Dance Festival Malta is one of Festivals Malta’s newest international cultural events. Launched in 2022, it expanded Malta’s summer cultural calendar alongside the Malta International Arts Festival, the Malta Jazz Festival, and the Ritmu Roots Festival (now Festgħana). Unlike many contemporary dance festivals, which evolved from dance competitions, Dance Festival Malta was originally conceived as a professional event that serves as an educational and collaborative platform.
According to the organizers, the main goal of Dance Festival Malta is to develop the country’s professional dance ecosystem and establish Malta as a hub for contemporary dance in the Mediterranean region. The festival connects local and international audiences with diverse forms of contemporary dance and related performance arts. It showcases emerging and established choreographers, encourages international artistic exchange, and provides intensive training opportunities.
The festival is typically held over four days in July. It offers a rich, inspiring program combining performances, workshops, and master classes. Performances form the core of the festival’s public program. They feature various genres and styles of contemporary dance, physical theater, and interdisciplinary works, spanning multiple aesthetic approaches and choreographic traditions. At Dance Festival Malta, dance is treated not just as an artistic discipline but also as a means of social dialogue and exploration of various themes ranging from memory and identity to current political issues.
In addition to showcasing international choreographers, the organizers aim to provide opportunities for Malta-based choreographers, allowing them to present their work to a large audience, network with others in the field, and receive feedback from international colleagues. The festival also offers programs for young performers, such as the inYouth Dance Platform, which allows them to perform in a professional setting.
The festival’s professional program consists of workshops and master classes. Led by seasoned dancers and choreographers from various countries, these workshops cover contemporary dance techniques, movement analysis, composition, improvisation, partnering, and the creative process. They are intended for dance students, emerging professionals, and established dancers and choreographers seeking to further their professional development.
Most Dance Festival Malta events take place in various cultural venues across Valletta, including the Valletta Campus Theatre, the Spazju Kreattiv creative space, and Teatru Manoel. All events, including public performances, professional workshops, and master classes, require an admission fee. Tickets to performances are sold per program, which usually covers one day of performances, with some exceptions.
Photo: dfm.mt
