The Dance Workshop is planning to hold more courses by foreign guest lecturers to improve the standard of dance in Malta after the last one successful one over Christmas, the organisers said.

Diane van Schoor, principal of The Royal Ballet School and international examiner for the Cecchetti Society, attended three days of classes and discussion at various local dance schools, organised by Theresa Lungaro-Mifsud, the local representative of the Cecchetti Society.

"Despite the cold spell, classes were well attended and both students and teachers were quite happy to participate," Ms Lungaro-Mifsud said.

Cecchetti teachers and students worked tirelessly during the intensive course, which covered the work of vocational grades and the Cecchetti diploma.

Ms van Schoor shared her expertise and knowledge with everybody, encouraging them to get onto the dance floor to experience the movements. She taught the syllabus work very clearly and creatively, describing how to build up to the work technically and artistically.

Through the syllabus and also by means of stimulating unset work, Ms van Schoor emphasised the use of musicality and rhythm to bring out the quality of movement. She also accentuated the importance of technical precision and the understanding of body mechanics to create flow of movement and line.

Discussion time presented the opportunity to expand further on queries that arose during class and gave teachers an insight on the training at vocational schools of quality - where both traditional and alternative dance practices are used.

More information about the Cecchetti Society in Malta can be obtained from Ms Lungaro-Mifsud on www.thedanceworkshop.com.mt.