Montreal will experience a Russian Dance Dance Revolution when the The Alexandrov Red Army Choir and Ensemble takes to the Place des Arts stage from September 1 to 4.

They’ll perform rousing songs and energetic dances with their travelling team of 125 musicians and performers, soloists, a male choir, dancers and a full orchestra. Playing both traditional Russian instruments, including the balalaïka, the domra and the bayan along with the more familiar double bass, woodwinds, brass and percussion instruments, you won’t need to know the words in Russian to sing along.

Our recommendations for after? Pour everyone a shot of vodka and shout na zda-rov’-ye! —Jenn Nachshen

Tickets range from $87.90 to $97.90 and are available online.

Our regular yoga sessions have helped lift our asanas to new heights. But sometimes we just want to drop it like it’s hot.

When we’re feeling more Snoop Dogg than downward dog, we dance it out at Urban Body Studio ($10/class, $250/3 months unlimited). We tried the Bodylicious class, which had us mingling hip-hop moves with old school aerobics like video vixens. We’re heading back to the studio for Flirty Girl Fitness, a high-impact circuit mixed with dance moves, and Urban Bootcamp, where we’ll pop and lock our way to a better behind.

Taking our body from om to OMG.

Urban Body, 4523 St. Denis St., Montreal, 514-616-9178, www.urban-body.ca

Our most anticipated movie of the year is Black Swan. In part because the media has been referring to it as an “erotic ballet thriller,” and we’d like to find out what that means.

Beautiful and unsettling, Black Swan stars Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis as competing ballerinas who wind up entangling lithe limbs off-stage as well as on. Winning rave reviews at the Venice International Film Festival and TIFF, Black Swan finds Tchaikovsky meeting director Aronofsky with stunning results.

Did we mention Winona Ryder stars as the aging Prima Ballerina replaced by the younger starlets? Reality bites.

In select theatres on December 1, www.foxsearchlight.com/blackswan

We may have been born far from Brooklyn, but we still love to get down to the old funk / soul sound.

Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings are committed to the revival of R&B, using only instruments and recording tools available until the mid-'70s. They’re bringing their Motown-esque gritty grinds to Le National tonight ($28), and we’re bringing our dancing shoes.

Now that’s what we call old school.

Tickets at Le National at 514-529-5000, www.admission.com

If your idea of heaven is tall, dark and handsome, this is the week to stay in the city. Lithe Argentine dancers have descended for the Montreal International Tango Festival.

Sign up for an intensive class at Tango Libre (from $35), try your hand at an evening milonga or pack a picnic and enjoy people watching at Parc Lafontaine’s weekly Tango in the Afternoon (Sundays, 2:30-6 p.m.).

Muy caliente!

Montréal International Tango Festival, until July 19, 514-527-5197, www.festivaldetangodemontreal.qc.ca

Just when we’d decided to detox, along came sugar-shack season to do us in.

Lose the guilt, throw on your Chanel snowsuit and head to Piknik Electronik’s outdoor rave for one last day of indulgence. This year, organizers are bringing along a traditional cabane à sucre to their annual Île Sainte-Hélène shin-dig.

After noshing on sausage and crêpes smothered in maple syrup, dance off the extra poundage under the L'Homme sculpture, while DJs spin and calories burn. Thankfully the snow suit allows for expansion. We’ll detox next weekend.

April 4 and 5, 1 p.m.-9 p.m., Parc Jean-Drapeau, www.piknicelectronik.com
Tickets, $30 (including brunch) at Moog Audio, 3828 Blvd. St-Laurent, Montreal, 514-284-7434 or www.ticketpro.ca

Apparently it’s not enough that Juliette Binoche is gorgeous, Oscar-winning and a spokesmodel for Lancôme. It turns out she can dance too. And not that showy salsa kind you see on reality TV but really dance. 

Her stage debut takes place in a show she developed (and co-stars) with British choreographer Akram Khan. In-I uses contemporary movements to tell the story of a tumultuous relationship— and the chemistry between them is palpable.

And if that’s not enough Ms. Binoche for one month, the Cinémathèque québécoise is presenting a retrospective of her films and an exhibit of her handwritten poetry and pen-and-ink portraits.

What next? A fashion line? Don’t rule it out.

In-I, until Jan. 17, Centre Pierre-Peladeau, 300 De Maisonneuve E., 514-842-2112, www.dansedanse.net
Portraits In-Eyes, until Feb.1st, Cinémathèque québécoise, 335 De Maisonneuve E., Montreal, 514- 842-9763, www.cinematheque.qc.ca

While anxiously waiting for Agent Provocateur to open a Montreal branch, we’ll be finding inspiration at Blue Light Burlesque’s new monthly cabaret show.

The city’s first burlesque revival troupe gives cheeky-but-tasteful performances in lace corsets, vintage suits, long gloves and feather boas. But this isn’t just bump-and-grind; the dancers (men and women) combine traditional vaudeville theatre with 1940s music and elaborate sets. 

If you’re truly moved, sign up for a six-week burlesque workshop with Blue Light founder Mlle Oui Oui. 

Watch your back, Dita Von Teese!

Blue Light Burlesque Live ($20), 8 p.m., Sept 24, Oct 15, November 13, December 10 at Le Petit Campus, 57 Prince Arthur East, www.bluelightburlesque.com

Lawyer and dance aficionado Victor Melnikoff decided that if sporting events like the Grand Prix could tour the world and attract fans, why couldn’t dance? So he founded Le Gala Des Étoiles, an annual touring show of ballet and contemporary-dance superstars from around the world.

Now in its 25th year, this year’s event features the very best performers from Les Ballet Jazz de Montréal, the Royal Ballet and the National Ballets of Hungary and Portugal. To spice things up, Melnikoff also invited Joseph Webb, who'll do a solo tap dance number inspired by Bo Jangles, and Turkish male belly dancer Ilhan Karabacak.

Tickets $25-$125. Le Gala Des Étoiles, Sept. 4, 6:30 p.m., Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier, Place des Arts, 514-937-5727, www.galadesetoiles.com

Still don’t know your cha cha from your rumba? Neither do we, so we’re signing up for a few lessons.

Founded by Moris and Sonia and, the city’s King and Queen of dance, the Montreal Salsa Convention is five days of performances and workshops by some of the best dancers from around the world.

Nobody puts this Baby in a corner.

Workshops from $109, Montreal Salsa Convention, April 16-20, 2008, Metropolis & Sheraton Center Hotel, www.montrealsalsaconvention.com