Living Dance 2016
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Living Dance 2016 saw us back at our venue at tal-Fanal. This was also the first year Living Dance 2016 was increased to a full week due to popular demand. Emma Loftus returned to teach Musical Theatre. Douglas Comley was also back again with his Dance Lectures and Video Making. Sarah Vella thought the Contemporary Classes and Jay Asolo gave workshops in Hip Hop. Our new faculty member Kit Dickinson brought her immense experience to lead the students through an intensive week of ballet. The different age groups had various courses this year, including a photography session, make-up course and also tutu making for our youngest students. |
Kit Dickinson
Associate of the Imperial Society of Teachers of dancing (Distinction) A.I.S.T.D.
Associate of the Royal Academy of Dance A.R.A.D. Dip.P.D.T.D. (R.A.D.London)
Royal Academy of Dance Anatomy (Distinction)
During thirteen years as a dancer Kit embraced many dance genres and worked for companies, such as the Deutch Oper Berlin, Ballet Creations and Scottish Ballet, she has also lead workshops and educational performances worldwide. Kit was appointed ballet mistress for Independent Ballet Wales in 1998.
Following graduation from the RAD, Professional Dancers Course Kit has tutored in many vocational schools, The Urdang Academy, Cambridge Performing Arts and London Studio Centre teaching, ballet, repertoire and point work.
The RAD syllabus is the foundation of her work and spans all age groups. Kit works extensively for The Royal Academy on workshops and intensive vocational courses throughout the United Kingdom and at Headquarters. RAD Summer Schools have also been a feature of Kit’s work both in the UK and abroad.
Kit was asked to trial the new work at the Royal Academy Dance School and was delighted to be involved in the filming of the new Pre-Primary and Primary syllabus and contributed to the making of the DVD. She is now an approved tutor for all levels of the RAD syllabi. Recently Kit has written courses for the RAD Training Departments Portfolio of Children’s Activities.
Kit is Principle of her own school in North London.
Following graduation from the RAD, Professional Dancers Course Kit has tutored in many vocational schools, The Urdang Academy, Cambridge Performing Arts and London Studio Centre teaching, ballet, repertoire and point work.
The RAD syllabus is the foundation of her work and spans all age groups. Kit works extensively for The Royal Academy on workshops and intensive vocational courses throughout the United Kingdom and at Headquarters. RAD Summer Schools have also been a feature of Kit’s work both in the UK and abroad.
Kit was asked to trial the new work at the Royal Academy Dance School and was delighted to be involved in the filming of the new Pre-Primary and Primary syllabus and contributed to the making of the DVD. She is now an approved tutor for all levels of the RAD syllabi. Recently Kit has written courses for the RAD Training Departments Portfolio of Children’s Activities.
Kit is Principle of her own school in North London.
Sarah Vella
Sarah Vella is a Maltese dance artist and speech and language pathologist, currently living in Berlin. She started dancing at the age of 4 with training in classical ballet, modern jazz, flamenco and contemporary dance. After graduating with a Bsc. (Hons.) in Speech Language Pathology from the University of Malta she moved to London where she obtained a Diploma in Dance Studies from 'Laban Conservatoire of Dance'. She studied under the direction of many influential teachers and worked with some inspiring choreographers. Sarah holds a teachers certificate in Flamenco Dance (IdB1) and vast experience in various dance disciplines.
During 2010 and 2011, Sarah performed with 'Red Tape Dance Company' around Malta. In 2011, Sarah moved to Berlin, where she has worked on various dance projects, including a film documentary entitled ‘Dancing the crisis’ by Caroline Schaper and You Gyoung. She performed with JSLN productions for 3 months and worked with choreographer Matteo Graziano in the Opera “William Tell” and in the short movie ‘Das Triadische Schloss’. Sarah also joined and performed with Gauge Dance Theatre in 2013. From October to July 2014, she was also featured as part of the Exhibition ‘Tanz’ at the Deutsches-Hygiene Museum in Dresden.
She started her choreographing career in 2009 and soon moved on to choreographing other works that were performed in Malta, England, Italy and Germany. She has won awards in Malta and Italy for her first choreographic work entitled ‘Ave Maria’. Her new work ‘Iż-Żifna tal-Poeta’, revolving around an influential Maltese poet of the 20th century was performed in Malta during Notte Bianca (2013) as a work in progress and premiered in Berlin in July 2014 (this project was funded by the Malta Arts Fund) and later performed during the ‘100Grad Berlin Festival’ in March 2015.
Over the years, Sarah has also carried out community work focusing on dialogue, dance and choreographic workshops. She has worked with Rehabilitation Centers and youth groups in Malta and Berlin through the medium of dance, movement and communication. She has also worked/choreographed with/for Teatru Zazz Malta on a project with youths that was presented as part of the ‘Marinando’ festival in Italy.
