Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/540322
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 12 JULY 2015 This Week 33 How would you describe the state of contemporary dance in Malta? I have been teaching and men- toring contemporary dance for the past 30 years and am very happy to see it is now developing in a healthy way. It has the potential to be full of opportunities where art- ists can develop their ideas further, however the support needs to be given to a lot of different projects because only when a lot of ideas are allowed to be developed the artistic environment will flour- ish further. Some contemporary dance companies such as Contact Dance Company (1998), Moveo Dance Company (2010) and Red Tape Dance Company (2012) for example have been working local- ly and internationally. Artists such as these need to have continuous support so that our contemporary dance scene can be borne out of both local and international art- ists based in Malta. Of course the setup of a national Dance Compa- ny ZfinMalta has contributed im- mensely to the dance profession. What is the School of Performing Arts doing to elevate the level of dance in Malta? How far do you think we are from having fully- professionalised dancers? After several years of chasing the University of Malta to bring a dance degree to the island, thank- fully with the support of Fr Peter Serracino Inglot, the Rector of University Prof. Juanito Camilleri and government I am proud to say that we have a solid fully func- tional Dance Studies programme as part of the School of Perform- ing Arts at the University of Malta since 2010. The Dance Studies department provides invaluable training, ex- perience, connections and a port- folio of written and digital work that develops artists to be incred- ibly competitive in the contempo- rary world of dance and perform- ing arts. The degree programmes chal- lenge and thrive students with an in depth daily physical training in multiple techniques while also choreographing, creating websites, study in the roots of dance and en- ables dance practitioners and per- formers to reinvigorate, diversity and deepen their comprehension of their craft. It has elevated the level of dance firstly through the weight of a recognised BA (Hons) Degree or Masters where it is now more re- spected as a profession. The school of Performing Arts has brought about a fresh approach towards the way performing arts training is perceived in Malta. It is not only training Maltese students, but has a regular input of both students and lecturers with international training. SPA also supports and organises many projects through- out the year which contributes greatly to the dance scene on the island. The programmes have succeeded in their variety in the cur- riculum which has given the opportu- nity to experience other fields related to dance such as choreography, com- munity work, educa- tion, collaborations, etc – widening their tool box and in- creasing young art- ist's chances to have a viable sustainable artistic career. With regards to having fully profes- sionalised dancers there are now two or three companies that have full time dancers employed so that already means that there are already pro- fessional dancers on the island. This without counting the many freelance dance practitioners that already work on the island. What we now need is to stop question- ing the professionalization of our dancers and start concentrating on offering them the support that they need. What was the main impetus behind Tabula Rasa? Why did you decide to deliberately limit the concept? Tabula Rasa is designed as an ar- tistic statement, on the need of the go back to basics in choreographic work. The aim of the evening is to show choreography without any embellishment and to challenge the creativity of the choreogra- phers applying limitations to what they can use and do. Four separate duets will be presented by four Malta based artists Dorian Mallia, Diane Portelli, Lucia Piquero and myself, all coming from diverse backgrounds but moved by a com- mon interest on the development of dance and choreography. What's next for you? I will continue to develop my research practice, teach and men- tor dancers both at University and various private institutions and al- though only just finishing the 14th Edition of the Dance Hybrid Malta (MIAF+) which is now embraced as part of the Malta Arts Festi- val Fringe. The 'Evening Dance Space' launched next September will offer diverse open classes in dance training with a local and internation- al team. These classes will offer a vast range of dance techniques in a creative hub nur- turing their artistic views both physically and mentally working towards possible col- laborations or specific events that will be part of audience de- velopment. Amongst all this I continue to pursue the establish- ment of Zfinfest In- ternational dance fes- tival of Malta a pilot project launched two years ago. I am excited about choreographic commissions com- ing up which I truly look forward to in the coming months and being on the board of the Malta Arts fes- tival allows me to fulfil my obliga- tions towards the performing arts especially in the area of dance. It is a great team with commitment brimming with solid ideas and ex- citement building towards 2018. Forming part of the Malta Arts Festival, Tabula Rasa will be tak- ing place at the Blue Box, Msida on July 13 at 19:00. Entrance is at €15. For more information on the Malta Arts Festival, log on to www. maltaartsfestival.org. For more in- formation on ZfinMalta, log on to zfinmalta.org/ Dancing over a clean slate WHAT'S ON 1 6 -1 9 J U L Y 20 1 5 Kris Spiteri Noir Project Joe Cohn Quartet feat. Yutaka Shiina Kurt Elling Passion World THursday 16 th JULY FRIDAY 17 th JULY SATURDAY 18 th JULY SUNDAY 19 th JULY Anthony Camilleri Quartet David Binney Avenija Dave Holland, Chris Potter, Lionel Loueke & Eric harland "The Fringe" youth Jazz Ensemble Danilo Perez/John Patitucci/Brian Blade: Children of the Light Chucho Valdes Irakere 40 Commonwealth Jazz Day 3rd edition of the Malta Jazz Contest Soweto Kinch Quartet Richard Bona 1 6 -1 9 J U L Y L Y L 20 1 5 Kris Spiteri Noir Project Kris Spiteri Noir Project Joe Cohn Quartet Joe Cohn Quartet feat. Yutaka Shiina Yutaka Shiina Yutaka Shiina Kurt Elling Passion World Kurt Elling Passion World Kurt Elling Passion World Kurt Elling Passion World THursday 16 th JULY FRIDAY 17 th JULY JULY SATURDAY 18 th JULY SUNDAY SUNDAY 19 th JULY Anthony Camilleri Quartet Anthony Camilleri Quartet David Binney Avenija David Binney Avenija Dave Holland, Chris Potter, Lionel Loueke & Eric harland Dave Holland, Chris Potter, Lionel Loueke & Eric harland "The Fringe" youth Jazz Ensemble Danilo Perez/John Patitucci/Brian Blade: Children of the Light Danilo Perez/John Patitucci/Brian Blade: Children of the Light Chucho Valdes Irakere 40 Commonwealth Jazz Day 3rd edition of the Malta Jazz Contest 3rd edition of the Malta Jazz Contest Soweto Kinch Quartet Soweto Kinch Quartet Richard Bona www.maltajazzfestival.org TA' LIESSE VALLETTA Doors open at 8.00pm 7KEMGVUCXCKNCDNGHTQOYYYVKEMGVNKPGEQOOV(ODCUU[&KPGOC%QZ2HæEGXCNNGVVC 3LC\\C7GCVTW5LCNXCNNGVVC 7KEMGVUCXCKNCDNGHTQOYYYVKEMGVNKPGEQOOV(ODCUU[&KPGOC%QZ2HæEGXCNNGVVC 3LC\\C7GCVTW5LCNXCNNGVVC Dance choreographer and teacher Francesca Tranter speaks to TEODOR RELJIC about an upcoming collaborative event, Tabula Rasa, which assembles a group of choreographers in an attempt to present a stripped-down take on the dance performance. Tranter also delves into the leaps and bounds made in dance education in Malta, and the steady professionalisation of the dance profession locally Francesca Tranter Tabula Rasa aims to strip down the dance experience