Sharon Sapienza was oh-so-very-pretty but also very talented.  Prof. Henry Frendo describes her well in the Preface to the commemorative volume, Just Dance, a book, lovingly written and published by her mother Edwige, a handsome volume of 302 pages.

A photo taken in 1990 of Sharon and her mother Edwige at a castanets course/concert before she left for Spain

"Sharon was always a cuddly, bubbly girl, very affectionate, with big blue eyes, a ready smile, and intellectually engaging. She was an only child who was her parents' pride and joy... she was always passionate about music and dance, as those who knew her have confirmed, in the lovely and moving memoirs listed in this book... She was just a teenager when she embarked on a life of adventure, travelling to Spain in 1992 to pursue her dream of becoming a professional dancer of Spanish dance. She was artistically adopted by a well-known flamenco company, Los Farrucos..."

Sharon started early. At Tanya Bayona’s Academy at four years of age  

In the Forward to the book, Albert Storace, a close family friend, writes: "Initial studies in Malta eventually directed her main interest to the art of  flamenco dancing. Her determination was such that she decided that, in order to advance, mature and achieve her driving ambition in the world of Spanish dance, she had to go to Spain. Where better than Andalucia and, precisely, where better than Seville, the heart and core of flamenco?"

Sharon with her father-in-law Pepe at the Plaza del Toro Sevilla

In her introduction Maria Lourdes Fenech, a close family friend,  writes: "Sharon, you left us far too soon, but your legacy lives on among those who knew you, in our memories, and through your extraordinary works that you showcased around the globe... you were a brilliant star that shone brightly while you were on earth and, now, you illuminate us from above with your everlasting light. Your legacy lives on and is far from forgotten. This book is proof of your extraordinary yet tragically short life. This biography is a celebration of the spectacular achievements made by a beautiful, little, blonde girl from Malta,  who dreamed big and made it even BIGGER!"

Frank, Edwige and Sharon at the Feria de Sevilla

Edwige Sapienza, the author of this handsome book, starts off the first chapter which she calls The trauma, with the death of her beloved Sharon.  While making a phonecall to her manager "she collapsed and that was it. She had been sitting on an office chair on wheels, which I never liked as every time I used to sit on it, it wobbled. I feel sure that is what happened to Sharon: She lost her balance while sitting on this cursed chair and knocked her forehead against the top of her desk. Three weeks earlier she had just undergone a cardiac operation involving the change of a single valve.

A toast: Sharon and José on their wedding day 16 August 2008

Prior to this accident, she had been well and recovering nicely. It was Ash Wednesday. I had just told her that I was going to cook ravioli. Nobody will ever convince me otherwise: had Sharon not fallen and hit her head, she would still be here. Even Mr Alex Manché, the cardiac specialist who had operated her, could not explain the situation. She had also been planning to go for a walk after the phone call. This phone call was an exceptional one. It was a call to heaven. This was the last time we spoke. A trauma, a shock to all, as she had been looking well and had been full of enthusiasm, as usual: Impossible but true!"

The SSF trophy was designed by the artistic glass designer, Alison Fenech Gasan

Edwige then writes about the seven most  beautiful occasions in her life, the first being "the day I gave birth to my beautiful baby, Sharon." Sharon features in all seven.

Edwige was meticulous in keeping every document, letter, photo that concerned her daughter's life. This book is based on them.

Early days with dear friend Rosetta Debattista

Our children open doors for us we would have never dreamt of. Sharon opened the door of Spain wide for her parents, Edwige and Frank, as the more adventurous of our children do.

Sharon's first dance teacher was Tanya Bayona.

At one of the Sapienza’s Christmas family parties

After leaving school, while taking a secretarial course, Sharon went on with her dance classes at Debbie McNamara who had the experience to spot talent in her students and came up with the idea of sending Sharon and another five of her students to a course in Stiges, Spain. This was the start of Sharon's falling in love with Spain and all things Spanish and eventually a Spanish husband.

Sharon was a few days short of 18 when she left for Spain, so young and still a teenager. Then, there was no email, mobiles, Skype. How hard for Sharon and her parents to cope with the distance and separation. I know only too well as I have experienced it myself.

Sharon went on taking courses, formed companies and travelled all over the world with her dancers and musicians... and also brought them to Malta.

Apart from the dancing she conducted master classes and flamenco courses from New Delhi to Vietnam, not forgetting Beijing. The world was indeed her oyster.

She went from strength to strength. With her friendly and 'open' character, large smile and enthusiasm, she drew people to her. She became friends with the great names in flamenco. Her devoted mother kept and eventually published every certificate. What comes across is more than a talented girl but also a hardworking and determined one.

Sharon and José were married in August 2008. The wedding was celebrated both in Spain and Malta, here, on the roof top of the Xara Palace Hotel in Mdina. "The wedding reception lasted right through the night as all the hotel rooms were booked entirely for us," her mother writes.

I remember running the pictures in First the monthly magazine of The Malta Independent on Sunday. Sharon looked radiant.

After the sadness of Sharon's sudden death on 13 February 2013, Edwige and Frank decided to set up a Foundation, the Sharon Sapienza Foundation.  This was launched in September 2015 with Founder members Frank, Edwige and Caroline Mattocks.

SSF has several objectives among them the promotion of Spanish classical dance together with other dances; to organise courses and award scholarships. In fact the SSF has already started sending promising students and teachers to Seville to attend the Matilde Coral Academy, the same academy where Sharon had started her studies in Spain. There are other activities which  SSF organises. It now has its own premises. Olivia Dow retired and her studios were bought  by  SSF. Unfortunately Frank, Sharon's father, passed away on 30 October, 2017 and did not see his project, in honour of his daughter launched.

Edwige included a chapter in which she published all homages and tributes from Malta and Spain received. They are moving.

Let us try to console ourselves. Sharon had done her work on earth so she was off to pastures new. No doubt she is organising more flamenco somewhere with endless energy and enthusiasm.

Edwige is a brave woman to undertake such a huge task and produce this lovely book in remembrance of her only daughter who departed too early.

'Just Dance' is available from BDL in San Gwann or by contacting  Edwige Sapienza on 79306306