It’s hot off the stage from the Istanbul European Capital of Culture (ECoC), 2010 and therefore has a special place on our Arts Festival bill as this year has seen Valletta declare it’s candidacy as an ECoC in 2018. Part of the ECoC remit is to have a European dimension; it seems Malta is getting off to a head start in the arts by attracting acts like this one from the wider Med region.

To quote the Istanbul 2010 website (see below), the Barbarossa project performance is “breathtaking”. And here’s what it’s about….

Focusing on the symbiotic relationship between man and water, the Barbarossa Project is a modern dance and musical two-act production of the life of Kaptan-ı Derya, the Fleet Admiral of the Ottoman Navy and the Mediterranean sailors of the 16th century. The music is by Mercan Dede, choreographed by Beyhan Murphy, also Director of Theatre and Performing Arts of the Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture Agency. Beyhan Murphy is also responsible for the design. Ballet dancers and soloists from Istanbul, Antalya, Ankara, Samsun, Mersin,and Izmir state ballet companies are featured in this production.

One of the favorite characters of Turkish history, Barbarossa Hayreddin Pasha or also known as Hızır Reis, was a half Turkish, half Greek, Ottoman admiral who was a privateer and master of the Mediterranean seas. This dance musical drama is exciting, dynamic and should not be missed if you are a lover of dance.

We think it’s a good one to take the kids too as it will excite them with a tale close to home and our islands’ history in an art form – dance – just being given its due in Malta. For more on dance and the Malta Arts Festival in general, see here.

Tickets: from maltaticket.com

Detail of 'Tango in Attard' by artist Stephanie Borg

Calling all tango lovers, novices too, to come experience Argentinian Tango at a combo event featuring tango and art this weekend. The event, run by Tektika Tango, kicks off on at 8pm on Thursday 29th April with the opening of the exhibition and demo dancing, but continues with an intensive weekend workshop with Maestros Gisela Natoli and Gustavo Rosas.

A free taster class of Tango takes place on Saturday 1st May from 8pm to 9pm at the Phoenicia Hotel, Valletta (open to all, but booking required!), followed by a milonga (dance evening) where the maestros Gisela Natoli and Gustavo Rosas will be exhibiting in two dances.

The art exhibition features the works of six artists brought together by their love of tango which they depict through paintings, calligraphy, photography, drawings and sculpture.

Booking:
To book, see the Tektika webiste here.
To book the maestro sessions you can also email Nathalie on bookings@tektikatango.com

Exhibition details:
Artists participating: Six artists – Stephanie Borg, Gordon Pace Flores, Bernard Bonnici, Sergio Muscat, Gordon Knox and Rupert Cefai – are exhibiting their work under a common theme, Argentine Tango. The exhibition is open for the general Public from Friday 30th April 2010 to Sunday 23rd May 2010.

Painting Photo courtesy of Stephanie Borg.

Mind my toes! TangoMalta's weekly 'Milonga' nights.

Tango is a sensual and addictive dance that’s enchanting a growing number of people in Malta, thanks to the initiative of TangoMalta. Nathalie, Gordon and Claudia provide lessons, and also a chance to socialise and dance freely in good company once a week at what’s called a ‘milonga’.

Dancing Tango allows people to express themselves, as the dance has various styles and is completely improvised. Over time, dancers develop their own personal style. The fun of the weekly ‘milonga’ is that you get to dance with different partners and therefore experience the different dancing styles of the other members of the group.

The Tango People
Tango was created by European immigrants in Argentina and Uruguay. And Nathalie Mifsud’s love affair with tango was ignited while travelling through South America – Argentina in particular. She goes back to Argentina whenever she can to keep on training and improving her skills – dancing between 8 to 10 hours a day till her feet, if not actually bleeding, certainly end up aching!

The Tango Group
In January 2008, Nathalie, together with Gordon Pace and Claudia Borg, got together to create a local tango group, which has, to use a pun, made tango very much alive and kicking here. They weren’t the first to bring the dance to our shores: there had always been a small group of enthusiasts. But their arrival on the scene, and the start of TangoMalta gave the dance a new lease of life in Malta.

When & Where to find TangoMalta
TangoMalta usually holds its weekly milonga (free of charge) every Tuesday night between 9pm and 11pm at the wonderful ‘Il-Forn’ Art Gallery and Wine Bar in Birgu (Vittoriosa). Here, you get a chance to socialise in a relaxed environment, listen to good music, and, of course, dance. A couple of hours of dancing is not just fun, but also good physical exercise and can work wonders for your self-confidence!

Tango Lessons
The group holds classes at various levels (usually at the University Common Room). But check the TangoMalta website for precise details as locations are subject to change from time to time.

The course for complete beginners consists of four lessons: enough to get you started and see if tango is for you. This course leads to a number of more advanced courses for those who get bitten by the tango bug. From time to time, the group holds one-off workshops by foreign maestros from countries such as Argentina, Uruguay and Holland. For the real tango addicts, the group is also currently planning a trip to the tango Mecca Buenos Aires.

Tango Music
The music used for dancing tango varies: from 1920s music, to electronic tango, jazz and rock inspired tangos! Gordon generally prefers to play the more modern music as the evening progresses in order to create a crescendo of energy. Indeed, the dance has evolved and stayed alive over the years by adapting to different clothing fashions as well as an ever-changing music scenario. Gordon points out that nowadays people are even dancing tango to non-tango music.

My Verdict
Having attended a milgona myself (though I was busier snapping photos than dancing), the evening literally flew by. I can vouch for the wonderful atmosphere that this local group of Tango enthusiasts has created.

There’s a good chance that you too will get swept away by the sensuality of this dance. As Nathalie puts it: “I’m totally addicted to it and wish I could keep dancing till I drop”.

If you wish to get a taste of Tango
Contact Nathalie at nathalie@tangomalta.org or check the TangoMalta website to confirm the time and place of the weekly milonga.

Photo: Andrew Galea Debono