Dance Council Malta held is 12th and final Annual General Meeting on Sunday 9 November 2014 at the Corinthia Palace, Attard. The Dance Council Malta was founded in 1995 by Miss Tanya Bayona and a group of 12 founder members which included 6 dance teachers, to unite dance teachers, to improve the standard of dance, and to widen the horizon of dance locally.
The Dance Council's belief in the value and great importance of bringing together teachers and students, local and foreign, under one roof is best exemplified with the Dance Power bi-annual Events and the annual World Day of Dance Celebrations.
Over the past 19 years the Dance Council Malta has sought to establish links with international dance institutions which have given rise to opportunities to local dance students, teachers and directors. Workshops, summer schools, exchanges and scholarships have been awarded from prestigious organizations such as: Laban, London Contemporary School of Dance, Hungarian Dance Academy, The Turkish State Conservatory, the Paris Conservatoire, Ballet D'Europe, and many more. These international cultural exchanges have contributed immensely to the improvement of local standards and understanding of dance.
The dissolution of the Dance Council is sadly related to the Maltese characteristic of remaining insular. This local characteristic immobilised the very essence of the Dance Council - the sharing of resources, the unity of dance enthusiasts and the vision to expand horizons. Team work and common strategy was what the Dance Council Malta was all about. The greater benefits that result from joining forces and building collective experiences has unfortunately dwindled into individual efforts that attain momentary accomplishment and that have not much insight for the future of the dance community on the Island. The lack of enthusiasm and commitment from dance students, teachers and directors of schools, and the lack of government recognition had an immense bearing on the Dance Council Malta's function and prospect. The Dance Council could regulate against amateurism and ensure professionalism in schools, steer away from sub- standard performances and inadequate school premises. The Dance Council fuelled inspiration for innovative impetus and instilled an energising spirit to reach new heights.
The Dance Council Malta's dissolution cannot pass quietly. The local dance community has lost its voice and its muse. The Executive Committee is hopeful that all the hard work of the past 19 years will serve as a sound stepping stone for future projects.