Company Open Classes

For the final set of Company Open Classes for the year 2023, Zoe will be leading classes that will build in energy, rhythm and complexity as the week goes along.

“We will play with ideas of inertia, suspension and accumulation of speed to help us focus on the qualities needed in the body to hit certain accents while softening in the inbetweens. We will then put these qualities and discoveries in practice through structured phrases and exercise, accompanied by carefully selected, mostly groovy music.”

Contemporary with Zoe Camilleri

Experience Cunningham technique classes accompanied by a percussionist, led by ŻfinMalta’s Artistic Director 

Through the exploration of Cunningham technique and its principles, the dancers will be studying how the body coordinates in space using its levels and various fronts. The class puts emphasis on the mobility of the spine and how movement can be generated through challenging coordinations and quick shifts of weight. It is a physical warm–up, open only to advanced students, semi-professionals and professional dancers.  These sessions are accompanied by live percussionist Luke Baldacchino.

Artistic Director Paolo Mangiola is a choreographer, dance educator and performer working within ballet and contemporary dance practices.  

Cunningham with Paolo Mangiola

“A lively dance of awakening supported by mindfulness meditation and breath awareness” 

Nicola’s yoga classes are a blend of active and receptive Vinyasa yoga practice with a focus on alignment. This form of Hatha yoga cultivates strength and flexibility. The aim of this week’s yoga practice is to establish a profound mind-body connection, stretching and strengthening the body, in a calm and supportive manner. With the occasional use of essential oils, we may enhance our attention to our breath, stimulating a deeper sensory experience as we move. You are invited to apply clarity, relax into openness, and be inspired through a creative flow, to access a deeper connection to our mental and physical structure. 

Yoga with Nicola Micallef

With a focus on a musicality and coordination, Markéta’s ballet classes are designed for participants to tap into their feel good factor, warming up to their day with enjoyment and confidence.

A native of Ostrava, Markéta graduated from the local Janáček Conservatory and subsequently worked at the Moravian-Silesian National Theatre, where she became a soloist in 2010. She danced in many leading ballets, such as The Nutcracker, Cinderella and Swan Lake and received a nomination for the Thalia Award for her role as Odette/Odilia.

Ballet with Markéta Pospíšilová

This week of classes will focus on enhancing ranges of movement dynamics. Through a mixture of structured exercises and guided composition practices, we will explore a spectrum of dynamics, from slow to virtuosic, and the spaces in between.

How can the body be soft and strong, slow and light, quick and open, sharp and delicate…?

How can our relationship with the floor, with other bodies, support this dynamic range?

How can we develop a strong sense of awareness of our dynamic range in order to keep it evolving and expanding?

And, quite crucially, how can we bring fun and play into this journey?

Contemporary with Florinda Camilleri

With a career spanning several years in the field of dance, Sandra’s journey into the world of yoga, began as a sporadic exploration. Over several years she tried different yoga techniques with different teachers, but it was when she stumbled upon Yin Yoga that her path truly deepened. Recently certified as a yoga teacher. Sandra’s teaching style reflects her experience in dance and movement and her newfound passion for yoga. She believes that these practices hold the key to find balance in our fast-paced lives.

Yoga with Sandra Misfud

This week of open classes will focus on bodily alignment for professional contemporary dancers. Each class will begin with studies of horizontal alignment through floor work, shifting into verticality, and finally exploring axes in-between by working with gravity and suspension as tools for movement. The classes will include a mix of structured exercises and guided movement research, energetically supported by a specially-curated playlist.

Contemporary with Florinda Camilleri

Experience ballet class with Alessandro Bigonzetti, alongside ŻfinMalta company dancers for their morning warm up.

Currently a teacher and choreographer at Teatro dell’Opera in Rome, Alessandro Bigonzetti graduated in 1987 from the same theatre school and subsequently attended a specialization course in Reggio Emilia, dancing in Aterballetto productions. 

