Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1096093
17 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 24 MARCH 2019 DANCE ENVIRONMENT Orchids are such elegant flowers. They are certainly the most highly evolved: some have almost changed into ani- mals (of sorts!). One of these is the amazing bumblebee or- chid (M. naħla). You see this flower and you go "Hey look, there's a bumblebee on that flower." Except that you'd be wrong because that 'bumblebee' is the flower! What looks like a fat brown insect with hairy legs and abdomen sit- ting on the flower is actually a very specialised petal. The point of this elaborate mimicry, however, is not to trick hu- mans, but to dupe male bumblebees into thinking there's a seductive lady waiting for love. The males fall for it and make their move, but instead they end up loaded with the orchid's pollen, which they then dust off on another flower. So where does all this happen? Up in the cloud forest cano- pies of Bolivia? Not really. Try instead your nearest patch of rocky countryside. Mind, the whole plant is no taller than your finger, so you'll need to look down a lot. And, as al- ways, tread lightly. Visit Friends of the Earth's website for more information about our work, as well as for information about how to join us. You can also support us by sending us a donation - www.foemalta.org/donate GREEN IDEA OF THE WEEK 557: GROWING TOGETHER Find out more by visiting https://foemalta.org/goodfood Text: Victor Falzon Photo: Victor Falzon 653. BUMBLEBEE ORCHID THE Beland Music Festival is back for its 8th edition. This locally established three-day concert will be held on 3, 4 and 5 May in Zejtun; hosting a number of renowned lo- cal artists and promising and upcoming bands, artists and musicians. This year's programme of events comprises full live concerts by Ira Losco and her band as well as guests, two successful music names on the island and beyond, Ten- ishia and DJ Ruby, several lo- cal singers including finalists of X Factor Malta, and multi- cultural band based in Malta, ManaTapu. As is the case every year, there is much more being pre- pared for the public to enjoy all shows in a fully-equipped set-up with all safety meas- urements in place, and in a family-friendly and vibrant atmosphere. Entry is by donation at the door. Beland Music Festival 2019 is being organised in col- laboration with Arts Council Malta. The Beland Music Festival is back PARTICIPANTS in an international com- petition representing Malta-based Dance Hub took first place across all categories in which they competed. This year the Non Solo Danza International Competition 2019 took place in Catania. The directors of Dance Hub Malta, Lynne Salomone Reynaud and Michaela Micallef stated, "The result is testament to the amaz- ing talent there is here in Malta. Maltese dancers have shown time and again that we are capable of rising to the occasion when competing internationally. We congratu- late our dancers – their hard work and dedi- cation has paid off''. Dance Hub was represented by Emilia Parnis England, Georgia Sciberras Herrera, Hannah Rossignaud, Natalie Rossignaud and Noa NG who performed two group dances; Hannah Rossignaud and Noa NG also performed solos. All dancers placed first in their respective categories. "At Dance Hub Malta we are reinventing the instruction of dance. We are devising teaching methods based on our long experi- ences to make the teaching of dance more student-centric," Dance Hub's founder, Lynne Salomone Reynaud said. "We want our students to advance techni- cally and develop artistic qualities through frequent performance opportunities. We believe in individuality and guidance and have reflected this in the flexibility of the programmes we offer." New Maltese dance company sweeps up international awards