02 Dec Currents and Curiosities: An Artistic Friendship
As ŻfinMalta prepares for XitwaŻfin | Winter Dance, we sat down with Helge Letonja, Artistic Director of Of Curious Nature, and guest choreographer for White Echo. His visit marks the blossoming of a new European partnership, one already bearing fruit on both shores: joint creations, touring exchanges, and a deepening artistic affinity between the two companies.
It’s an artistic friendship; it’s not about our differences, but what unites us
A Shared Vision for European Collaboration
“Matthew and I had this really great idea to bring our companies together, ŻfinMalta, and my company in Bremen, (Of Curious Nature.) We realised that we shared similar visions, and wanted to explore what we have to learn from each other, what we have to exchange, and how we can bring the word out about the great quality which is deeply rooted in both companies, and the artistic vision which is there. We have this wonderful collaboration, and wanted to bring this out on a European scale.”
I'm sure this is just the beginning of a long-term, continuous, fruitful collaboration
Harbour Cities, Shared Currents
“Both cities are harbour cities; Malta obviously is an island surrounded by a beautiful ocean. Bremen—the harbour of Bremen—is actually a harbour of a river which goes out into the ocean. There’s a lot of trade, a lot of movement near the water. I found this interesting as a first aspect. Really and truly, it’s an artistic friendship; it’s not about our differences, but what unites us as two companies in our two cities. We have the same curiosities.”
Pearl Calleja and Andrea Biagioni in rehearsal for White Echo | Photograph by Lindsey Bahia
As Malta’s national dance company, ŻfinMalta stands as a cultural bridge — a place where Malta and the world meet. It is a privilege as Artistic Director to foster this spirit of openness within our home, a space shaped by curiosity, exchange, and artistic innovation.``
Matthew William Robinson,
Artistic Director, ŻfinMalta National Dance Company
The First Steps of a Long-Term Relationship
“We are really planning an ongoing and continuous relationship, which makes me very happy. Malta is going to come and present a beautiful work in Bremen (Sita Ostheimer’s Mortal Heroes) and Of Curious Nature will be here in Malta to present Samir Calixto’s Fulgence, alongside White Echo for the upcoming double bill, XitwaŻfin | Winter Dance… and I’m sure this is just the beginning of a long-term, continuous, fruitful collaboration.”
This December…
This December, that “artistic friendship” steps into the lights of Valletta Campus Theatre. ŻfinMalta and Of Curious Nature come together for a compelling double bill: Samir Calixto’s Fulgence and Helge Letonja’s White Echo, two works shaped by lineage, imagination, and shared artistic appetite. Experience all eighteen dancers on stage in one spectacular evening of dance.
Join us for XitwaŻfin | Winter Dance, and witness the beginning of a beautiful and ongoing cultural exchange between our two countries: Join us for XitwaŻfin | Winter Dance, on the 19th, 20th, and 21st December