A weekend of dance

The Dance Council Malta is next weekend organising an exciting contemporary workshop conducted by final year students on the BA (Hons) Dance Theatre programme at Laban together with Colin Bourne, Head of Undergraduate Studies.

Laban is an internationally renowned conservatory in London for professional contemporary dance training, at the forefront of developing undergraduate, postgraduate and professional level courses.

The workshop will be held at the Central Academy of Ballet, 222, St Julian’s Road, Birkirkara on February 27 from 3.30 to 5.30 p.m. and February 28, from 10 a.m. till noon and from 3.30 to 5.30 p.m. Workshops will be divided into different age groups. Following the workshops there will be a performance followed by a reception at the Excelsior Hotel.

During the performance students will perform work learnt during the workshops. There will also be performances by the Dance Council Dance Ensemble who will execute a piece choreographed by Ingrid Desira Buttigieg. This is an excerpt from a choreography called Free.

A Dance Film by Wireless Dance – an upcoming Maltese dance company will be also be launched. Three founding members of Contact Dance Company – Sandra Mifsud, Giselle Calleja and Nicola Critien created Wireless Dance with the intention of furthering the contemporary dance culture in Malta and promoting this culture overseas. Their aim is to collaborate with different artistes using various art forms such as dance and film to further demonstrate the local artistic talent Malta has to offer. This evening will mark the launch of this video production by Wireless Dance. The piece is called Shadows with choreography by Athansia Kanellopoulou. Shadows is a collaboration between Wireless Dance and Falkun Films and was co-produced and directed by Pierre Ellul of Falkun Films.

Contact Dance Company, directed by Francesca Abela Tranter, will be showing a piece from their upcoming performance Horizons. The work is called Alternative Moves And Spaces with choreographic direction by Ms Abela Tranter and a music score commissioned to Renzo Spiteri who will perform live.

The performance will be rounded off with the final year students from Laban performing a new dance work, Hearth especially commissioned by Laban by the British choreographer Kerry Nicholls. Hearth is inspired by the music of David Lang, and navigates the 20-strong cast through a series of quixotic meetings and departures.

After the performance Colin Bourne will award a scholarship to the Laban Summer School to a promising Maltese dancer.

The workshops, performance and reception are open to dance council members and non-members. For more information and to book your place at the workshop contact Alison White on 9942 0162 or e-mail the Dance Council on dancouncilmlt@hotmail.com.

Visual Arts

Till February 21

ERDF Ġgantija design contest

The proposals submitted for the Ġgantija design contest are currently on show at the Heritage Malta head office, Valletta. Open from Monday to Friday between 9 a.m. and 4.30 p.m. (last admission at 4 p.m.).

Till February 27

Silver Palette Competition and Exhibition

Organised by the Malta Society of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce, the works will be on show at Palazzo de La Salle, Republic Street, Valletta. Open Monday to Friday between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. and 4 and 7 p.m. and Saturday between 9 a.m. and noon.

Till February 28

Deception

A collective multimedia exhibition is on at 43, Lascaris Wharf, Valletta Waterfront. Open Monday to Friday from 4 to 8 p.m.

Till February 28

An exhibition of paintings by Julianne Grima is showing at the Mdina Gallery, Triq Santa Sofia, Mdina.

Till February 28

Confluenze Mediterranee: Arte e Conflitti

Pietro Loffredo focuses mainly on the role of fortune in the fate of the marginalised individual and the collective. Showing at the main hall of St James Cavalier, Valletta.

Till March 5

Ideal and Sublime

An exhibition of paintings by Joseph Muscat and Leslie S. Agius is showing at Palazzo Castellania, 15, Merchants Street, Valletta. The exhibition is open between 8.30 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Till March 5

Journey with Caravaggio

Bulgarian artist Daniela Guevska is exhibiting a series of works inspired by Caravaggio, commemorating the 400th anniversary since his death, at the Auberge d’Italie, Merchants Street, Valletta.

Performing Arts

Today, tomorrow and Sunday

Are You Being Served?

A British comedy which was originally a 1970s BBC sitcom produced by FM Productions. Showing at the Manoel Theatre, Valletta, at 8 p.m.

Today, tomorrow and Sunday

February 26-28, March 5–7

Fatboy

This highly entertaining satire about greed is inspired by Alfred Jarry’s Ubu Roi comments about our insatiable appetite to gobble everything from steak to small nations. Meaner than Stalin, hungrier than Idi Amin, deadlier than Pol Pot, he is the grotesque composite of every despot who ever lived... he is also savagely funny. The brutish Fatboy stands trial for war crimes. Despite overwhelming evidence, the court refuses to convict and succumbs to Fatboy’s persuasive tactics. Winner of the 2004 Edinburgh Festival Fringe First Award, Fatboy (by John Clancy) is produced by Ideas Alive and directed by Michael Fenech. Shows at St James Cavalier, Valletta start at 8 p.m.

Art

WhatsTheirNames Theatre present Yasmina Reza’s award-winning comedy. When Serge, satisfying his penchant for modern art, spends 200,000 francs on a painting that is nothing more than a blank canvas, his friendship with Marc comes under severe strain, while their mutual friend, the hen-pecked Yvan, tries desperately to placate both sides ahead of his upcoming nuptials. Directed by Malcolm Galea, Art is being staged at the MITP Theatre in Valletta. Bookings on artbookings@gmail.com.

Music/Concerts

Tonight

Maria Bambina Choral and Orchestral Society

The society will be holding a sacred music concert with the participation of soprano Rosabelle Bianchi, organist Romina Morrow, the Ventil Horns Quartet and a vocal ensemble. The concert will be held at St James Church, Merchants Street, Valletta at 7.30 p.m.

February 21

Met Opera Matinee

Les Contes d’Hoffmann by Jacques Offenbach will be held at St James Cavalier, Valletta at 2.45 p.m.

February 23

Performers’ Platform concert series

This edition will feature Clara Galea on flute accompanied by Ramona Zammit Formosa. The concert, which includes works by Handel, Rossini, Debuss and Mozart, will take place at the Music Room, St James Cavalier, Valletta at 12.35 p.m.

February 25

Chamber Music Ensemble

A performance of contemporary music featuring works by Albert Pace will be taking place at Sala Isouard, Manoel Theatre, Valletta at 8 p.m.

Talks, tours and other

Tonight

Meet Alfred Chircop... and his monoprints

Alfred Chircop will be at the National Museum of Fine Arts this evening after 7.30 p.m.

Sunday

Cultural tour

Organised by the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts, the next tour will be visiting Paola and its vicinities: the mosque, Sant’ Ubaldesca church and an exhibition marking 5,000 years of history and 100 years as a parish, the church of St Bartholomew in Tarxien and the historical remains of Corradino. For further information contact Noel Damato on 2123 2515/2124 5168 or visit www.maltaculture.com or e-mail: adrian.german@maltaculture.com.

February 24

Art&Wine@South Street

The next edition in this series of events aimed at bringing art to the public, will feature Toni Sant with the participation of Charles Xuereb at the National Museum of Fine Arts, South Street, Valletta. The event starts at 7 p.m.

February 24

Open reading in Valletta

An event conceived for authors or wannabe authors, poets or people who believe they have something to say or something to share. All those who want a chance to express themselves and share their work are invited. Anybody who just wants to listen is welcome, too. This event will take place at Chiaroscuro, Strait Street, Valletta, every last Wednesday of the month.