Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/844299
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 2 JULY 2017 39 This Week IN the silent, misty theatre we are sitting in our seats and listening to the drops of sweat that are drib- bling steadily and peacefully to the floor. We hear their bodies gasp- ing and fighting with exhaustion. We are appalled and curious at the same time and wondering: did they find what they were looking for? Did they reach the place where they have been travelling to? Diaspora is a choreography by Francesca Tranter and her dance ensemble Contact Dance Com- pany. It is a reflection of what she feels today as an empowered Mal- tese female choreographer within the Mediterranean context. Tranter is an acknowledged Mal- tese choreographer, dance prac- titioner and educator who has founded Contact Dance Company in 1998. She has been choreograph- ing nationally as well as interna- tionally, inevitably leaving a strong impact on the Maltese contempo- rary dance field. In her most recent piece, Diaspora, she is inviting the audience into an investigation of national identity and the explora- tion of what home, land and migra- tion is, through the physicality of six outstanding dancers. All these matters that in our era are more crucial than ever before, have been consistently researched thought the 75-minute-long choreography supported by the original music composition of Renzo Spiteri, and by audio-visual elements. The piece is greatly demanding not only physically but emotionally as well, therefore dancers needed to be on top of their strengths and creativity persistently throughout the working process and the per- formances equally. In Diaspora, we saw dancers ex- tensively utilizing their strengths until the point of cathartic exhaus- tion, where they were able to reveal their personal stories transformed into unexpected movement quali- ties and stamina. Tremendous so- los, a touch of humour, passion, and the ensemble's unity gave room to the dancers to shine over the dim and misty atmosphere created by light designer Lucia Piquero and Matthew Gellel. Underneath the controversial idea of migration and what national identity is, we perceived human beings meet- ing, then departing. Flirting, then breaking. Supporting, lifting, and holding each other even though madness took over at some. Overall, Diaspora is an artistic statement of staying true to the roots and to our personal as well as national identities regardless of place, time, solitude or commu- nity. This piece was showcased in Valletta Campus Theatre on June 9 and was performed in the Mi- chael Cacoyannis Theatre in Ath- ens four days later. The dancers forming part of Di- aspora included Kostas Papam- atthaiakis, Stefania Catarinella, Rochelle Gatt, Elise Ellul, Lucas Roque, Moritz Zavan Stoeckle. Music was by Renzo Spiteri while lighting was by Matthew Gellel and Lucía Piquero, and videogra- phy by Matthew Muscat Drago. Voiceover by Ruth Borg This pro- ject was made in collaboration with Arts Council Malta and the 2017 Maltese Presidency of the EU and supported by the University of Malta, School of Performing Arts. The Cardinalfish is a lovely creature. Liveried in dashing orange red from head to tail, and occurring in decent numbers even in shallow waters you would think it's hard to miss. Except you would miss it unless you know where to look. You see, for all its flashy ferrari attire, the Cardinalfish (M: Sultan iċ-Ċawl) is a shy, retiring animal that doesn't venture much out in the open. To see it you need to look under reefs and shady overhangs, and when your eyes accustom to the semi-darkness you may spot two, ten or fifty of these small sparks lurking there, watching you with their big black round eyes as they scoop up microscopic plankton. Male Cardinalfish have this endearing habit of protecting their young from danger by holding them all in their mouth. Then, as soon as the coast is clear, out they all dribble to carry on feeding so as to grow up and get out of their daddy's face! 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 Text Victor Falzon Photo Desirée Falzon 564. CARDINALFISH GREEN IDEA OF THE WEEK 467: FIND OUT MORE – http://www.foemalta.org/jobs Rehashed identities CRYPTIC Street is an all-female, alternative, post-punk band which was established in 2011. Ever since then, they have had an evolving musical style. Writ- ing both in English and their na- tive language, Maltese, their lyrics delve into modern society; the vulnerability of love, loneliness, and the finite nature of human re- lationships. Ever since their debut, Cryptic Street have achieved critical ac- claim, being awarded the Best Newcomer Award at the Bay Mu- sic Awards in 2012. 'Stranger', the band's first EP, was released in 2015, and exhibits the devel- opment of the band over its first three years. Riding high after a tour in Bar- celona in late 2016, the band will be recording a brand new album in 2017, showcasing their new alter- native, post-punk style, as well as planning tour dates abroad. Their performance on July 8 at Funky Monkey, Gzira will feature a DJ set by Goa. Expect a fun, en- ergetic night with a dash of punk attitude, and tunes that will leave you dancing all night long. For more information on the band, log on to: www.facebook.com/crypticstreet/ Cryptic Street to perform at Funky Monkey The all-female post-punk band will be accompanied by a DJ set by Goa on July 8 BLANKA FEKETE reviews the dance production Diaspora – staged by Contact Dance Company at the Valletta Campus Theatre on June 9 Diaspora, performed at the Valletta Campus Theatre on June 9