Contact Dance Company has just returned from performing at the 2nd International European contemporary dance platform in Volos, Greece. They showcased two works Poetry in Motion and Tempest, both accompanied live by percussionist Renzo Spiteri, at the Municipal Theatre in Volos. Included in the audience were many art festival directors and theatre agents.
Contact Dance Company’s artistic director Francesca Abela Tranter continues to pursue her goal of putting Malta on the map through her endeavours with her dance company, which was established in 1999 – networking, collaborating and exchanging cultural views through cutting edge dance.
The dance company will be performing at the annual European Dance Festival in Cyprus at the Rialto Theatre in Limassol on 11 May. The choreographies which will be performed are Poetry in Motion and Tempest choreographed/directed by Francesca Abela Tranter, TVOD choreographed by Douglas Comley (Wales), and Are you right, am I wrong?, choreographed by Michael Joseph (UK). Dancers Rachel Axisa, Yasmine Nuvoli, Gillian Zammit, Fiona Barthet, Jeanelle Cassar and Olivia Vella will be demonstrating their talents on Cypriot soil, while lighting design is in the capable hands of Anton Borg Olivier.
Now in its eighth year, the Cyprus Festival began on the initiative of the Cultural Services of the Education and Culture Ministry and the European Delegation in Cyprus. Its purpose was to address the increasing interest in dance (as opposed to ballet) and to bring together representatives of European countries in Cyprus.
Ever-increasing in stature, the festival has grown in popularity and strength, with each participating country doing its best to present the best possible contemporary groups available in their respective countries. Random Dance, Ricochet, Walker Dance, the wonderful Richard Alston Dance Company, the Pina Baucher group, Ad Lib, Robert Hyltonh Urban Clacissism, Wee Dance Company, Sinequanon and Christine Bastin are just some of the dance companies that have participated in recent years.
Through the medium of workshops, the festival has contributed to contemporary dance being adopted by Cypriot choreographers and to the improved standard of these choreographies. Over the past four years, the Cultural Services, again responding to local needs, has run a dance platform, where Cypriot choreographers can show their work, with the winning group participating as a guest performer at the festival. This is a direct outcome of the influence of the festival.
This year, following EU accession, not only will the local Cypriot winning dance group be participating as a full member, but the festival has been expanded to include many new European member states, including dance groups from Austria, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Malta, Poland, Spain and Sweden.
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