In December 2014, Sarah was part of a month-long dance residency program (Play Practice Apprenticeship Program) in Bangalore, India where her main focus was to work on authenticity on stage when creating and improvising and the relationship between the dancer/performer and the public audience.
In August 2015, Sarah was teaching and leading choreographic workshops in Malta and she was back in Gozo (Malta) teaching contemporary as a guest teacher during ‘Living Dance’ in September 2015.
Her solo creation ‘Lament’, was performed in Berlin at the Kulturwerkstadt in Charlottenburg at the end of September 2015.
Sarah is currently working on a new production ‘ME(et) YOU’ with Norwegian dance artist, Lisa Bysheim and collaborating with a Norwegian musician and French filmographer. The performance will tour in Norway, Malta and Berlin. She is also studying ‘Dance and Movement Therapy’ and continues to work as a freelance dance artist and speech therapist in Berlin.
During 2010 and 2011, Sarah performed with 'Red Tape Dance Company' around Malta. In 2011, Sarah moved to Berlin, where she has worked on various dance projects, including a film documentary entitled ‘Dancing the crisis’ by Caroline Schaper and You Gyoung. She performed with JSLN productions for 3 months and worked with choreographer Matteo Graziano in the Opera “William Tell” and in the short movie ‘Das Triadische Schloss’. Sarah also joined and performed with Gauge Dance Theatre in 2013. From October to July 2014, she was also featured as part of the Exhibition ‘Tanz’ at the Deutsches-Hygiene Museum in Dresden.
She started her choreographing career in 2009 and soon moved on to choreographing other works that were performed in Malta, England, Italy and Germany. She has won awards in Malta and Italy for her first choreographic work entitled ‘Ave Maria’. Her new work ‘Iż-Żifna tal-Poeta’, revolving around an influential Maltese poet of the 20th century was performed in Malta during Notte Bianca (2013) as a work in progress and premiered in Berlin in July 2014 (this project was funded by the Malta Arts Fund) and later performed during the ‘100Grad Berlin Festival’ in March 2015.
Over the years, Sarah has also carried out community work focusing on dialogue, dance and choreographic workshops. She has worked with Rehabilitation Centers and youth groups in Malta and Berlin through the medium of dance, movement and communication. She has also worked/choreographed with/for Teatru Zazz Malta on a project with youths that was presented as part of the ‘Marinando’ festival in Italy.
In December 2014, Sarah was part of a month-long dance residency program (Play Practice Apprenticeship Program) in Bangalore, India where her main focus was to work on authenticity on stage when creating and improvising and the relationship between the dancer/performer and the public audience.
In August 2015, Sarah was teaching and leading choreographic workshops in Malta and she was back in Gozo (Malta) teaching contemporary as a guest teacher during ‘Living Dance’ in September 2015.
Her solo creation ‘Lament’, was performed in Berlin at the Kulturwerkstadt in Charlottenburg at the end of September 2015.
Sarah is currently working on a new production ‘ME(et) YOU’ with Norwegian dance artist, Lisa Bysheim and collaborating with a Norwegian musician and French filmographer. The performance will tour in Norway, Malta and Berlin. She is also studying ‘Dance and Movement Therapy’ and continues to work as a freelance dance artist and speech therapist in Berlin.
Jay Asolo
Jay is a successful choreographer, dancer and teacher. Originally from Nigeria, Jay developed his passion for dancing at the age of 5, after he witnessed a New Jack Swing performance on the streets.
He then moved to teach in Ireland where he currently specialises in Raw Hip Hop, New Jack Swing, Krump, Lockin’ and African Afro Bounce.
With over 11 years of teaching experience, Jay has developed dance crews to compete at international standards, his most recent achievement being the 16th World Hip Hop Championships in Las Vegas 2014 – hosted by the production of America’s Best Dance Crew.
The secret to Jay’s teaching success stems from his passion for mentoring students and his abundant creative energy.
Jay is a well established choreographer. He provided private lessons to Ronan Keating and Mikey Graham from Boyzone for their tour preparation. He has also provided choreography for the Ryan Tubridy TV show and the Olympics 2012 Coca Cola Move to the Beats headphone promotion campaign by Mark Ron.
He then moved to teach in Ireland where he currently specialises in Raw Hip Hop, New Jack Swing, Krump, Lockin’ and African Afro Bounce.
With over 11 years of teaching experience, Jay has developed dance crews to compete at international standards, his most recent achievement being the 16th World Hip Hop Championships in Las Vegas 2014 – hosted by the production of America’s Best Dance Crew.
The secret to Jay’s teaching success stems from his passion for mentoring students and his abundant creative energy.
Jay is a well established choreographer. He provided private lessons to Ronan Keating and Mikey Graham from Boyzone for their tour preparation. He has also provided choreography for the Ryan Tubridy TV show and the Olympics 2012 Coca Cola Move to the Beats headphone promotion campaign by Mark Ron.