Carnival is around the corner and Shake Dance Company of Żejtun is busily getting ready to show off its energetic moves and lavish costumes.
Leader Christian Caruana is rehearsing the choreography with his 36 adult dancers over and over again, while also giving a helping hand in an underground garage where the costume makers and helpers are putting the final touches on some very extra-vagant creations.
“We’re quite anxious at the moment as everything is almost ready, but not quite yet,” says Mr Caruana, 30, who has been leading the company for seven years.
“There are the last few details which we need to get done with as soon as possible.”
The troupe is set to make its grand entry in Valletta tomorrow with a dance titled Sambastica, which as its name implies, is influenced by the popular Latin American dance but also incorporates Indian elements.
They are taking part in the Dance Competition Section B (meaning sans float) with laborious, handmade costumes designed by Ivan Azzopardi, featuring thousands of colourful, synthetic feathers and an infinite amount of sequins, crystals and beads.
We received very good feedback, even from other companies. This has surely given us a big, timely boost
On visiting the Żejtun premises, one finds elaborate headdresses made out of jablo in the shape of an eagle or tiger, feather wings and large wire and feather structures which will be attached to the dancers’ backs.
“You would assume these structures are very heavy but they don’t feel like that when you wear them. They let the dancers move about freely, which is very important,” points out Mr Caruana, while adding that he has been very meticulous about the dance routine this year.
The tiny costumes of the children’s group, called Żejtun Carnival Troupe, led by Wendy Caruana, also hang in this garage-cum-workshop. Their jovial dance, titled Viva Viva l-Karnival, will see 32 kids wearing bright costumes of clowns, Harlequins and the carnival mascot, among other characters.
Apart from the committee members, the company has around 12 helpers who spend whole days at the workshop in the run-up to carnival.
These include Doris Borg and Bridget Azzopardi, who like the other volunteers, wilfully sacrifice their time and energies for the sake of the dance competition.
“I woke up at 6am this morning, washed the floors and rushed down here,” says a smiling Ms Borg, while sewing a yellow-coloured felt belt.
“I don’t even cook these days,” remarks Ms Azzopardi as she cuts the tips of a bunch of white and black feathers.
“I think I’ll gain all the 13 kilos I lost over the last months,” she adds with a laugh while pointing to a plate of inviting pastizzi ‘ta’ Roger’.
The atmosphere in the workshop is indeed a cheerful one, despite the mounting tension. Mr Caruana, however, heaved a sigh of relief on Tuesday when the company had its first costume-less rehearsals in Valletta.
“We received very good feedback, even from other companies,” he says proudly.
“This has surely given us a big, timely boost.”
