Throughout 2006, the Malta Drama Centre continued to improve on its profile as a state institution providing training for the different aspects of the performing arts. Classical ballet classes have had an impressive intake increase and The Centre introduced Musical Theatre, Flamenco sessions and Jazz Dance.

By the end of the calendar year 2006, the overall intake of students at the Centre amounted to 478.

For the first time ever, some 90 students from all grades entered for the London Academy of Music and Drama (July session) and obtained excellent results. On the other hand, 55 students were awarded distinction or merit certificates after entering the Royal Academy of Dance external examinations.

The Saturday sessions have been very successful and weekend courses have continued to gain popularity.

The social aspect of theatre was manifest in two very successful projects carried out by the Community Theatre section. One project evolved into a public performance by twelve Congolese drum-dancers and actors, all residents at the Marsa Open Centre for African immigrants. The other project was related to the plight and suffering of the Palestinian people and the show was presented to university students and the general public.

The Community Theatre section was also involved in several dramatic projects with people on the margin. Forum Theatre performers were presented at San Blas, the Paulo Freire Institute, Dar Merhba Bik, Dar Spinelli, Caritas (Prison Inmates Programme), KDZ and KNS, besides Sliema, Hamrun, Balzan and Birkirkara Youth Centre.

On a different plane, in collaboration with Channel 22 and the NECC, forty five intermediate students started taking part in a filmed, instructive series aimed at presenting the monetary changeover process from Lira to Euro.

The Malta Drama Centre is currently involved in a number of projects under the Grundtvig (Socrates) programme of the European Union. In this area, the Centre has taken a leading role in training foreign animators from Austria, Greece, Finland and Latvia.

Students from the Centre also participated in a theatre festival staged in Germany, while a Slovak director was engaged for a fortnight to conduct workshops in mime and musical drama.

The Centre also secured the assistance of the Alliance Francaise de Malte in launching a new exchange programme with France.

Foreign tutors at the Centre during 2006 came from the UK, Germany, The Slovak Republic, Russia and Mexico.


Mario Azzopardi
Principal

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