Cute.

This is the one word that would best sum Danceworks' DW158 Corpus production as performed by Sylvie Bouchard (co- Artistic Director) and William Yong (formerly of Toronto Dance Theatre).Two is company is a comedic retrospective of the world's great lovers - fictional or otherwise - performed as a series of dance vignettes illustrating real or imagined events (think An American in Paris done to lounge music).

From the struggle the Prince to get to Rapunzel to the peace seeking missiles of Yoko Ono and John Lennon, practically every pairing you could think of has be represented.

Jeff Burke -the bassoonist to end all bassoonistsis - is finally getting the recognition he deserves with a performance aptlly named Burkenstock - being held in his honour this Monday at the Lula Lounge.

Often seen and heard on the Northbound platform of the Yonge-Bloor subway station, Burke has played with numerous bands including The Shadowpuppets, Sun Ra Arkestra, and the Subtonic Monks. He also has played accompaniment for dancers from a variety of genres from contra to Renaissance to Middle Eastern belly dancing.

He has even been known to play and Morris dance at the same time.

It would seem that Toronto is following a trend that was perhaps established by Ithaca College in the US. IC has held a CellFlix Festival where films entered had to be shot entirely by cell phone.

The Toronto International Still Camera Video Festival takes this a step futher by using digital still cameras mainly, though cell phone cameras can also be used. Currently organizers are looking for submissions for part 2 of the fest which will be held May 20th.

To confirm participation, contact Steve Kado or Jon McCurley at stillcamerafilmfestival@gmail.com or by phone at 416-920-9163

OMO Dance Company celebrated its 11th Anniversary Toronto Season, having recently triumphed in Geneva and Turkey. I have had a long time relationship with OMO Dance Company but never have I been as impressed with their work as I was last Saturday.

There were two standout pieces. The first was If Only performed by dancer Almond Small. Small is anything but, be it of stature or of presence. His power cannot be denied, nor can his grace - in him John Henry meets Nijinsky. The piece itself, scored with music reminiscent of Frankie Goes to Hollywood done using strings written by Steve Reich. The set is but a simple two tier box to represent a mountain and clearly (in this case) the Black man's struggle. This was a very Art Deco performance reminding me of the artwork of Diego Rivera. Impressive.

In Stanley Kubrick's Eyes Wide Shut Tom Cruise observes a scene in what turns out to be a grandiose bawdy house. Ten or so robed and masked women enter a great hall, lead by a masked priest/shaman. At a signal, the women suddenly drop their robes, standing naked but for their masks. At that moment, what could have been a beautifully sensual and teasingly erotic scene stops dead.

Toronto Dance Theatre's Sly Verb, on the other hand, does not fall. Instead it maintains its momentum; its nakedness is in its passionate use of motion and intimate touch.

With April comes... Burlesque workshops?

Yep, Boom Chika Boom , featuring instructor Coco Franboise (and guests), is here with a new series of classes for ladies in Broadway, burlesque and go-go dance styles starting Tuesday April 4th with the end show tentatively planned for May 16th. You can do the full series or take "quickies" in anything from Language of the Glove to The Great Tassel Twirl.

Classes are held at Studio 204 at 204 Spadina Ave (north of Queen). Class size is limited. You can reserve your spot today by emailing or by calling the BOOM Hotline at (416) 598-0861.