Ballet with Alessandro Bigonzetti

Experience aligning and strengthening ballet classes accompanied by a live pianist, led by ŻfinMalta’s Artistic Director 

Paolo Mangiola, Artistic Director Paolo Mangiola is a choreographer, dance educator and performer working within ballet and contemporary dance practices. Operating in the interstices between codified dance and ordinary movement, Paolo is interested in exploring this relationship in the context of our interconnected society, drawing inspiration from various artistic sources, the web, and emerging movements. 

Ballet with Paolo Mangiola

“A lively dance of awakening supported by mindfulness meditation and breath awareness” 

Nicola’s yoga classes are a blend of active and receptive Vinyasa yoga practice with a focus on alignment. This form of Hatha yoga cultivates strength and flexibility. The aim of this week’s yoga practice is to establish a profound mind-body connection, stretching and strengthening the body, in a calm and supportive manner. With the occasional use of essential oils, we may enhance our attention to our breath, stimulating a deeper sensory experience as we move. You are invited to apply clarity, relax into openness, and be inspired through a creative flow, to access a deeper connection to our mental and physical structure. 

Yoga with Nicola Micallef

Elena Ciavarella started training in contemporary dance in France, at the CNR of Boulogne Billancourt, In 2001 she attended the professional course of Aterballetto under the direction of Mauro Bigonzetti in Italy. She obtained a degree in Cinema and Performing Arts at the University of Pisa in 2003, before moving to France where she obtained the DE (dance teacher national degree) in contemporary dance at the CND in Lyon in 2009 and a Master’s degree in Development of international artistic and cultural projects at the University of Lyon2. 

Contemporary with Elena Ciavarella

Anna Nowak is ŻfinMalta’s Artistic Coordinator, leading ballet technique as morning company class during week 10.  Anna’s ballet classes home in on a centering barre, as well as further centre work focused on shifting weight and dynamic phrasing.  

Anna is a dance artist, educator, re-stager and rehearsal director with over 20 years of professional experience, leading educational and choreographic projects, delivering masterclasses and workshops internationally, as well as creating her own work.

Ballet with Anna Nowak

ŻfinMalta’s Artistic co-ordinator

Maltese- based freelance artist and dancer, Zoe Camilleri, started her dance training with the College of Dance. She later went into full- time training at the Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance in London. After graduating she returned to her home island to join the first ensemble of dancers of ŻfinMalta, first as an apprentice and for the next three years as a full-time dancer. She has worked with choreographers such as Iván Pérez, Jose Agudo, Mavin Khoo, Athanasia Kanellopoulou, Francesca Tranter, Lucia Piquero, Paolo Mangiola, amongst many others.

 

 

Contemporary with Zoe Camilleri

& live percussionist Luke Baldacchino

Nicola Monaco trained in Italy where he attended the professional course of Aterballetto under the direction of Mauro Bigonzetti. In 2003 he worked for the award-winning Dutch dance company Emio Greco/PC, where he stayed until 2008. In 2009, he worked with choreographers such as Akram Khan, Gregory Maquoma, Tom Dale, The Featherstonehaughs and Shobana Jeyasingh Dance Company. In 2012 he was appointed as rehearsal director for ŻfinMalta Dance Ensemble.  In 2013, Nicola joined Akram Khan Dance company as dancer and rehearsal director for productions Itmoi, Kaash and Xenos.

Contemporary with Nicola Monaco

Florinda is an independent dance artist and community pharmacist from and based in Malta. She initiates, leads, and supports performing arts projects in Malta and internationally, taking on various roles as a contemporary dance and screendance performer, maker, collaborator, researcher, educator, coach, producer, and facilitator. Florinda recently graduated from the Master Performing Public Space program in Fontys University, (NL). Her research project applied a lens of feminist posthumanism with-in public spaces in Malta, exploring embodied perspectives of (land)scapes through site-specific screendance performance with the aim of discovering new, more responsive and response-able ways of engaging with environments. She is currently investigating points of encounter between human and more-than-human agents within urban public spaces as sites of creative potential from which movement and matter are formed.

from 9th – 13th January 2023

10:00 – 11:15

Contemporary with Florinda Camilleri

This set of contemporary dance classes aim to support dancers as they begin a fresh period of practice after the festive break. They will consist of three parts: a warm-up, structured exercises moving across the room, and a guided improvisation. The warm-up will focus on awakening awareness within and across body and space, with attention starting inwards and opening up outwards. The structured exercises will continue along this thread, exploring various movement qualities across dynamic spatial and rhythmic patterns. Guided improvisations will then serve as a platform for dancers to explore embodied and spatial relations in their own unique ways, responding to their current needs as individuals and occasionally in groups.

