What's on this week: 18-24 November

Since the 1980s, Vera Mantero has been blazing the trail for contemporary dance in Portugal, becoming one of Lisbon’s most celebrated choreographers and a frequent guest on Flemish stages. Now Mantero returns to Kaaitheater for the Belgian premiere of her latest dance production. The Clean and the Dirty promises to make us rethink the relationship between self, art and environment through the movements of three dancers, one being Mantero herself. The choreographer and her co-producers at activist art association Imagine 2020 make the case that climate change requires us to change not just our actions but our entire way of being-in-the-world.
23-24 November 20.30, Kaaitheater, Brussels

For millennia, artists looked to tradition for their ideas and legitimacy. Then, sometime in the 19th century, a new breed of artist decided to live for today – and even tomorrow. Modernity was born from this impulse to throw off the age-old shackles of convention. The new art depicted new subjects, usually drawn from the gritty reality of modern life, and used new techniques that were wilful transgressions of classical rules. A major exhibition, Modernity à la Belge, surveys the European pioneers of the movement and Belgium’s considerable contribution.
Until 22 January, Royal Museums of Fine Arts, Brussels

Lawrence Hass is a philosopher turned magician and magic teacher who suggests that far from tricking people and deceiving them, magic is an art form that can be a force for good and lift the spirit. This, he says, helps explain why there have been magicians in every recorded human culture. The American will be performing his magic for one night only in Brussels next Saturday. 
26 November 19.30, Op-Weule Cultural Centre, €29

An extension of the current Bozar exhibition Picasso: Sculptures, Discovery Trails allows families to immerse themselves in the wonderful world of Pablo Picasso, and invites children (ages six and up) to discover the artist’s work using all five senses (in French and Dutch).

20 November 14.30-16.00, Bozar, Rue Ravenstein 23, Brussels

Enjoy a night of traditional Irish music and dance, with fun and simple group dances that require no previous experience, and music by fiddlers, flute players and more from Ireland, Belgium and America.
18 November 19.00-1.00, EPEE, Rue de l'Epée 4, Brussels

The annual Christmas fair organised by the Swedish Church in Brussels features Swedish handicraft, textile and candlesticks and more gifts, plus culinary specialities and the chance to make your own Christmas wreath.
18-20 November, Chorale Suédoise de Bruxelles, Avenue des Gaulois 35, Brussels

Do you think that poetry should be more like a contact sport? If so and you're between 10 and 15 years old KVS has a workshop for you. This exclusive workshop for beginner slammers, rappers, writers and poets, is led by professional slammers Max Greyson and Luanda Caselle and all the workshop participants will perform during the showcase "a bloodcurdling verbal show" with special guest Youness Mernissi, several times Belgian Poetry Slam champion. The workshop will be repeated twice and the showcase will take place immediately afterwards (no age limit on the audience). For kids of all languages. This is just one of the four different events taking place on KVS's Art Day for Children.
KVS Box, 20 November from 12.30, free (but registration for the workshop required at laura.delaure@kvs.be)