As Ballet d’Europe make their return to the Maltese stage next week, Jo Caruana speaks to the company’s founder Jean-Charles Gil about why he really does believe the local culture scene is now more exciting than ever.

It’s always nice to return to a place you’ve enjoyed in the past. From the scents of familiar places to the vistas that remind you who you were then, returning to somewhere you love is just as exciting as discovering it for the very first time.

Ballet d’Europe founder Jean-Charles Gil knows that only too well, having performed in the ruins of the Royal Opera House in 2006.

Nine years on, he is thrilled to be bringing his company back and to be performing at the very same site, which is now Pjazza Teatru Rjal, as part of the ongoing Malta Arts Festival.

“It’s always such a pleasure to visit Malta,” says Gil, who was born in Spain but moved to France in his teens. “I love the island and its citizens, and can’t believe it’s been nine years since we last performed there. It feels as though it was only yesterday.”

In 2006 Ballet d’Europe performed Mozart’s Requiem and it was very well received. “We really enjoyed every moment and promised ourselves we would be back. Finally we are fulfilling that promise,” Gil says.

The company members have certainly kept themselves busy in the interim.

Having been founded in 2003 by Gil with the support of the European Social Fund, the company was a permanent structure for 10 years. Now, though, it is made up of its former dancers, who regularly return to work together under Gil’s direction.

Since then, one of their main projects together formed part of Marseille’s European Capital of Culture 2013 programme. It took the shape of H20 – a piece inspired by water, and which was performed using both contemporary and break dance. The show toured France until the end of 2014 and received rave reviews.

“Currently we’re working on a piece called Barouf, which will be performed by two dancers,” Gil says. “It’s very much inspired by the idea of brutal change and what that can mean. As a company we recently experienced drastic chance in France’s cultural policies, and that propelled us to think more about how this sort of change can touch all sorts of lives.”

We recently experienced drastic change in France’s cultural policies and that propelled us to think more about how this sort of change can touch all sorts of lives

They are also working on the launch of a very particular project in Marseille – the opening of their creative hub, Le Transformateur. “The building is a former power station, situated at the foot of the Pagnol Hills; it’s absolutely idyllic. There we have created a space for artists to collaborate and we hope to welcome people from all over the world. It’s very exciting and we would really like our partners in Malta to join us on this adventure too.”

That project kicked off in earnest on Wednesday, just before Ballet d’Europe presented two of their works, Folavi (which originally dates back to 2008) and Complicités (2012), here in Malta yesterday and today. Gil describes them both as very musical.

“Folavi springs with the energy and vitality of Vivaldi’s music,” says the dancer and choreographer. “We show our audience a succession of intense images, and the dancers become like comets. We like to think of it as a musical walk on the Milky Way.”

Complicités, on the other hand, is much more intimate. “It feels more private,” Gil tells me. “The music is by Ludovico Eunaudi and it’s absolutely beautiful… so beautiful it feels omnipresent.”

The choreography – which features four women and a man – is cleansed, and the lines are clearly drawn. Through the piece he wanted to create harmony, complicity, friendship and love. It’s a very positive piece and he is very keen to bring it to Malta.

Gil is also adamant that Pjazza Teatru Rjal is the perfect setting for both ballets. While he may not have chosen it himself, he is absolutely thrilled to be working on the same site as in 2006.

“It’s a magical place,” he says, “but I know it’s come a long way in nine years; back then the technical conditions were very challenging. Now we’re thrilled to discover the changes that have taken place. I think of it as a really unique space, with walls that speak, but no roof.

“Honestly speaking we’re just thrilled to be part of what’s happening in Malta right now. I can feel the vibrations of what’s going on in the cultural sector – something particular; a profound belief in the future that feels lost in so many other places.”

“Being in Malta is doubtlessly be a lesson and a joy. It’s fantastic to be back.”

Ballet d’Europe perform today at 9pm at Pjazza Teatru Rjal, Valletta. Tickets are available online or from Pjazza Teatru Rjal.

www.ticketline.com.mt