The new series “Cabaret Confluences”: a new monthly gathering for the arts of Montreal’s Asian heart

Interview by Frédéric Cardin

Additional Information

The new Artistic Director of the Accès Asie Festival, Ziya Tabassian, wanted the Festival to extend throughout the year in order to strengthen ties with the Montreal community. He therefore had the idea of offering a series of multidisciplinary meetings, one at the end of each winter month, namely January, February and March. It’s called Cabaret Confluences. On the program, like a true cabaret, a rich and diverse mix of music, dance, poetry, performance, and theatre. All of this, of course, is supported by several artists, most of whom are based in Montreal. The Cabarets will therefore be a perfect opportunity to discover the remarkable artistic richness that bubbles in the heart of the Quebec metropolis. I discussed it with him.

INFORMATION AND TICKETS

Schedule and programming:

January 28, 2026 – Cabaret Confluences 1

The bilingual evening features a theatrical contemporary dance duo by Léa Tremblay Fong and Taylor Yeung, an improvised music performance by Fahmid Nibesh, a poetic reading by Kama La Mackerel, and Persian songs performed by Naghmeh Shafiei. Dona-Bella Kassab, MC and multidisciplinary artist, ensures cohesion between the performances.

Doors open at 7 PM. Show at 8 PM.

@ La Sala Rossa, 4848 Boul. Saint-Laurent, Montréal

——————————————————————–

February 25, 2026 – Cabaret Confluences 2

The Cabaret Confluences #2 explores artistic and cultural diversity through dance, stand-up comedy, music, poetry, and performance.

The bilingual evening brings together multidisciplinary artists: Janelle Hacault, a contemporary dancer and choreographer of Filipino/Franco-Canadian origin, cache cache (poetry, literature, and electronic ambient music), Ran Wang and Xuan Lucie Liu (Chinese music duo), Rinre, a young Japanese dancer based in Montreal, and Dona-Bella Kassab will serve as the master of ceremonies.

Doors open at 7 PM. Show at 8 PM. 

@ Toscadura, 4388 Saint-Laurent Blvd, Montreal

—————————————————————–

March 25, 2026 – Cabaret Confluences 3

The Cabaret Confluences #3 presents Amineh Sharifi with an excerpt from I Lost My Tongue, a bilingual French-Persian play exploring identity and language.

Followed by the trio blending poetry and music composed of Claudia Chan Tak, Géraldine Leong Sang, and Nay Theam.

Sasha Ashwini, a Bharatanatyam dancer, offers an exploration of identity and decolonial issues.

LiKouri, a singer born in Canada, whose mother is of Indian origin adopted by a Lebanese family, will share her musical creations.

Finally, Dona-Bella Kassab, MC and engaged multidisciplinary artist, will close the evening.

Doors open at 7 PM. Show at 8 PM.

@ La Sala Rossa, 4848 Boul. Saint-Laurent, Montréal

Latest 360 Content

VoixMonde on the 9th: meeting with the traditions of Rwanda with Deo Munyakazi

VoixMonde on the 9th: meeting with the traditions of Rwanda with Deo Munyakazi

Flux 2026 | Bob Stewart, the most senior jazz tuba player performing this week in MTL

Flux 2026 | Bob Stewart, the most senior jazz tuba player performing this week in MTL

Flux 2026 | Liberté-Anne presents Frotae vol. 2

Flux 2026 | Liberté-Anne presents Frotae vol. 2

Flux 2026 | No Hay Banda invites Erika Angell and pays tribute to Suoni per il popolo

Flux 2026 | No Hay Banda invites Erika Angell and pays tribute to Suoni per il popolo

Nicolas Ellis, Elizabeth St-Gelais, and the Orchestre de l’Agora at Bourgie: Under the watchful eye of the Moon, angels pass by

Nicolas Ellis, Elizabeth St-Gelais, and the Orchestre de l’Agora at Bourgie: Under the watchful eye of the Moon, angels pass by

SAT / Making Time | When Friendship Becomes a Happening

SAT / Making Time | When Friendship Becomes a Happening

SAT/ Making Time |Aurora Halal’s One-hour Hardware Live Set Upcoming

SAT/ Making Time |Aurora Halal’s One-hour Hardware Live Set Upcoming

Flux 2026 | 1st week-end according to Peter Burton

Flux 2026 | 1st week-end according to Peter Burton

Between Shostakovich and improvisation, Gabriela Montero speaks of freedom

Between Shostakovich and improvisation, Gabriela Montero speaks of freedom

Joep Beving: Imagination and Reflection First

Joep Beving: Imagination and Reflection First

Codes d’Accès | Battements: Geneviève Ackerman presents “Rimes défaites par le Sphinx”

Codes d’Accès | Battements: Geneviève Ackerman presents “Rimes défaites par le Sphinx”

SAT / Making Time | Olof Dreijer Beyond The Knife… The Drums !

SAT / Making Time | Olof Dreijer Beyond The Knife… The Drums !

Bozzini Quartet plays the quartets of an icon of avant-garde jazz: George Lewis

Bozzini Quartet plays the quartets of an icon of avant-garde jazz: George Lewis

The “Bring Your Own Wine” concerts by the Voxpopuli Quartet: where serious listening is combined with pleasure

The “Bring Your Own Wine” concerts by the Voxpopuli Quartet: where serious listening is combined with pleasure

Pop MTL | 3 Final Picks for Sunday 27th & Monday 28th

Pop MTL | 3 Final Picks for Sunday 27th & Monday 28th

Sharon is (also) Jazz!

Sharon is (also) Jazz!

Janina Fialkowska: for the first time at Maison symphonique… to bid farewell

Janina Fialkowska: for the first time at Maison symphonique… to bid farewell

Pop MTL 2026 | 3 picks for Saturday 26th

Pop MTL 2026 | 3 picks for Saturday 26th

From his Mirador, Jean-Michel Blais casts a tender gaze on the child within us

From his Mirador, Jean-Michel Blais casts a tender gaze on the child within us

Oper’Actuel Main Show: Multilayered, Deep, Eclectic,  Entertaining

Oper’Actuel Main Show: Multilayered, Deep, Eclectic, Entertaining

POP MTL 2026 | 3 Picks for Friday September 25

POP MTL 2026 | 3 Picks for Friday September 25

POP MTL 2026 | 3 Picks for Thursday September 24

POP MTL 2026 | 3 Picks for Thursday September 24

POP MTL 2026 | 3 Picks for Wednesday September 23

POP MTL 2026 | 3 Picks for Wednesday September 23

Opér’actuel | From Grief Comes Creation: Rachel Krehm’s Journey Through Her Opera Come Closer

Opér’actuel | From Grief Comes Creation: Rachel Krehm’s Journey Through Her Opera Come Closer

Subscribe to our newsletter

Inscription
Infolettre

"*" indicates required fields

Type of Suscribers