Living Dance is back for the fifth year running and has even more to offer to all dancers, both those planning to attend the course for the first time and also those who have already attended one or more Living Dance Summer Schools. Living Dance will once again be held in Gozo in the idyllic setting of Ta’ Sbejħa in Għarb, between 10 and 15 September. The course is being offered to both residential and non-residential students from the age of 10 to adults. There will also be a three-day non-residential junior course for those keen dancers aged between seven and nine who want to know more what life as a dancer is all about.
Living Dance was set up in 2008 and organises dance courses for students from all dance schools, giving them the opportunity to be taught by an expert team of local and foreign teachers, making friends and sharing experiences with fellow dancers from other schools. The Living Dance Residential Dance Course aims to help dancers strengthen and improve their technique, as well as giving them a taste of life as a full-time dance student. It promises to offer a jam-packed week in which dancers take part in daily classes in the various disciplines, leading to a performance for parents at the end of the course. A scholarship for a dance course in the UK will be awarded to the most promising dancer. Yasmin Schembri was given the award during Living Dance 2011 and will be attending an intensive week at Rambert this summer. Leanne Barry was awarded a scholarship to Living Dance 2012.
Living Dance 2012 will have intensive courses in ballet, repertoire, jazz, hip hop, contemporary, musical theatre and pilates. In addition to the local faculty tutors Emma Loftus, Sandra Mifsud and Jason Fabri, three foreign guest tutors will be joining the Living Dance team this year. Douglas Comely who was also part of the team last year, will be joining once again this year. Another tutor will be Julie Anne Clarke, a former Principal Ballerina, who now dedicates her life to motivating and teaching young dancers. She toured Great Britain with The Royal Ballet Company and worked as a soloist for many years with a German Ballet Company. Ms Clarke then founded a ballet school, Dance Vision, which she directed and managed for 13 years.
Simona Zampina, an Italian dancer, teacher and choreographer will be joining the team giving workshops in modern and hip hop. Ms Zampina has performed extensively in Italy and overseas, performing with Kylie Minogue, for films, musicals, operas, commercials, flash mobs and more, as well as choreographing for the same. She has also won a number of choreographic awards and competitions and been commended for her artistic excellence. She has given many workshops to students and dancers at various international festivals and courses.
Living Dance 2012 is open to students aged seven upwards, with the residential option for students aged 10 and over. Students choosing the residential option will have full-board accommodation and organised onsite evening activities. Attending the summer school on a non-residential basis is also an option and lunch will be included for these students.
Besides being an intensive dance experience, it is also a life experience, where some students find themselves living without their parents for the first time, looking after the unit where they sleep as well as having to get themselves organised for the day’s classes.
This is an opportunity for all dance students not to be missed. For further information one may contact Christiane Borg Manché on 9942-4475 or e-mail [email protected]. Application forms are also available from dance schools, at The Dance Studio, Sliema Road, Kappara or online www.livingdancemalta.com. Closing date is 30 June. Places are limited and on a first-come, first-served basis.