 

Julienne Schembri has extensive experience of performing in London, working with artists like Rosemary Lee, Amit Lahav, Anthony Van Laast, Sacha Miles Davis and featuring as an ensemble dancer in Wicked, in the West End. Now in Malta, Julienne is seeking alternate ways in which to share her passion for movement and dance while actively participating in the social domain. She believes that embodied knowledge can provide a rich and powerful source for self, social transformation, empathy, and connection. To satisfy this ongoing enquiry into the interconnection of dance and activism she is currently working towards gaining a diploma in Laban Bartenieff Movement System, through EMOVE institute in Rotterdam.

from 13th – 17th December 2022

10:00 – 11:15

Contemporary with Julienne Schembri

Julienne’s classes will be rooted in the Laban Bartenieff Movement System taking inspiration from concepts of the developmental movement patterns, experiential anatomy and space harmony.  The class will explore sequences as well as improvisational tasks taking dancers on a journey through simple and complex ideas to truly warm up the bodymind. This will invite dancers to discover new things or enrich what they already know.

Robert Parker trained at the Royal Ballet School and joined the Birmingham Royal Ballet in 1994 then under the directorship of Sir Peter Wright. He became a Principal dancer in 1999 where he collaborated with Artistic Director and acclaimed choreographer David Bintley to create many leading roles for the company. He made guest appearances with the Royal Ballet and performed in many Galas around the world. His accolades include a Critics Circle Dance Award nomination and an Olivier Award nomination in 2001 and a Critics‘ Circle Award for Outstanding Male Artist in 2003.

24th & 25th November 2022

10:00 – 11:30

Ballet with Robert Parker

After retiring from Birmingham Royal Ballet he passed his RAD Professional Dancers’ Teaching Diploma with distinction and completed a Master’s degree in Philosophy in Education. Robert became Artistic Director of Elmhurst Ballet School in 2012. That same year he was appointed President of the London Ballet Association. He has guest taught for Ballet companies around the world and regularly invited to deliver Master classes and as a Juror member for International Ballet Competitions including a long standing relationship with the Youth American Grand Prix.

“We define classical dance by its technical and aesthetic principles, which are: “l’en-dehors” and balance, a spirit of rigor and transparency, as well as concern for elegance and purity of the movement.”

During the class, we will focus on applying its principles, but at the same time, moving away from French academicism to come within reach of more neoclassical styles; beginning ‘à la barre’ and then moving to centre practice, we will take care of technique, considering anatomical concepts, rhythm and dynamism.

8th – 12th November 2022

10:00 – 11:30

Ballet with Stéphane Aubry

Stéphane, born in Vichy, France in the 80s, is a freelance guest teacher and assistant choreographer who has worked with Opera Nova, Polish Dance Theatre, Grand Theatre of Poznan and Ostrava. As a soloist in Ostrava he has performed repertoire from Jiří Kylián, Itzik Galili, Jacek Przybyłowicz, Paul Chalmer and Mauro Bigonzetti amongst others. Starting a late career, Aubry trained at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de musique et de danse de Paris after which he joined the Poznan National Theatre and was promoted to demi-soloist.  In 2014 he created his first choreography for the Evening Young Choreographers in the National Theater in Poznan entitled “Corps”, presenting “C.O.R.PS2” in Ostrava few years later.

Hervé’s unique approach is to develop exercises which connect the physical preparation and study of the ballet technique with its more organic side.  Musicality, upper body awareness and coordination, placement of body weight in space, relationship to the ground, and quality of movement, are the elements that make Hervé’s classes accessible to both classical and contemporary dancers. 

