What's on this week: 10 February

The young French choreographer Steven Michel got his start in the circus, studying mime, music and percussion. He graduated from Brussels dance school P.A.R.T.S. in 2010, and this is his first solo choreography, a work that blurs the line between dance and concert. An expression of Michel’s fascination with sound, rhythm, animation and image, the performance forces the audience to question the relationships between the artificial and the natural, science and fiction. Light, music and movement combine to create a visual symphony where the eye can hear and the ear can see. \ Robyn Boyle
Until 19 May across Brussels and Flanders

British-born, Brooklyn-based artist David Hollier has been using digital technology to create cutting-edge multimedia works since the 1980s. His latest series, Imago Verbosa, relies on text and texture alone to recreate iconic images. Portraits of inspirational figures as diverse as Shakespeare, David Bowie and Pope Francis are formed by blocks of verse. Hollier paints the text in acrylics and oils or types it on a vintage Smith-Corona typewriter. The lines are uplifting messages sourced from poems, essays and speeches authored by the subjects. Hollier aims to remind a world in crisis that all is not lost.
Until 31 March at Jos Joos Gallery, Brussels

Richard Ford is old enough to have witnessed the decline of American society and gifted enough to have documented it for posterity. The 71-year-old Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist is ranked with Charles Bukowski and Raymond Carver as a pioneer of dirty realism, the warts-and-all portrayal of contemporary American culture. Ford’s work spans decades, from the 1970s to his 1986 breakthrough The Sportswriter to his recent Lay of the Land. He will be interviewed by Flemish writer and literary critic Roderik Six. Bozar is Ford’s first stop in a tour of that also includes Passa Porta and the Brussels Book Fair.
16 February, 20.00 at Bozar, Brussels

Teresa Salgueiro: The fado singer who got her start with the Portuguese group Madredeus performs songs from her album O Mistério!. 14 February 20.15, CC Leopoldsburg, Kastanjedreef 1, Leopoldsburg

Brussels I love you: Art tour uniting 20 galleries and exhibition spaces in the Louiza/Kastelein area, with readings, film screenings, performances, exhibitions and more. 13-27 February, starting from Hangar 18, Kasteleinplein 18, Brussels

Grow your own vineyard: During this free info session, wine and viticulture specialist Geurt van Rennes explains how to grow a backyard vineyard, even in the city, and demonstrates how one vine is enough to produce your own wine (in Dutch, ages 18+). Register on 011 21 08 49 or [email protected]. 11 February 19.30-21.00, Domein Kiewit, Putvennestraat 108

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John Cleese: With performances selling out immediately in Antwerp, a Ghent show has been added to the tour of the legendary British actor and comedian, best known from Monty Python and Fawlty Towers. 4 May 20.00, Capitole, Graaf Van Vlaanderenplein 5, Ghent

The Big Folk’n’Irish Night: This evening of contemporary folk music from Ireland sells out every month, so book early. The March edition features Irish-Dutch trio O’Dreams and Anglo-Belgian band Faran Flad. 19 March 20.00, De Centrale, Kraankindersstraat 2, Ghent

Dhafer Youssef: The Tunisian composer, singer and oud player performs songs from his new album, Birds Requiem, traditional Arabic music mixed with contemporary jazz and rock. 24 February 20.30, De Roma, Turnhoutsebaan 329, Antwerp