A new twist on the classics
The weekend before Easter has become synonymous with the annual dance show by The Dance Workshop. This year's performance, entitled Verve 08, will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday at St Agatha's Auditorium in Rabat. The Dance Workshop principal and...
The weekend before Easter has become synonymous with the annual dance show by The Dance Workshop. This year's performance, entitled Verve 08, will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday at St Agatha's Auditorium in Rabat.
The Dance Workshop principal and choreographer Theresa Lungaro-Mifsud comments that the programme of this year's show is varied and should interest all theatregoers.
"Music and choreography ranges from pure classical ballet to modern ballet - contemporary dance, Spanish dance and modern commercial dance. As a whole the production should appeal to anybody who is interested in theatre, costume design, photography and especially dance," she said.
Ms Lungaro-Mifsud explained that this ninth annual show is split in two halves. The first part will feature a children's ballet based on the Maltese legend L-Għarusa tal-Mosta, in which the younger students, assisted by established dancers, tell the story of a young villager who is kidnapped. The one-act ballet is set to music by Stravinsky, Adam, Pugni, Delibes, Drigo and Oldenbourg.
The second part is a combination of seven dances, inspired by the music of traditional and modern operatic works. In A Night at the Opera, ballet dancers will be performing three pieces choreographed by Ms Lungaro-Mifsud. Rachel Grech will be presenting a number inspired by the life of glamorous opera diva Maria Callas. For this section, percussionist Renzo Spiteri has created a collage of pieces by Callas. Pamela Kerr uses music from the opera La Vida Breve of Manuel de Falla for her choreography of Spanish Dance, while Francesca Abela Tranter uses three pieces of music from Puccini, Rossini and Roger Waters to present her contemporary dance piece. The evening will come to an end with Claire Cassola and Jes Sciberras's choreography to music from Queen's rock musical We Will Rock You.
"We have tried to strike a balance between the artistic and the entertaining so hopefully the audience will appreciate this mix. It is definitely a very entertaining and pleasant night out. There are some classic tunes that should take most people back to their teenage years while being famous enough for the young members of the audience to recognise," said dancer and choreographer Diane Portelli.
Ms Ker, another dancer and choreographer, said that rehearsals were proving to be long, tiring, hard work but above all fun.
"They are interesting, providing us with a great learning experience and always a challenge. We have an excellent cast starting from the three-year-old girls right up to the adults. We all get on very well and the team feeling is something that one may notice when we are on stage," she said.
The show includes lighting design by Ms Abela Tranter and photographic projections by John Grech.
• Tickets may be obtained from The Dance Workshop and The Dance Studio (Kappara) or by phone on 9942 9233.
The Dance Workshop principal and choreographer Theresa Lungaro-Mifsud comments that the programme of this year's show is varied and should interest all theatregoers.
"Music and choreography ranges from pure classical ballet to modern ballet - contemporary dance, Spanish dance and modern commercial dance. As a whole the production should appeal to anybody who is interested in theatre, costume design, photography and especially dance," she said.
Ms Lungaro-Mifsud explained that this ninth annual show is split in two halves. The first part will feature a children's ballet based on the Maltese legend L-Għarusa tal-Mosta, in which the younger students, assisted by established dancers, tell the story of a young villager who is kidnapped. The one-act ballet is set to music by Stravinsky, Adam, Pugni, Delibes, Drigo and Oldenbourg.
The second part is a combination of seven dances, inspired by the music of traditional and modern operatic works. In A Night at the Opera, ballet dancers will be performing three pieces choreographed by Ms Lungaro-Mifsud. Rachel Grech will be presenting a number inspired by the life of glamorous opera diva Maria Callas. For this section, percussionist Renzo Spiteri has created a collage of pieces by Callas. Pamela Kerr uses music from the opera La Vida Breve of Manuel de Falla for her choreography of Spanish Dance, while Francesca Abela Tranter uses three pieces of music from Puccini, Rossini and Roger Waters to present her contemporary dance piece. The evening will come to an end with Claire Cassola and Jes Sciberras's choreography to music from Queen's rock musical We Will Rock You.
"We have tried to strike a balance between the artistic and the entertaining so hopefully the audience will appreciate this mix. It is definitely a very entertaining and pleasant night out. There are some classic tunes that should take most people back to their teenage years while being famous enough for the young members of the audience to recognise," said dancer and choreographer Diane Portelli.
Ms Ker, another dancer and choreographer, said that rehearsals were proving to be long, tiring, hard work but above all fun.
"They are interesting, providing us with a great learning experience and always a challenge. We have an excellent cast starting from the three-year-old girls right up to the adults. We all get on very well and the team feeling is something that one may notice when we are on stage," she said.
The show includes lighting design by Ms Abela Tranter and photographic projections by John Grech.
• Tickets may be obtained from The Dance Workshop and The Dance Studio (Kappara) or by phone on 9942 9233.