Gillis explores humanity's Thread

International star Margie Gillis, 57, is renowned for being a nimble modern dancer. However this past Wednesday, her footsteps were light as air after it was announced she is a laureate of the 2011 Governor General Performing Arts Awards, the highest recognition across the land.

The media conference, held at Toronto's Glenn Gould Centre, which Gillis attended, also broadcast the names of five other lifetime artistic achievement award recipients. They are monologist Yvon Deschamps, composer/musician Howard Shore, theatre creator Paul Thompson, actor/director/writer William Shatner and artistic director Leslee Silverman.

After the conference, the Gazette caught up with Gillis at Pearson International Airport, as she was about to catch a flight home to Montreal. "I knew a month ago but I was asked not to say anything. But I was so excited. It was a major sky moving event," said Gillis.

She plans to attend an award ceremony at Rideau Hall on Friday, May 13 followed by a gala dinner on Saturday and a performance on Sunday at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa.

At the moment Gillis is a hot commodity and her name is whispered on the lips of every dance aficionado. In a stroke of luck, she is slated to perform the Edmonton-area debut of her new choreography, Thread, at the Arden Theatre on Wednesday, March 16.

Thread, a commentary on humanity, emerged as a series of visions and dreams. "I really didn't know what it was all about. But I was thrilled and grateful they came to me. They are still in the mystery realm, but it is relevant to explore the unknown."

The choreography is a thread box of different stages of a woman's life. "The threads are metaphors and aspects of her life — threads, lines of energy, lines found, lines lost, threads unravelled and put back together again."

Thread choreography

"The imagery came about because of the time of my life where I'm looking backwards and forwards. Certainly getting a lifetime achievement award brings it all back."

Passionately, she points out the imagery has also been influenced by major global issues that are demanding humanity create a new paradigm, issues such as technology, the Middle East crisis, health, the environment and the economy. "How do we move forward and keep our integrity? There's a new reality setting in people and people are looking for threads."

Gillis' character, who spans life from birth to death, interacts with two fellow dancers, Mark Daige and Elinor Duckworth, respectively representing youth and aging.

Her already soft-spoken voice turns to a warm caress when describing Daige. "He has a juiciness. He's one of these generous, caring people. He's expressive and gives a warm feel to the character."

And Duckworth, 74, is described as "our youngling. She's a dedicated mover."