≈ 75 minutes · With intermission
Last updated: April 17, 2024
A Note From the Executive Producer, NAC Dance
This visit from Margie Gillis is truly a celebration. Margie is a leading figure in dance in Canada and around the world. To mark over 50 years of creative output she is presenting two of her most recent group works, and much to our delight, but she will appear on stage herself!
An evening featuring the Legacy Project results from a process of transmission of part of Margie Gillis’s rich and impressive repertoire. 17 performers will convey the essence of her colossal work, expressing through their own bodies, their own energy, all the humanity of this unique artist. I salute them all from the bottom of my heart.
Margie Gillis is a visionary, a storyteller, and an interpreter of human sensations. Movement by movement, she weaves a web of pure emotion and fundamental beauty, inviting us to explore the depths of our existence and undertake a journey through the complexities of the human experience.
Let us be moved, inspired and transformed by the power of dance and boundless creativity. May it ignite a creative spark in each of us, and remind us of the enduring capacity of art to uplift, enlighten and unite us in a common humanity.
Did you know that Margie launched her brand-new book at the NAC just before the show? Be sure to pick up a copy—it’s wonderful!
Enjoy the show!
Choreographer's Note
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 war, homelessness, and to our destruction of the natural world and so ourselves. With almost 50% of the world’s population displaced, it is likely that this too could be our fate. Where is our compassion and action?
We, too, are vulnerable. How can we know ourselves as one human family tied to the fate of this earth? This piece was created as an act of compassion and empathy.
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.
Program Notes
Literature of the Body
By 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 group 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 1/2 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 piece is an inquiry into empathy and compassion. 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 Stephan. Wild and wonderful this town’s woman and her true connection to nature win the day in a cacophony of coming to YES.
Artists
Internationally acclaimed dance artist Margie Gillis (GGPAA 2011) is one of the most influential Canadian choreographers and dancers of the 20th and 21st centuries. A courageous and free-spirited pioneer of modern dance, she has earned rave reviews and a loyal following throughout the world, and her unique naturalistic style has influenced an entire generation of dancers. Her company, the Margie Gillis Dance Foundation, was established in 1981.
Ms. Gillis has created more than 150 solos, duets, and group works, which have been performed around the globe. Her repertoire covers a wide array of topics, including the feminine consciousness, the natural world, and the transformative process, all merging in a profound and powerful expression of humanism and emotion. Teaching, mentoring, and sharing her legacy and creative history are an integral part of her vision, and have provided the impetus for the Legacy Project, an initiative dedicated to ensuring the continuity of her repertoire.
Her numerous awards and distinctions include Officer of the Order of Canada, Knight of the Ordre national du Québec, and an honorary degree from Concordia University. She continues to develop her craft through experimentation, teaching, creation, innovation and performance.
In 2023, Margie Gillis celebrated her 50th career anniversary: 50 years of creation, love, and dance.
Geneviève graduated from the École de danse contemporaine de Montréal and worked with O Vertigo, Roger Sinha, Lina Cruz, Dany Desjardins and Roy Assaf (Israel). She has been a dancer with Destins Croisés since 2009. In addition, she is co-founder of the collective LA TRESSE where she acts as a choreographer and dancer.
Based in Montreal, Rachelle Bourget is a contemporary dance artist from Winnipeg, Manitoba. A 2012 graduate of The School of Contemporary Dancers, she has worked with Daina Ashbee, Paco Ziel, Winnipeg’s Contemporary Dancers, ENTITEY/jason martin, VIVUS – James Viveiros, @tendance/C.Medina, Pablo Bronstein + The Plug-In Institute of Contemporary Art and Riley Sims.
Working primarily as a solo artist, she has explored themes surrounding shame, isolation, escapism and the deconstruction of sex, beauty and fixation. She presented her solo AFTER THE CAUSE in Winnipeg at the Rachel Browne Theatre (2019) and in Montreal at Tangente Danse (2021) and Festival OFFTA (2022). Presently, she is creating a new duet piece, MERIDIAN RESPONSE, with the support of Studio 303, LA SERRE – arts vivants, Usine C and Tangente Danse.
Alexandra is a performer, dancer, and dance teacher. She received her training at the École de danse contemporaine de Montréal. Since then, her artistic journey has led her to become a part of the Legacy Project by the Margie Gillis Dance Foundation and collaborate on various projects with Lumière Noire and pianist Zach Éli. Alongside musician Emmanuelle Lizère, she creates workshops for preschoolers and the interactive show “Chemin aux mille pousses.” Alexandra also conducts workshops in primary schools with the Ample Man Danse Company.
