to facilitate up to 21 per cent more REM sleep, Chillow is also handy for headaches and whatever else ails ya. For example, extols Hazel Brown of L.A., "I'm the old gal that bought a Chillow for my burning feet, and it's really great!" Order online at www.chillow.com, $29.95 (U.S.).

ArtsHole

HEY! Whoever left Stereo last Saturday night with the wrong bag from the coat check - the one with a really expensive camera in it - it belongs to Michel Bazinet, a Montreal gay icon who's been documenting the scene for 20 years now. He really wants his camera back, won't bite, and can be reached at 279-1546. Be nice and call. • LONDON SEEN: London-based VJ/DJ/producer outfit Addictive TV brings their U.K. night The Audiovisual Lounge to the SAT (1195 St-Laurent) this Friday, May 28, 9 p.m.–3 a.m. as part of a VJ weekend that also hosts a panel on May 28, 2–5 p.m., and a series of a/v workshops on May 29 from 1–7 p.m. See their online samplings at www.addictive.tv.

ARTISTAT: Number of museums that will let you in free of charge this Sunday, May 30, 9 a.m.–6 p.m., as part of the 18th annual Montreal Museums Day: 30

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