Malta- week three (FIRST WEEK AT UNI)

Monday- my first official day at the University of Malta

As much as I complained about the long walk in, I didn’t mind it this morning. I woke up with so much energy and quickly ticked off everything I had to do before I left; eat, ballet bun, get the water out of the fridge. The walk eased me into the day and allows time to think and be human. Lee was kind enough to do the first walk with me, which gave us time to say hello before we embarked on our days. Uni for me and his first day at work for him.

Stepping inside the studios you could feel the peacefully air, the home environment, surrounded by quotes and sofas and friendly faces. I walked in and met the British girls from the orientation day, and their american flat mate charlie. Feeling settled we found out our first class (ballet) was cancelled. This was OK; making the best of the situational and all, and I slotted in my daily stretch. At 10 we now had a meeting with the head of department which was so helpful to hear about what the University is doing and what is available. At 11 we had our contemporary technique class. Some movement I had seen and could efficiently do (thank you Debbie milner) and others were difficult as it did not sit in my body. Having the contrast gave me so much more confidence and seeing other striving and learning made way to a safe learning space. I love it. In two weeks, this guest lecturer will swap and we will be having Graham classes instead. For me its a new skill to master which comes with excitement and a new bumbling body.

The hour and a half break went quickly, comprising of checking schedules, making notes from class and eating my sandwich. After the break we had dance theatre, again by a guest lecturer. The class consisted of a lot of small tasks to create movement fast to make a 6minuit dance piece (all I’m WO hours). Many of the excersises I could see helping within my dissertation idea.

For example one was named “the maze” where you create movement around a series of objects then take them away keeping to the orginiak form. A task like this could work with my theme in mind- not to be revealed yet- but be with personal or moving objects and see how it relates to the dancer involved with the object and those with no background knowledge and have his maze of emotional movement move as an ensemble. Today let’s say has been a creative day. An hour walk home cleared my brain, re-ajusted to being human and allowed me to plan the evenings chores and emails to ensure I am getting the most of this experience.

Tuesday – ballet ballet ballet

Starting the day with ballet was the best way to start a day. Once both techniques are over you feel so accomplished and have most of the day left. Our teacher, Costas, was so good. A blend between visual and oral ques were available for each type of learner, and aided me when a new piece of terminology was given that I was not familiar with. We began with 45 minutes on barre followed by 45 minutes centre work. The first half of the first 45minuits was comfortable being similar to excersies done before, the later began to really push me. I struggled most with remembering the sequence before performing. To me this is amazing I can “fail” in a safe environment and repeat these exercises for the week to allow it to be digested into my body. What is the point in doing a class if you are not being pushed? Centre work was similar, some revealing strengths and comfort abilities I didn’t know and others highlighting areas to develop.

Following these new classes I will be creating a blog explaining and defining some balletic terms for myself and others to refresh and understand exactly what is being asked of us.

Contemporary followed yesterdays format and brought corrections for myself, both personal and instructed. I always find it handy to write or record what I have done in class and a list of things I have observed, learnt or need to develop. This 1. Tracks my progress and 2. Keeps corrections in the front of my mind.

Today will be my least busy day of the week, which I will utilise for personal development, new choreographies and blogs.

Wednesday

One of my longest days of the week tied with Friday. Unfortunately the degree plus programme does not start until next week. It is in addition to studies to gain extra skills before graduating. I shall be doing first aid (accepted throughout the EU) and Italian. This meant I had a longer break than I would, which I utilised to send forms back to my home University and research for my new dance based blog.

Ballet starts at 8:30 this time til 10 then partnering 10:15-11:15.

My afternoon was used for dance theory, and implementing new blog ideas to come in the next two weeks.

Thursday

I woke up slightly less sore thanks to using my massage-ball last night. It is important to look after your body so you can give 100% in classes to improve, and to reduce injury. Today I learnt how much I miss the studios when I am not there, just thinking about the weekend without my morning classes. As much as I have recorded exercises for these circumstances, there is another atmosphere when in a class that pushes you to work harder.