Website : https://alexandracaron.ca/
Isabel Cruz a obtenu son diplôme de l'École Supérieure de Ballet du Québec en 2022. Elle travaille actuellement avec Margie Gillis dans le cadre du Projet Héritage ainsi qu'avec Paco Ziel et Diana León pour la compagnie Vias. Son parcours créatif a évolué au fil des ans, incluant la danse et la performance musicale. Isabel s’intéresse également à la chorégraphie, au design, à la peinture et à la photographie, qu’elle pratique pour son propre plaisir, mais aussi pour servir sa communauté. Isabel vise à atteindre une connaissance approfondie du langage époustouflant de la danse afin de partager ses sentiments, ses idées et ses émotions à travers la pratique, et ainsi atteindre un niveau de communion à la fois avec elle-même et, par conséquent, avec le public.
Pour plus de renseignements : isabelcruz.squarespace.com
The Acadian contemporary dancer, Marc Daigle, began his career more than 3 decades ago with the Groupe de la Place Royale in Ottawa. He has danced for Montanaro, JP Perreault, Carbone 14, Red Rabbit Project and Margie Gillis since arriving in Montreal.
Caitlin is a performer, choreographer and teacher. She graduated from the Goh Ballet Academy in Vancouver, BC. She has worked independently and for companies and projects including Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, MOVE: the company, and the 2010 Olympic Opening Ceremonies under the direction of Jean Grand-Maitre. Caitlin is honoured to have joined Margie Gillis’ Legacy Project in 2016 and she continues to perform and tour with Margie Gillis while carrying the values of dance for resiliency into her role as an ambassador for the Huntington Disease community.
Tessa Rae Kuz is from the Treaty 4 Territory of Regina, Saskatchewan and graduated from University X (formerly Ryerson) with a BFA in Performance Dance. She works as a dancer, educator and emerging choreographer in both the modern-contemporary and street dance scenes. She is honored to have the opportunity to work with Margie and the Legacy Project.
Ruth Naomi Levin is an independent dance artist currently based in Edmonton, Alberta. She holds an MFA in Dance from York University, is a graduate of the School of Toronto Dance Theatre and has performed and taught across North America. She is honoured to have been a member of the Margie Gillis Legacy Project since 2014 and thrilled to continue to work alongside such astounding artists and human beings as Ms Gillis and the other dancers of the project. She also teaches and facilitates transformation through embodiment through her company Embodied in Motion. embodiedinmotion.com
Kyana Lyne graduated from Ryerson University's dance program in 2018. She has since worked in Montreal as a freelance dance artist and emerging choreographer for performance and film.
A Syrian dance and movement artist recently moved to Montreal. Started at the age of eight in the Ballet School in Damascus. B.A in dance from the Higher Institute of Arts in Damascus-Syria and a diploma in contemporary dance from The Northern School of Contemporary Dance, Leeds-UK. Currently working as a dancer, performer and choreographer in Montreal and Syria. hoormalas.com
Annmaria Mazzini performed with the Paul Taylor Dance Company from 1999-2011, and remains on faculty at The Taylor School in New York City. A graduate of Southern Methodist University, her choreography has been presented by her company, Mazzini Dance Collective, at Carnegie Hall, Battery Dance Festival, and Cape Dance Festival, and in the short film The Pink Pony. Annmaria is also a mom and the creator of Dancing Amulets, handmade, magical jewelry.
Jason Martin is a choreographer, dancer and teacher from Montreal, Québec. After graduating from l’École Danse Contemporaine de Montréal in 2012, he performed with Compagnie Marie Chouinard, Daniel Léveillé Danse, Compagnie Virginie Brunelle, le Carré des Lombes and Margie Gillis Dance Foundation, among others. In 2016, he founded ENTITEY/jason martin, creating dance works internationally that revolve around the resilience and interdependence of the human condition. In 2021, his solo étude nO.1 won Best Dancer at the SoloDuo NRW + Friends International Dance Festival in Cologne (Germany), the Jury Prize in the Certamen Coreográfico 10 Sentidos in Valencia (Spain) in 2022, and in 2023, La Gomera Choreography Center – Artistic Residency Prize at the Masdanza Festival (Spain) Jason has also created commissioned pieces, notably for the Ballet Nacional Dominicano (Dominican Republic), Ballet Metropolitano de Medellín (Colombia), Sadna Gaaton (Israel), Winnipeg’s Contemporary Dancers (Canada) and Compañía Nacional de Danza (Costa Rica).
