Stolen moments

"It's very strange to watch Crystal Pite work," says Louis Robitaille, artistic director of Les Ballets jazz de Montréal, of their resident choreographer. "She has so many things going on that it's hard to follow. Everything is in her head and, as an outsider, you're not sure how it's all connected. But when she finally started to put this show together last May, suddenly it started to make sense."

Robitaille is talking about Pite's new work, which debuts this week (Sept. 2–11) at Le Théâtre du Nouveau Monde (84 Ste-Catherine W.). "The Stolen Show" is a parody of art and entertainment and the third installment in the trilogy called X-Spectacle, which Pite has pieced together during her three-year residency at Les Ballets jazz. The trilogy is rounded out by the second part "X-Spectacle" and the opening crowd-favourite "Short Works: 24," which features 24 witty choreographic episodes clocking in at one minute each.

Over the past few years, Pite has been making noise in international dance with her work with Ballets Frankfurt's William Forsythe and her own BC-based company, Kidd Pivot. With its youthfulness and irreverence, The Stolen Show is certain to stir up even more. » Marites Carino

Far-out fables

Brothers Carlos and Jason Sanchez have set up a nice little niche for themselves in staged photography over the past few years with their dark narrative shots of engagingly indeterminate situations. In "The Gatherer," a man scratches his head in a room full of stuff, likely leading many viewers to do the same. The Laval-based duo put hours of intention into setting up their scenerios, yet it's uncannily hard to put a finger on what's going on. It's a perfect fit into VOX's exhibition, Fabulation, which opens this Saturday, Aug. 28, at 4 p.m. (1211 St-Laurent).

"Fabulation" refers to storytelling, something co-exhibitor Scott McFarland has being doing largely through staged shots in buildings and gardens in Vancouver, again setting up a scene and leaving you to wonder. Copenhagen-based Jesper Just rounds out the exhibitors with narrative videos that adopt conventional Hollywood styles and use music and dance in exploring the world of male bonding. All the artists will be at the gallery before the opening at 3:30 for a little bonding of their own, and the show continues until Oct. 16. » Matthew Woodley

Talking drums

This Sunday's Words and Music at the Casa is an extended poetry jam featuring resident Kalmunity percussionists Karl Perralt and Zibz NG. Speaking of drums and poetry, organizer Kaie Kellough says, "Some people think it's clichéd, but to me it's beyond clichéd, it's traditional - it's like a folk style. Just like the Last Poets did it and the Beats did it, but with modern voices to re-invigorate it." The line-up includes Jason Selman (who'll also contribute some trumpet to the mix), Katalyst, Stephen Thomas, and Fortner Anderson. "The aim is to have tons of poets there so the percussion can establish a groove, and the show can carry its own momentum," Kellough explains. It's at the Casa del Popolo (4873 St-Laurent) Aug. 29 at 8:30 p.m., $5. » Vincent Tinguely

Going street

After seven years on the fifth floor of the gallery-rich building at 460 Ste-Catherine E., La Centrale has moved to street level on the Main (4296 St-Laurent). Tonight, Aug. 26, until Sunday, drop by between noon and midnight to check out the new digs and have a beer. Some of Montreal's hottest women artists - Manon de Pauw, Tammy Forsythe and more - have been invited to come by to present interventions, performances, dance and videos sporadically throughout the weekend.

Another gathering of artists that you may wish to attend or join is happening Sept. 6 at the Casa del Popolo (4873 St-Laurent). The event, organized by Zoë Brown, is an artistic showing of solidarity against the recent violence against women in Montreal. It is not too late to contribute your performances, songs, spoken word and videos that do not exceed 10 minutes. To be a part of it, e-mail scarletsfever@videotron.ca, doors open at 8 p.m., all dollars raised go to a local rape crisis centre. » Christine Redfern

Is it Art?

ALC-O-HALT: While a greasy breakfast followed by a cold beer is about as good a hangover cure as you'll find, an even better way to start the day after drinking is sober. Chaser, the newest anti-hangover caplet on the market, promises just that. As the name implies, the pills are to be taken with alcohol, whereupon they quickly kick into action by somehow absorbing hangover-causing elements. Tests by the makers reveal a proven reduction of 17 hangover symptoms (there are 17?!), though prospective users ought to note that they won't help much with heavy booze consumption, something an over-zealous Is it Art? tester discovered the hard way when chasing Chaser with Kentucky bourbon and bottle tokes. The all-natural product is available in pharmacies for $3.99 (4 pack) and $9.99 (10 pack).

ArtsHole

ROY TOYS: Heralding the woeful winding down of summer, Main Madness shuts down St-Laurent this weekend with the usual smorgasbord of way-cheap T-shirts and noodles. Just around the corner is the cherry on top with the Roy Street Collective hosting another fab artist market (111 Roy E.) with fine art, crafts, foodstuffs and lots more from noon–10 p.m., Aug. 26–28 and noon–6 p.m. on Aug. 29. • BELLES AND BEASTS: Looking something like Barbie meets a recent Diesel campaign, Claudine Sauvé's photographs put across a type of human beauty that's so clean and polished it's disturbing. The artist, an accomplished director of photography in the Quebec film industry, presents her Green Boys and Pink Girls at Galerie Espace (4844 St-Laurent) until Sept. 7.

ARTISTAT: Number of bells, whistles, locomotives and other cool train-related items you can check out at EXPORAIL's massively overhauled museum and pavilion when it officially opens on Friday, Aug. 27 (110 St-Pierre, St-Constant): 250,000

>> Arts Listings