10th – 14th October 2022

10:00 – 11:30

Ballet with Hervé Palito

Hervé, who has worked at companies including LaLaLa Human Steps, Ballet de l’Opera de Paris, the Stuttgart Ballet, Tokyo Ballet, Baseler Ballett, Companhia Nacional de Bailado de Lisboa, Cullbert Ballet, Bejart Ballet Lausanne, Ballet Montecarlo, Staatstheater Nürnberg, Aalto Ballet Theater, LaLaLa Human Step, Staatstheater Augsburg, Lyon Opera Ballet, Finnish National Ballet, Ballet de Loraine, Hong Kong ballet, National Ballet of China, Ballet Nacional de Santo Domingo, Royal Swedish Ballet, Scapino Ballet, Architanz, Grupo Corpo, Ultima Vez, and many more…

Lucia started her career as a dancer in L’Ensemble, a company directed by Micha Van Hoecke, whose major choreographies are inspired by her strong personality and together they created many roles that showcased and nurtured her stunning technique.  Performing and touring as a soloist with L’Ensemble, both in Italy and internationally, she also began teaching the company between 1994 – 1998 working closely with Micha Van Hoecke’s repertoire. 

From 1998 to 2004 she worked as Maître de Ballet and choreographers’ assistant  to Aterballetto, directed by Mauro Bigonzetti.  

23rd, 26th – 29th September 2022

10:00 – 11:30

Ballet with Lucia Geppi

During that time she collaborated with many successful choreographers such as Mauro Bigonzetti (all of his works), Michele Abbondanza & Antonella Bertoni (Figli d’Adamo), Christian Spuck (Morphin Games), Jiri Kilian (Heart’s Labyrinth), Itzik Galili (Chamelon) and William Forsythe (Steptext).  

Lucia works as Maître de Ballet for the Teatro Comunale in Florence, Teatro, S. Carlo in Naples, Les Ballets de Monte Carlo, the Dominic Dance Theatre in Houston, the Grand Théâtre de Genève, the Scala in Milan, the Leipzig Opern, the Royal Swedish Ballet, the Stuttgart Ballet, the Béjart Ballet Lausanne and the Zurich Ballet, West Australian Ballet.

Anna’s class is based on physical and technical training, including influences from classical, Cunningham and Graham techniques. Anna takes a stamina and strengthening approach to class, while building a grounded and technical foundation.

Choreographer, director and movement director Anna Watkins has toured her company work, ‘Watkins Dance Company’, for 11 years in the UK & internationally, supported by Arts Council England, East London Dance, Swindon Dance, The Garage, DanceEast, South East Dance, awarded Associate Artist (2017-2018) Swindon Dance.

from 5th – 9th September 2022

10:00 – 11:15

Contemporary with Anna Watkins

During her 17 year career she has worked with dance companies and choreographers including Shobana Jeyasingh, Phoenix Dance Theatre (CC Lab), Tavaziva Dance, Motionhouse, Oceanallover, Thea Barnes, Neville Campbell and more. She was selected for ‘Cohan Collective’ working under the mentorship of Sir Robert Cohan, Eleanor Alberta, Yolande Yorke-Edgell, Kim Brandstrup and Kenneth Hesketh, and nominated for the ‘The Jane Attenborough Award’, One Dance UK Awards 2021 and ‘WOMEN IN DANCE AWARD’ 2020, AWA Dance. Anna’s digital work has been awarded, nominated, screened and selected for numerous film festivals including Demetera International Film Festival (Paris), Film Oxford, Modern Art Oxford | Dancin’ Oxford, FLUX Online Festival 2020, Leeds Festival 2019, and Reading Festival 2019.