Originally from Calgary/Treaty 7 Territory, O’Loughlin is a Montreal/ Tio’tià:ke- based dancer, choreographer, teacher, and founding member of LA TRESSE. Erin holds a BA in Dance and International Relations from the University of Calgary and additional training includes the Ailey School. She currently performs with Andrea Peña & Artists, Sylvain Émard Danse, Sinha Danse, Margie Gillis, and LA TRESSE. latresse.ca
Montreal freelancer, Susan Paulson is honoured to be working with Margie Gillis. She is the co-founder of Le Broke Lab and has toured extensively with Dave St Pierre, Virginie Brunelle and Cas Public among others. Recently, her focus has expanded to Taoist alchemical medicine under the tutelage of Laura Stelmok. lebrokelab.com
Alisia Pobega graduated from l’École Supérieure de Ballet du Québec and danced with Les Grands Ballets Canadiens for over 12 years, rising to a soloist ranking. She is currently an independent artist and works within the Montréal dance community as a dancer, a teacher and a rehearsal mistress. Since June 2023, she has been the Artistic and General Director of Danse à la Carte.
James Viveiros is a dance artist of mixed Cree, Metis and Portuguese descent whose performance career spans over 25 years, most notably with Montreal’s Compagnie Marie Chouinard. Having graduated from both Musical Theatre and Dance Programs at Alberta’s Grant MacEwan University in 1998, James has since performed in various theatre, performance, film and choreographic works in festivals and theatres worldwide. In 2009, he was recipient of a Gemini Award alongside fellow company dancers for Best Performance from the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television in the Chouinard company’s film bODY_rEMIX/ les_vARIATIONS_gOLDBErg. In 2015, James studied with Ohad Naharin of the Batsheva Dance Company in Tel Aviv, Israel, with grant support from the Conseil des Arts et des Lettres du Québec. He is a recent independent study graduate of the directing program at The National Theatre School of Canada. As an educator and teacher, he draws on his extensive experience to continually offer classes and workshops relevant to the contemporary dance and performance scene. He works with actors, dancers, circus performers, yogis, hockey players, opera singers and the general public. In addition to creating and collaborating with artists across Canada, James frequently travels to share his passion for movement at various schools, universities and arts institutions.
Montreal-based Jerome Zerges is a multidisciplinary artist with a background encompassing circus arts, contemporary dance, and visual arts. A graduate of École de Danse Contemporaine de Montréal (EDCM) and a recipient of the Hnatyshyn Grant for Young Artists, he is committed to creating art rooted in self-discovery and human connection, while actively seeking out enriching practices.
Artistic and production credits
Literature of the Body
Choreography by Margie Gillis with the Dancers of the Legacy project
Featuring
The Dancers of the Legacy project and Margie Gillis
Artistic Advisor
Randal Newman
Rehearsal Director
Geneviève Boulet
Lighting Design and Technical Director
Pierre Lavoie
To Lose the World
Choreography
Margie Gillis
Dancers
Geneviève Boulet, Rachelle Bourget, Alexandra Caron, Isabel Cruz, Marc Daigle, Caitlin Griffin, Tessa Rae Kuz, Ruth Naomi Levin, Kyana Lyne, Hoor Malas, Jason Martin, Annmaria Mazzini, Erin O'Loughlin, Alisia Pobega, James Viveiros and Jérôme Zerges
Music
Azam Ali, Loga R. Torkian from Lamentation of Swans
Costumes
Rose
Lighting Design and Technical Director
Pierre Lavoie
Lighting Assistant
Manon Pocq Saint Joan
Cinematographer
Louis-Martin Charest
The Whole Bloomin’ Thing
Choreography
Margie Gillis
Dancers
Geneviève Boulet, Rachelle Bourget, Alexandra Caron, Isabel Cruz, Caitlin Griffin, Tessa Rae Kuz, Ruth Naomi Levin, Kyana Lyne, Hoor Malas, Annmaria Mazzini, Erin O'Loughlin, Susan Paulson, 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 Thériault
Text
Excerpts from James Joyce’s Ulysses
Leopold
Read by Alex Bergeron
Stephen
Read by Jim Norton, courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc.
Molly
Read by Anne-Marie Cadieux in French and Siobhan McKenna in English
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: Elise Boileau, 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.
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.
Production Team, Southam Hall
Head Carpenter
James Reynolds
Head Electrician
Shane Learmonth
Assistant Electrician
Fred Malpass
Property Master
Timothy Shannon
Head Sound Engineer
Dan Holmes
Assistant Sound Engineer
Thomas Stubinski
Head Flyman
Ross Brayne
Projectionists, Wardrobe Mistresses, Masters and Attendants are members of International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 471.
NAC Dance Team
Executive Producer
Caroline Ohrt
Senior Producer
Tina Legari
Special Projects Coordinator and Assistant to the Executive Producer
Mireille Nicholas
Company Manager
Sophie Anka
Education Associate and Teaching Artist
Siôned Watkins
Technical Director
Brian Britton
Communications Strategist
Alexandra Campeau
Marketing Strategist
Marie-Chantale Labbé-Jacques
International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees