\u201cIt has almost completely changed!\u201d said Margolick of the work\u2019s evolution since then. \u201cWe took some base movement ideas from the original work, for example, rocking, and then extrapolated on it. Our themes and original inspiration for the work have remained similar. We\u2019ve let ideas breathe more, creating space for simplicity to stretch, and allowing the work to feel more spacious and exploratory.\u201d<\/p>\n
Margolick described how she and Ellis work together.<\/p>\n
\u201cLike a lot of creative processes, it feels like we\u2019re building a puzzle,\u201d she said. \u201cWe start with throwing out a bunch of ideas (puzzle pieces), trying them out, placing them next to other ideas, and seeing how they work together. Some ideas fit, while some don\u2019t. It\u2019s a constant process of refining, editing and reworking until the picture becomes clear. We aim to craft an arc that makes sense but still leaves room for mystery and space for the audience to create their own experience.\u201d<\/p>\n
As for her own journey with femininity, strength and vulnerability, Margolick shared, \u201cOver time, I\u2019ve grown more comfortable in my own skin, learning to embrace my imperfections and express my emotions more freely. I\u2019ve come to understand that there is great power in vulnerability. As I\u2019ve matured, I\u2019ve also leaned into dialectical and critical thinking, which has helped me appreciate the complexity of femininity. Working on Fortress<\/i> has reinforced for me that true strength lies in allowing space for tenderness and care, even when it feels messy.\u201d<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
About Time<\/i> choreographer Idan Cohen has also come to better understand messiness \u2013 the countless disparate ideas, feelings and events that co-exist at any given moment \u2013 in his exploration of time via Philip Glass\u2019s solo piano \u00e9tudes.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been very challenging to create throughout this traumatic year,\u201d he acknowledged. \u201cIt feels like, since Oct. 7, one faces two major options: there are those who break and those who assemble, constructing something out of the pain and confusion. I chose to create About Time<\/i> as a commentary on the ways we consume information, form opinions and lose empathy. Time goes on whether we want it to or not. The question is, with what do we fill that space, the time we are given. My time is filled with both love and pain. I break, but I also feel the urge to create, provoke thought and promote healing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Born and raised in Israel, but now an established Vancouverite, Cohen\u2019s career includes seven seasons with Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company and various international tours, residencies and scholarships. A multiple-awarding-winning performer and choreographer\/director, he is founder and artistic director of Ne.Sans Opera & Dance.<\/p>\n
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