À l' 2010 Jeux olympiques d'hiver à Vancouver et à Whistler, qui s'ouvre ce vendredi, Février 12, the action isn’t all on the snow or ice.

The region is also hosting the 2010 L'Olympiade culturelle — une massive cultural festival avec environ 600 theatrical performances, concerts, des expositions d'art, spectacles de danse, digital media showcases, and other cultural events taking place over a 60-day period.

L'Olympiade culturelle a débuté à la fin de Janvier, but there’s still plenty of time to check it out. Performances continue through the end of March.

Upcoming highlights include:

Danse Danse Canada, featuring the Ballet national du Canada et le Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Février 13 et 14

Singer-songwriter Feist, performing un spectacle que, Février 17

Laurie Anderson: Illusion, the world premiere of a new work by this quirky performance artist, Février 16 à 21

K’NAAN, a Somali-Canadian rapper and musician performing with African blues-rock group Tinariwen, un spectacle que, Février 25

Le Dragon bleu, a theatrical event created by Canadian director Robert Lepage, ongoing through February 27

L' Parler Stick Festival of aboriginal arts, Février 21 à 28

Compagnie Marie Chouinard, une world premiere from this notable Canadian contemporary dancer and choreographer, Mars 12 et 13

Body & Soul, avec 14 Canadian woman sharing stories about their bodies and about life after age 45, Mars 11 à 17

L' National Arts Centre’s Made in Canada, a concert of Canadian music, dance, and song, un spectacle que, Mars 15

Cirque Éloize: Rain, performance by this noted Montreal-based circus company, Mars 18 à 20

Et de nombreux, many more. Get the complete schedule and ticket information from the L'Olympiade culturelle Site Web.

María Pagés: Flamenco Republic Photo © VANOC/COVAN