Margie Gillis Dance Foundation

Literature of the Body
Margie Gillis

Double bill
To Lose the World
The Whole Blooming' Thing

Sensual and evocative movement that guides us into embracing our humanity. Under Margie Gillis’ artistic direction, the Legacy Project dancers and guests unite to bring you Literature of the Body, a poetic and somatic, impactful program. Through these two groups works, the audience is treated to the inner workings of our soul’s journey, while shining a spotlight on the poetry that resides in the art of dance.

Notions of vulnerability, forced social change, loss and disruption, and the joy and sensuality of life, all feature in this assemblage of works. Coming from a ceaseless well of inspiration, Literature of the Body is a must-see, a gift from the world of dance.

Two stories are told. The first faces the hard truth that a third of the world’s population are refugees and with Climate change that number is expected to explode. Who are we in this statelessness? Who are we homeless and unmoored? The second is from the world of James Joyce, who wrote, Ulysses, based on the private inner dialogue of his wife, the character: Molly Bloom. Her world, her community, her gentle outcast husband and the young intellect Stephen. Wild and wonderful this town’s woman and her true connection to nature win the day in a cacophony of coming to YES.

Good evening to all, 

This evening is a celebration of a great woman, a true icon of dance in Quebec and beyond, who is celebrating 50 years of working in the arts. We're talking about Margie Gillis of course, a tireless artist who has grown with boundless creativity, inspiring and guiding us again and again.

You probably know her for her countless solos and duets. Tonight, you'll (re)discover her through a group creation entitled Literature of the Body. Since 2014, as part of her Legacy Project, she has been surrounding herself with a new generation of artists, to pass on her repertoire and create a living dance legacy. This show is the fruit of this initiative and therefore presents two creations embodying its artist's humanistic vision, carried by talented performers and collaborators who share her passion and dedication to dance.

It's an invitation to be swept away by grace and poetry! A journey to the very heart of dance, shaped by an emblematic figure who has conquered many hearts.

We wish you a very good show!

Territorial Acknowledgement
Danse Danse acknowledges that we are gathered on the traditional and unceded territory of the Kanien’keha:ka Nation. We honour the continued presence of Indigenous peoples on the Tiohtiá:ke (Montreal) territory, which has long served as a meeting place for exchanges between nations. With respect for the links to the past, present and future, we thank the Indigenous peoples for reminding us of the importance of living in harmony with ourselves, with each other and with nature, and we are grateful for the opportunity to present works of living art at Tiohtiá:ke.

I have always had a passion for nuance in movement. A passion for experiential wisdom and vulnerability. The Human condition and nature are inextricable, and we belong to nature.

I experience, enter or evoke states of being, and allow the movement to develop from that source. Each dance, each dancer, each audience member has their own path; and the psychology creates the architecture. All music; human, animal, nature, spoken, sung and silence evokes response. Does it emanate from us? Is it landscape or touch, a dialogue or a pure truth? Improvising till choreography solidifies. Listening with all of me. I create group solos, each one of us is involved in the ritual as it is made of ourselves, and of our humanity.

To Lose the World is a response to refugees, to homelessness, and to our destruction of the natural world and so ourselves. All of us will be refugees. Where is our compassion and action? We too, are vulnerable. How can we see ourselves as one human family?

The Whole Bloomin’ Thing grew out of a solo I created over 20 years ago. I always had the hope of expanding the solo to a group work. This rendition is with an all-woman cast doing extracts from James Joyce’s Ulysses, featuring Leopold, Stephen and Molly’s inner worlds. What is in our inner dialogue and landscape? The raw, the ugly and the beautiful. Expanded feminine consciousness and truth are needed elements for us to grow and move forward with sustainable solutions for our societies and our right relationship in this world.

My curiosity, inspiration and gratitude continue strong.

Thank you for being on this journey with me.

— Margie Gillis, choreographer

LITERATURE OF THE BODY
February 9 and 10, 2024

Choreographer | Margie Gillis
With the Dancers of The Legacy Project
Artistic Advisor | Randal Newman
Rehearsal Director | Geneviève Boulet
Lighting Design and Technical Director | Pierre Lavoie
__

TO LOSE THE WORLD

Choreographer | Margie Gillis
Dancers | Chelsea Bonosky, Geneviève Boulet, Rachelle Bourget, Alexandra Caron, Isabel Cruz, Marc Daigle, Caitlin Griffin, Tessa Rae Kuz, Ruth Naomi Levin, Hoor Malas, Jason Martin, Annmaria Mazzini, Erin O'Loughlin, Alisia Pobega and Jerome Zerges

Music | Azam Ali, Loga R. Torkian from the Album “Lamentation of Swans”
Costumes | Rose

Lighting Design and Technical Director | Pierre Lavoie
Lighting Assistant | Manon Pocq Saint Joan
__

THE WHOLE BLOOMIN’ THING

Choreographer | Margie Gillis
Dancers | Chelsea Bonosky, Geneviève Boulet, Rachelle Bourget, Alexandra Caron, Isabel Cruz, Caitlin Griffin, Tessa Rae Kuz, Ruth Naomi Levin, Hoor Malas, Lucy M. May, Annmaria Mazzini, Erin O'Loughlin, Alisia Pobega and Margie Gillis

Costumes | Original costumes from Margie Gillis’ archives as well as eclectic costumes by Sonya Bayer and Rose
Lighting Design and Technical Director | Pierre Lavoie
Lighting Assistant | Manon Pocq Saint Joan

Sound Editors | La Shop Studios and Samuel Theriault
Voice coordinator | Emmanuel Schwartz

Text | Excerpts from James Joyce’s Ulysses
Leopold read by Alex Bergeron or Gaétan Leboeuf
Stephen read by Emmanuel Schwartz
Molly read by Anne-Marie Cadieux

______________________

Margie Gillis Dance Foundation

Artistic Executive Director | Margie Gillis
General Manager | Raphaëlle Côté-Parent
General Coordinator | Anita Czeski
Financial Controller | Lydie Revez
Lighting Designer and Technical Director | Pierre Lavoie
Communications | Louis Martin, Mickaël Spinnhirny Agency
Cinematographer | Louis-Martin Charest

Board Members 
Catherine Bourgeois, Richard Cyr, Marc Daigle, Margie Gillis, Adriane Porcin, Linda Rabin

Artistic Advisor to the Legacy Project
Alexandra Wells

Photographers
Sasha Onyshchenko and Matthew Quigley

The following dancers have also been involved in the original creation of this piece: Daphne Fernberger, Ayelen Liberona, Kyana Lyne, Sarah Murphy, Troy Ogilvie, Susan Paulson, Laeticia Philantrope, Neil Sochasky, Anne Troake, and Peter Trosztmer.

Created at Louise Lapierre Dance Studio, Montreal and at St. Mark’s Church Arts Project, Acton Vale Quebec.

"These performances are in celebration of my 50 years as a professional dancer and choreographer. There are a lot of people involved with making a career of 50 years and I would like to thank you, my audience as well as my private funders, all those who have supported my work and collaborated with me over these many wonderful years. From the bottom of my heart, thank you." – Margie.

These performances are dedicated in memory of Gilbert Gravel and Denise Desbiens.

The Margie Gillis Dance Foundation is grateful to be supported by the following organizations: Canada Council for the Arts, Conseil des arts et des lettres Québec, Conseil des arts de Montréal.