Dancing times: ‘Giselle’ at Pjazza Teatru Rjal
BRIGITTE GAUCI BORDA is the principal of her own ballet school in Sliema. She has grown up in the world of ballet and has organized many a show with her students and international ballet stars. Here she speaks to Marie Benoit about her next challenge: the ballet ‘Giselle’ at Pjazza Teatru Rjal on 4th August In August you will be putting on ‘Giselle’ at the open air theatre in Valletta. The three leading roles will be danced by three foreigners. Could you please tell us something about these dancers?
I am very excited to be bringing over three amazing ballet dancers from renowned ballet companies.
Erico Montes, was born in São Paulo, Brazil. He won a Gold Medal in the Dance Competition in Rieti, Italy. This led him to win a scholarship which enabled him to finish his training with The Royal Ballet School. He was then invited to join The Royal Ballet Company and has been dancing with the company for 14 years. He is a very experienced dancer and great choreographer. He has danced in all the ballet classics as well as all the new works of the Royal Ballet. Enrico has also choreographed several pieces for Draft Works, London Children’s Ballet and New English Ballet Theatre. These were not the only works he choreographed either.
He is currently in Hungary with The Royal Ballet Company for the filming of Romeo and Juliet set in the old part of Budapest. He will then continue to tour with the Royal Ballet, performing Liam Scarlett`s Swan Lake in Madrid, after which he will head straight to Malta to dance the principal role of Albrecht in the full length ballet Giselle.
That sounds very exciting. Now tell us something about the Prima Ballerina Luiza Lopes.
Luiza Lopes will be dancing the main role of Giselle. She too is a beautiful experienced dancer who dances with the Royal Swedish Ballet. Luiza is Brazilian and born in São Paulo. She started dancing at the age of eight and won competitions in Brazil and later a scholarship to study at the Royal Ballet School in London. She was soon awarded a professional contract to work in São Paulo Dance Company and returned to Brazil.
Luiza was praised by dance critics and she danced central roles in ballets of many established choreographers of the 21st century. She was honored to have three works specially created for her. In one of her last shows with the São Paulo Dance Company, she performed the Grand Black Swan Pas de Deux in the version of Mario Galizzi, dancing with the principal dancer of the Royal Ballet, a fellow Brazilian, Thiago Soares.
In the beginning of 2015 she received an invitation to join the Royal Swedish Ballet, as a First Soloist, and she made her debut on opening night, as the Queen of the Dryads in Rudolf Nureyev’s version of Don Quixote.
Apart from Enrico Montes there is another male dancer. Could you tell us something about him?
Principal Russian dancer Sergey Kheylik will be dancing the role of Hilarion, another principal role in Giselle.
Sergey trained at the Bolshoi Ballet school. He danced leading roles in several famous companies such as Cirque Du Soleil, Los Angeles Ballet, South African Ballet Theatre, Hong Kong Ballet, Bad Boys of Dance, San Diego Opera, Imperial Russian Operato to name but a few. He gained popularity on the famous American TV Show Dance Moms, teaching and choreographing for Abbey Lee Dance Company and to this day is a guest teacher, dancer and judge at the Youth American Grand Prix in New York, one of the biggest international competitions worldwide.
Sergey will also be giving a four day course of Ballet and Contemporary during his stay in Malta, a course to which students aged from 10 years to pre- professional may apply.
Did you choose ‘Giselle’ for any particular reason?
Yes, because I just love the romantic ballet classics. Having already staged Swan Lake, which I believe is the masterpiece of the classical repertoire, I felt it was apt to stage another of my favourite ballets Giselle, a ballet that is still one of the longeststanding and well loved classics in ballet history.
It is the compelling story of love, betrayal, forgiveness and salvation; Giselle is one of the most romantic works of the classical repertoire with its beautiful score by Adolphe Adam. Its lively, colourful first act with the moving mad scene and the ensuing unearthly, pure white act, are still danced all over the world today. It’s is not without reason that Giselle is known as the `Hamlet of dance.`
It all started over a year ago, I was approached by some dancers from the Royal Ballet to set up a summer programme, to identify and develop young talent and to work towards the highest level of classical ballet. Also to help those who want to pursue a professional career in any of the various forms of dance.
International Ballet Malta (IBM) was therefore set up, with a mission to nurture students in the classical art form, build confidence, performance skills and spark a life-long appreciation of the arts.
Will any of your students be taking part in Giselle?
Yes, a total of 80 students from the age of 10 years up to pre-professional level will be dancing in
Giselle alongside these marvellous international guest dancers. The majority of students are from my school, we also have some international students coming from Japan, Korea, China, Germany and Russia together with some other local students from other ballet schools in Malta. It’s such a unique opportunity for students who share the love and passion of dance to come together in this wonderful production of Giselle.
Please elaborate on IBM
IBM was launched last summer with over 70 students attending the summer programme, with guest teachers Mayara Magri(First Soloist Royal Ballet), Kristian Ratevoission (Bolshoi Theatre) and Amanda Eyles (Bal-
let Mistress & assistant to Wayne McGregor).
This year IBM opened its doors to overseas students from Germany, Russia, China, Japan and Korea. A total of 15 overseas scholarships will be granted to international stages and competitions in Macedonia, Germany, America, Russia, Italy & Sicily in 2019. Certainly a huge incentive and wonderful opportunity for all IBM 2018 students.
Since Valletta is the European Capital of Culture, we thought it would be a good idea to end the two week summer programme with a full length ballet.
Pjazza Teatru Rjal makes a perfect setting for Giselle and we are very excited to stage it, in this once magnificent and now open air theatre.
Giselle is certainly going to be the highlight of the summer programme, giving students the opportunity to perform alongside professional dancers from prestigious ballet companies.
IBM is now going to launch an Associate Programme for all students on the island aged 10 upwards. The Associate Programme, a first in Malta, is a select opportunity for all students who wish to take their dance career to a higher level. Its mission is to offer students a working platform to enhance their dance training, with periodical sessions conducted by professionals from renowned ballet companies. Pupils continue to study with their regular dance teacher, in addition to their Associate classes held on periodical weekends, during the scholastic year, with professionals from leading ballet companies.
Sergey Kheylik from Abby Lee’s famous Dance Moms TV show, who is a Principal ballet dancer of international repute, will be launching the Associate Programme, in Malta, next month. He will be conducting a four day stage of Ballet and Contemporary starting on the 7th August. (Students aged 10 years to pre professional may apply) email international@balletmalta.com
All Associate classes will be taught by teachers of the very highest calibre on periodic weekends, throughout the year. The guest teachers and leading professionals from renowned companies will bring the international dance community to Malta building a unique cultural exchange.