God respects you when you work but loves you when you dance, an old saying goes. And to see so many dancers – some as young as four years – enjoying themselves in this year’s Wanna Dance show organised by Dance College Studios of Msida brings the meaning closer to heart.
This year’s edition, which was held over two days at St Monica School in Gżira to accommodate the number of people who wanted to see the show, went down extremely well with the audience. It was a fast, heart-throbbing display, much like being on a treadmill and pushing up the speed making it virtually impossible to jump off.
It was a tremendous effort all around, from the college principal, Kim Schembri Spiteri, down to all the dancers, not forgetting the teachers. This year the teachers included representatives from Areadanza from Livorno in Italy who, together with a group of dancers from the Italian school and their parents, spent a week on the island savouring the cultural sites but particularly the inviting sea, which they enjoyed tremend-ously. The Italian dancers took part in the show.
“Our Italian friends were awed by the island and the hospitality of the people. They enjoyed their stay here, especially the time they spent at Ramla l-Ħamra in Gozo. Most of them have said they will return,” Mrs Schembri Spiteri said.
Attending the show were the principal of Areadanza, Gaia Lemmi and her husband Fabio, and teacher Denise Storti.
Dance College Studios and Areadanza have been collaborating in a bid to push the envelope, making for better achievements for their dancers. In fact, a member of the college, Ann Chircop Beck, has won a scholarship to spend a week at Areadanza while Chiara Mencacci from Livorno has been awarded a week-long scholarship at Dance College Studios. Both are 11 years old.
Speaking at the end of the show, Mrs Schembri Spiteri said Dance College Studios had students from Russia, the Philippines, Italy, Serbia, France, Georgia, Poland, Denmark, Sweden, Latvia, England and Mexico. “A veritable United Nations. This is the power of dance. It unites so many people; you make friends from all over the world through dance,” she noted.
Four students – Maya Spiteri, Abigail Bonello, Daniela Buhagiar and April Mary Joy – were presented with an award for their dedication and passion to dance.
www.dancecollege.org/