We had a new teacher for ballet this morning, Dorian, who was amazing. We did tendus to “anyting goes” and grande battement to “Oliver”. This is how I self-tech at home putting on Disney or my favourite song at the moment so I listen to the music and am more focused. The aims of this class were on precision, head movement for balance and elongation. I love having different classes and teachers because you are introduced tons range of imagery techniques (things to think of to help with a quality of move) meaning you have a higher chance of finding one that fits you.

I have enquired about additional classes to “catch up” my ballet for the time I didn’t do it. Just because you are a late starts in dance doesn’t mean you will never be good enough, if you work hard enough it will come. Funny enough, the dance studios here have quotes throughout and one sums this idea up perfectly. It is taken from Merce Cunningham studios in new York: john cage states “rule 7: the only rule is work. If you work it will lead to something. It is the people who do all the work all the time who eventually catch onto things. You can fool the fans--- but not the players”.

It was our last contemporary theme with skin-blood-bones and looking how each area can aid and affect movement. I have discovered a love for move, feeling how my body wants to move and finding the most economic path. It also seems to be working as a great start to improvisation tonne and has given me tasks for my dissertation project next year.

This Friday and Saturday are ERASMUS nights out to get to know students from other departments. This should be good as not only am I getting to know locals (only two are on my course everyone else is international) I am bonding with others in a similar situation to me.

Friday

I loved ballet this morning. It is crazy but I could already see improvements. By creating a “balletic terms blog” I have zoned in on what exactly is being asked of me, quality of moves and feet placement. This has meant phrases where I was flaying about I could now find more control and clarity. Having two different ballet teachers, mean they focus and ask for different things whether to accent and be sharp or in contrast flow with the music. I have arranged to meet a third ballet on Tuesday for extra classes, which is exciting to think about the knowledge I will return to the UK with.

Our second technique class was improvisation focusing on 3 functions and 4 sections. Improvisation was broken down into 1. To discover our body and learn new pathways 2. As a warm up 3. For performance. We looked at improvising from 1. Our first instinct (what we want to do), 2. Our third instinct (waiting longer than we would to start and staying in it longer before we stop to see how it changes movement), 3. Stealing (using no authentic material but using what others are doing) and finally 4. From imagination, changing location or quality in our mind to imagine ourselves in another state). This class was very interesting and useful to have back up ideas to improvise off of when the first instinct fades without just “lead with your arm for a while”.

After a break, where I would normally have degree plus, I attended my first theatre lecture. The module aims to put us on placement with some of the biggest names in Malta and manager an area within it to understand how the company works. For me I am looking at a company or movement psychotherapy placement gaining first hand experience managing before launching my school.

For the Erasmus event, I left later (after a well needed nap) and got a taxify to Paceville (the strip). When going into Havana it was the busiest I had ever seen the club, too much in fact that you couldn’t move. Side note- the going out age is 17! We found the VIP area left for ERASMUS but were told we needed our Maltese I’d or a band of which we were not prior told or had. Not being able to get in we left to my FAVOURITE bar- bar Native. The Latino bar was still very busy but had areas where there was space to dance. 5 hours later of practising my hybrid Latin forms we headed home, but not before I picked up a20” pizza for myself for the ride home.

Saturday

Lazy day of films and snacks. Next week there is Notte Bianca (white night) festival which I cannot wait to attend.

Sunday

I am finding it scary to think I have only been at university for one week. I am so happy where I am and feel I have learnt so much more than I thought I would and be mentally stimulated towards different choreography. My brain has shifted from my summer class choreography’s now into 30 minute pieces. I’m running out of books from all my ideas. For my arts and cultural management module I have began researching companies within Malta. Opening doors creates amazing

opportunities for the disabled community including and creating original artistry for tours. I am hoping to begin a placement with them in the near future, with the artistic director who has also helped set up Malta’s ensemble company ZfinMalta. An exciting opportunity to watch and be involved in a q&a is at their next performance at Notte Bianca next week revealing their new project. It will be amazing to see a professional company and hear about how they formed and portray themselves in the dance world. This new piece is to honor Valletta’s nomination for European Culture Capital, meaning I couldn’t have come to Malta at a better time. The country is taking art by storm.