Julienne Schembri has extensive experience of performing in London, working with artists like Rosemary Lee, Amit Lahav, Anthony Van Laast, Sacha Miles Davis and featuring as an ensemble dancer in Wicked, in the West End. Now in Malta, Julienne is seeking alternate ways in which to share her passion for movement and dance while actively participating in the social domain. She believes that embodied knowledge can provide a rich and powerful source for self, social transformation, empathy, and connection. To satisfy this ongoing enquiry into the interconnection of dance and activism she is currently working towards gaining a diploma in Laban Bartenieff Movement System, through EMOVE institute in Rotterdam.

from 7th – 10th June 2022

10:00 – 11:15

Contemporary with Julienne Schembri

Julienne’s classes will be rooted in the Laban Bartenieff Movement System taking inspiration from concepts of the developmental movement patterns, experiential anatomy and space harmony.  The class will explore sequences as well as improvisational tasks taking dancers on a journey through simple and complex ideas to truly warm up the bodymind. This will invite dancers to discover new things or enrich what they already know.

ŻfinMalta’s Artistic Director, Paolo Mangiola, will be teaching Ballet for our company open classes.

Paolo Mangiola is a choreographer, dance educator and performer working within ballet and contemporary dance practices. Operating in the interstices between codified dance and ordinary movement, Paolo is interested in exploring this relationship in the context of our interconnected society, drawing inspiration from various artistic sources, the web, and emerging movements.

from 16th – 20th May 2022

10:00 – 11:15

Ballet with Paolo Mangiola

As a performer Paolo has collaborated with, and danced for, artists and choreographers including Wayne McGregor, Deborah Hay, Martin Creed, and Mauro Bigonzetti. Paolo has created works for the Royal Ballet, Tanztheater Nürnberg, Aterballetto, Szczecin Opera Ballet and Balletto di Roma. He attained a Masters in Choreography at The Place, London, and designed the programme for the Contemporary Dance Department, Scuola del Balletto di Roma. Paolo was appointed resident choreographer at Balletto di Roma in 2015, where he remained for three seasons. Since 2017 he has been Artistic Director of ŻfinMalta, Malta’s national dance company.

An award-winning choreographer, Riccardo Buscarini is an artist focused on constantly changing his creative approach to choreography and exploring its possible interactions with other art forms.

Riccardo trained at Accademia Domenichino da Piacenza/IT and London Contemporary Dance School where he graduated in 2009. Highlights of his career so far include winning The Place Prize 2013 with the piece Athletes, the participation in the international research projects danceWEB (Impulstanz, Vienna), Creatives in Residence at The Hospital Club (London), ArtsCross London 2013 (UK, Taiwan and China), Performing Gender (Italy, Croatia, Spain, the Netherlands), MAM-Maroc Artist Meeting in Marrakech. 

from 5th April – 9th April 2022

10:00 – 11:15

Contemporary with Riccardo Buscarini

http://www.riccardobuscarini.com

Florinda is a dance artist from and based in Malta. She was a member of  ŻfinMalta National Dance Company, from 2014 to 2018. From 2018, she has been initiating, leading, and supporting performing arts projects in Malta and internationally, with a keen interest in notions of home and belonging, and the spaces in which they are created, felt, lived, and performed. Her first solo creation was a short film, ‘Solastagia‘, which explores grief caused by environmental change. She is currently following the Master Performing Public Space program at Fontys University (NL). Her current artistic research investigates non-anthropocentric ways of being-with Maltese landscapes through feminist new materialist principles. 

from 28th Feb – 4th March 2022

10:00 – 11:15

Contemporary with Florinda Camilleri

“As the dancers return to intensive daily practice after a short break, this week’s classes will be built through and around the notion of a “fresh start”. 

A fresh start to practice,  

a fresh start to the week, to the day,  

a fresh start to each movement, each moment;  

a fresh start to our bodies,  a fresh start to our space,  

a fresh start to relations,  with-in-between.    

These fresh starts  will be explored with-in the same class framework each day: starting with a guided warm-up, moving on to short exercise sequences, and longer movement phrases which build throughout the week. They will also be facilitated by a specially-curated sound journey.” 

Florinda Camilleri, Guest Teacher, ŻfinMalta Company Open Classes