Game of Time: A Journey Through Margarita Bali’s Artistic Legacy
The recent production, “Game of Time,” at the Cervantes Theatre explores the remarkable career of Margarita Bali, a tireless dancer and choreographer. Co-founder of the renowned Nucleodanza group, Bali revisits her work, seeking to recreate it through improvisation and memory.
At 81, Bali overcame initial fears to undertake this project at the request of director Gerardo Litvak. Accompanied by many of her former dancers, she reinterprets her choreography, accompanied by live music.
Litvak and Bali embarked on this journey by revisiting Bali’s historical work. The original music is by Gabriel Gendín, lighting by Eli Sirlin, and costumes by Mónica Toschi.
The Inspiration Behind the Work:
Litvak reveals his desire to work with older dancers, reflecting on the fate of professionals who retire at 40. Bali shares a similar sentiment, recalling Pina Bausch‘s words about dancers retaining the memory of their movements.
Recreating the Past:
Bali and Litvak meticulously curated material from videos and photos, selecting sequences that resonated with their vision. The process was iterative, with the dancers and director choosing material that offered diverse perspectives.
Technology and Tradition:
Bali’s early embrace of technology is evident in her use of video projections and digital editing in her work. This approach reflects her desire to transcend traditional dance settings and explore new artistic possibilities.
A Unique Performance:
“Game of Time” seamlessly blends past and present, with Bali performing alongside projections of her past work. This innovative approach creates a captivating and multifaceted experience for the audience.
Where to See It:
“Game of Time” is showing at the Teatro Cervantes from Thursday to Sunday at 6 pm.