In August, the Brigitte Gauci Borda School of Dance, together with the European Foundation for Support of Culture, is organising International Ballet Malta 2018, the programme of which will include master classes and ballet performances. The main goal of the project is to attract the world dance community to Malta and create a unique platform for cultural exchange between young talented dancers. Ballet lessons will be conducted by leading world choreographers from the Royal Ballet (Great Britain), the Bolshoi Theatre of Russia, Ballet National de Marseille (France), Royal Swedish Ballet (Sweden), and other renowned ballet schools, colleges and theatres.
The apex of the summer educational programme will be one of the most famous and popular classical ballets – Giselle, in which both world-class stars and young talented dancers will take part. The ballet production will be shown in August at the Royal Opera House in Valletta, the European Capital of Culture 2018.
Giselle is a fantastic ballet in two acts by the composer Adolphe Adam, libretto by Jules-Henri de Saint-Georges, Théophile Gautier and Jean Coralli, based upon a legend narrated by Heinrich Heine. It was first performed at the Salle Le Peletier in Paris, France, on 28 June 1841. The ballet was an unqualified triumph and gained critical acclaim and positive reviews in the press. Since then, Giselle has been shown on the stage of the best world theatres and is considered one of the brightest examples of classical ballet. The famous dancer and choreographer, First Artist of the Royal Ballet, Erico Montes, will visit Malta during the summer programme for the casting of the best young dancers who will perform in the ballet together with ballet stars. At the end of International Ballet Malta, all participants will receive certificates on completion of the summer school training.