Malta- week fourteen

Monday

I feel that this week is going to fly by. With today done, Tuesday being a half day, Wednesday a public holiday I then have 4 ‘regular uni days' before Christmas break where I fly home. I cannot wait for a little break and to really rest up.

In a week today I would have showcased TOmeTOseeTObe as part of my dance theatre assessment and be ready to plan my next topic. Originally I was going to carry on my theme but swap the point of view, yet even though there is so much more I can do with it I want to get my teeth into as many current political issues as I can.

Tuesday

In was expecting today to be a religion of yesterdays classes, hearing ballet would be covered by Mondays teacher. It wasn’t. I am now at a place I can really tell the difference in how I dance teacher to teacher. In some I am more free and expressive but held back on pirouettes, and with the other I am more placed with my arms and pirouette technique but am reserved in jumps. Its amazing the difference a teacher and environment can have on you. I put this down to how comfortable you are to fail in them, what they’ve seen you do well or bad (even if its not your strength) and how their style suits you.

We ran the Cunningham class full out, and I’m glad to say I know all the exercises and have an idea of how they are suppose to be executed, now its time to ensure it’s in my body and not just mind.

A last run of the second dance theatre piece I’m n, showed I knew it and ended up being viewed by the whole studio. Now I have an idea of what an audience will be like in the dance space I can mentally prepare for the other pieces.

Today Lee and I have our last day together in Malta 2017 before he leaves for England early tomorrow morning.

Wednesday

5:15 am Lee left for the airport and I was ready to start my day. Everywhere being pitch black I did what every student would do and went back to bed for a few hours.

Today is another Malta public holiday which means I get a day off. The ‘good' thing is I have plenty of essays and log books to get done as pretty much everything is closed, which unfortunately included the library. So today I am so thankful for edge hills extensive e-book collection.

19° heat in winter meant I’ve spent my day sat out in swimwear trying to get back to my tanned complexion whilst writing essays upon essays. Its not bad though, I love being busier or having something to do and learn, especially now I’m one alone for a week.

Hopefully if the weather holds, this weekend I’ll do a long walk or bike ride and explore more of this beautiful island.

Thursday

Today is my first Thursday in a while that I don’t have collective performance. I finish my day at 4 then tomorrow at 2- this is crazy.

I wasn't in a ballet place today, forgetting part of the barre and centre BUT my off days are so much better than they were. I am learning I have more turn out than I think (found from a sat position) and now need to find out how to get in in class. To learn my body to see where I am holding back or grasping tension.

Instead of Cunningham, we had a drama therapy class working on building relationships within the second years. I am getting in a more comfortable place and speak to those in my year, but it was lovely to extend this to the third years in the class. The session ran over, but ended in a discussion of our feelings with some classmates close to tears. It was for me an inside insight into an artistic therapy session, before I plan my masters in movement psychotherapy.

Its not as warm as yesterday, so I’m glad I sat in the sun yesterday. This evening will be my first time studying in the University library, even though I prefer home, it is a well needed change of scenery and hopefully get a chunk of my research and/or essay done.

Friday

I cannot believe how close to Christmas and going home I am. Everyone is feeling the fatigue now and basically dragging themselves around the studio wrapped up in scarves sick.

Although I was physically drained, today was one of my favourite mornings ever. We had ballet with my favourite teacher to Christmas songs and then instead of improvisation, we were given a Bharatnatym class!!!!! I LOVED IT. I fell even more in love with India and am getting closer to my heritage roots.

We went over an introductory sun salutation (which I need to start before each class as I lived the aspect behind it that was taught to me through Bollywood) and then began learning fundamental footwork and the arm coordination’s to go with it. I know I have said this before but I am definitely going to expand my Indian dance vocabulary and out it into my choreographic work.

My day followed with my last ever first aid class, a 2 hour gap where I began 1\2 log books and then a final rehearsal where some last minute changes were made to the third piece I will be dancing in on Monday.

Aaaah TOmeTOseeTObe will be viewed this Monday and I am beyond excited but also wishing for more rehearsal time to add and expand ideas (though the piece just fits within the alloyed time frame now some things are taken out.

I was originally going to go to Casey’s bar to check out a new music genre for me- psychedelic- but my week caught up to me and I was passed out by 10.

Saturday

Tonight, as its raining, I will attempt to get one log book finished and one started (to finish on the plane) and go to the open mic night tonight. I’m ookimg forward to doing the xemxija trail tomorrow

near the north of the island. I spent my evening at Casey’s bar watching an open mic night, where I met a lovely local, Anthony, who travels the world singing. He currently lives in the UK but travels back to Malta every 6 weeks. I am still amazed at how welcoming the people are, they’ll hst offer you a drink and genuinely help you out- he was suggesting other good walks in Malta for me to do.

Sunday

I am SO GLAD I did this trip today. At first I was apprehensive of going alone to the middle of nowhere, knowing I didn’t have someone in Malta local if I got stuck, but once on the bus and following the clear details on trip advisor I was fine.

Before coming to Malta I had heard it wasn’t a very green country- that seeing grass was rare. This could not be further from the truth. Granted where we live is built up, and everywhere I have been so far has been the beautiful coloured bricks and balconies all built on top of each other. On the busride up alone I saw fields stretched over miles, it was as if I was in another country.

I got off the 40 minute ride and saw a sign pointing towards a ‘roman road'. Unsure of what direction to go in, I followed that lead me to the beginning of the heritage trail. You begin up a large inclined hill, to follow information posts leading to: caves that doubled up as shelters during WWII, old bee hives, burial tombs, early farm houses and roman baths. It was amazing seeing such variety in one stretch of ground and following footpaths to discover them. I read that there is a route leading to golden bay, but I didn’t venture out as far.

This is my last night before my first two university of Malta exams and then back to cold cold England.