The Malta Youth Ballet Foundation (MYBF) is adding a new dimension to the dance scene in Malta. The aim of the Foundation is to make a dancing career a reality for Maltese dance students.

The Foundation will operate as a voluntary organisation. It will invest in young, promising dancers by offering a two year professional dance course to talented dance students who wish to train on a professional level and to make dance their career.

The two-year Diploma Course is composed of 11 modules, most of which are studio-based and are of a practical nature.

Students will work towards the highest standards of technique and artistry. This Diploma will allow dancers to follow a rigorous training programme.

With this Diploma, dancers will reach the professional level required to work in a dance company.

Students will also perform locally to gain the necessary stage experience, a prerequisite for any dancer and an essential part of dance training.

Entry Requirements Students aged 15 years and older who wish to study on a professional level will be selected after an audition where their physical ability and potential are assessed by the tutors of the institution.

Applicants must have a minimum of 4 ‘O’ Levels and a school leaving certificate. Students are expected to have reached at least an intermediate level in dance.

The ultimate aim of the Foundation is to make a dancing career a reality for Maltese dance students with the support and collaboration of all those involved in this field, be it dance school teachers, main stream educators, university, government, parents etc.

The current situation in Malta is such that many parents believe that ballet and other dance forms are a good option for extracurricular activities and they readily enroll their children from quite a young age. Throughout these formative years, parents commit to taking their children to lessons and are willing to support this activity financially. Malta has a number of quality ballet schools to support this interest and those with a talent for dance enjoy the training.

However, once students reach the age of fifteen, there are not too many options available to them and they are often under a great deal of pressure due to their main stream education and many give up their dance to concentrate on their other studies.

There are some talented dancers who do consider focusing on dance as their main career but they are often deterred by the various obstacles they are faced with. They are required to travel to another country at quite a young age and their parents must be willing to support them financially with substantial fees and living costs.

Another important consideration is that locally, ballet and other dance forms are not as yet considered in terms of offering a career which can support the students throughout their working life. This is likely due to the fact that there is currently no full-time training available on the island. A career in dance requires this dedication and unless students are awarded a sponsorship or have family who can support them through overseas training, this opportunity remains an option for the select few.

The Foundation said it hopes to change this scenario. It will operate as a non-profit organisation which will invest in young, promising dancers. It will offer a two year professional dance course to talented dance students wishing to train on a professional level.

The course which has been designed by the founding members of the Foundation is attractive and satisfies all the technical requirements for a Level 5 Diploma in Professional Dance. This course will also be open to foreign students wishing to pursue their training locally. All students who qualify with this diploma will then be eligible to work in a professional dance company. It will also set them in good stead for a university degree and a successful career in the field of dance.

“Our intention is for the students to reach a high enough level of dance to be able to embark on a full-time career where they will be able to live their art and passion to its fullest. Through our efforts and the launch of the Malta Youth Ballet Foundation we hope to make Malta a recognised centre of dance in Europe.” Donatien Ravet and Anne-Laure Gosselin, Founding Members of Malta Youth Ballet Foundation said.

Running a project of such a high calibre requires tremendous amount of resources and the Foundation said that they are pleased to announce that with the support of the INVEX scheme and the Janatha Stubbs Fund, they are now in a position to launch this project.

The Malta Youth Ballet Foundation’s first diploma course in professional dance, will start in September 2012. Applications for auditions to be held in March are currently open. For further information, kindly refer to www.maltayouthballet.com, email on info@casabene.com or telephone on 00356 9942 7933 / 2742 7933.

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