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BALLET CREOLE. When artistic director Patrick Parson first heard the CD Glorious Soulful Messiah-which turns Handel's Messiah on its ear with R&B arrangements sung by Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight and Aretha Franklin-back in 2002, he knew he had found the centrepiece for the company's Christmas dance show. At first, Parson could only afford to choreograph six sections, but he has been steadily adding tracks since then. The latest offering, the blues-driven Behold the Lamb of God, is an instrumental piece arranged and performed by the YellowJackets. Parson's powerful fusion of African, Caribbean and modern dance matches the music's intensity. As always, the companion piece is Gabby Kamino's moving Glory, set to traditional spirituals. Dec. 14 to 16. $20-$35. Premiere Dance Theatre, Harbourfront Centre, 207 Queens Quay W., 416-973-4000, www.harbourfrontcentre.com.
CANADIAN CHILDREN'S DANCE THEATRE. A quarter of a century ago, CCDT decided to create a concert that would help counteract the commercialization of the holiday season. The resulting show, Wintersong-Dances for a Sacred Season, is now an annual event. Artistic director Deborah Lundmark is collaborating with Celtic composer Kirk Elliott on a work inspired by William Butler Yeats' poem The Stolen Child, while New York-based choreographer Sidra Bell is performing a new, as-yet-untitled piece. Returning works are Carol Anderson's beautiful Nowell Sing We, Kim Frank's poignant Doyne Suite and Santee Smith's haunting Kaha:wi. Dec. 14 and 15. $15-$25. Ryerson Theatre, 43 Gerrard St. E., 416-924-5657, www.ccdt.org.
CHARTIER DANCE. Using Canadian printmaker, sculptor and painter Betty Goodwin as its starting point, Marie-Josée Chartier's Bas-Reliefs combines the talents of artists from Toronto and Montreal. Julie Fox has created a scenic environment that involves video and photography, while the music is handled by Alexander MacSween and Gaétan Leboeuf. Charrier functions as artistic director, overseeing the two duets, which feature herself and Dan Wild, and are choreographed by Guillaume Bernardi and Ginette Laurin. Nov. 29 to Dec. 1. $17-$27. Enwave Theatre, Harbourfront Centre, 231 Queens Quay...