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Margie Gillis Dance Foundation

Literature of the Body
Margie Gillis
Show
Montreal

Dance legend Margie Gillis marks 50 years of creative achievement by imparting her universe to 16 dancers in Literature of the Body. Vulnerability and upheaval, but also joie de vivre and sensuality inhabit this moving dance mosaic.

An inimitable soloist, a committed humanist and an outstanding ambassador for Canadian dance on the world stage, Margie Gillis is entering a new phase in 2023. Over the past few years, in order to ensure the continuity of her art, she has gradually opened her rich repertoire to share it with other dance artists. Literature of the Body is a double program that investigates the intricacies of the soul and reveals the poetry that lies at the heart of dance. The first part examines the harsh reality of climate refugees, while the second part explores the world of the fierce and marvellous Molly Bloom, a character from James Joyce’s Ulysses. A fascinating journey into femininity.

A pioneer of dance that celebrates the poetry and emotion of gesture.
Le Devoir, Montréal

Artists

Choreographer
Margie Gillis

Internationally acclaimed choreographer and dancer Margie Gillis’ has been practicing and refining her art for decades, shattering norms and inspiring audiences along the way. In 2023, Margie Gillis celebrated 50 years of creation and dance, with a repertoire of more than one hundred and fifty works.

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Company

Margie Gillis Dance Foundation

The Margie Gillis Dance Foundation's unique choreographic universe sets out to transpose a certain vision of the human condition. The renowned choreographer tirelessly depicts our weaknesses and vulnerabilities, celebrates our hopes and the power of creation.

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Artistic and production credits

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
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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.

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