Moving to Belgium to Rehearse

Celine Dion performs at the Molson Center during the taping of the Quebec TV game show "La Fureur" in Montreal on April 3.

Canadian superstar Celine Dion is moving to Belgium, not for the waffles or the beer, but to rehearse for her return to the stage set for next year.

In an interview with Belgian television on Wednesday, Dion said she would be moving to La Louviere, a town of 76,000 located 50 kilometers (30 miles) south of Brussels for three months.

"We found a small house there, that will be our home for three months," Dion said. "I can't wait." Dion is to move into her new house sometime this autumn she said.

The 33-year-old Dion, who has just released her new album entitled "A New Day Has Come," said she was returning to live performances after two years off to have her first child.

Dion is to appear at Caesars Palace's new 4,000-seat Colosseum theater in Las Vegas to headline an exclusive show co-produced by Franco Dragone, who directed both of Cirque du Soleil's Las Vegas productions - "O" and "Mystere."

Dion moved to Belgium so she can work with Dragone, who is putting the show together at his home, also in La Louviere. The show is to premiere March 2003.

"Every morning I will go with Franco to rehearse and will return home evenings," said Dion, adding she was eager to return to the stage.

Dion has signed on to perform at the dlrs 65 million amphitheater for 200 nights per year. The show is scheduled to run at least three years.

It was not sure whether her family would join her full-time at her home in Belgium.