ZFIN MALTA to Make UK Debut in 2017

Malta's premier dance company, ZfinMalta Dance Ensemble makes its UK debut in January 2017 with an energetic, thought-provoking programme of work by celebrated choreographers Mavin Khoo - the company's Artistic Director - former NDT dancer Iván Pérez and Zfin Malta Associate Artist Jose Agudo. Dates kick off on January 26th at the Taliesin Arts Centre Swansea University and finish with two nights at Sadler's Wells Lilian Baylis Studio on February 9th and 10th.

ZfinMalta will perform five works in two programmes: a triple bill and a double bill designed to take the audience on a journey of discovery, passion and intricate choreography. All five works are performed by an international cast of outstanding dancers and, individually and collectively, reflect the versatility of this exciting company's Euro-Mediterranean roots.
Photo: ZfinMalta in 'Stabat Mater' by Mavin Khoo; photo by Darrin Zammit Lupi

Triple Bill performed at:

January 26th Swansea, Taliesin Arts Centre www.taliesinartscentre.co.uk
February 2nd Derby Déda www.deda.uk.com

Double Bill performed at:
January 27th Birmingham, DanceXchange www.dancexchnge.org.uk

February 1st Doncaster CAST www.castindoncaster.com

February 3rd Liverpool Capstone Theatre www.thecapstonetheatre.com

February 9th 10th London Sadler's Wells Lilian Baylis www.sadlerswells.com

PROGRAMME DETAILS:

Triple Bill programme: 75 minutes, no interval

Selah Jose Agudo

Stabat Mater Mavin Khoo

Kick The Bucket Iván Pérez

Selah is by London-based Spanish choreographer Jose Agudo with music by Vincenzo Lamagna who most recently created music for Akram Khan's re-imagined Giselle after the original score by Adolphe Adam. "Selah is the space where we stop and think," says Jose. "It's a moment of reflection asking for something to change. It's that instant where everything can happen, when rupture and destruction can lead to the creation of new ideas and, as a result, a new space to develop and grow."

Stabat Mater (a medieval Latin hymn on the suffering of the Virgin Mary at the Crucifixion) is an ensemble work by Artistic Director Mavin Khoo performed to a Stabat Mater by 18th century Maltese/Italian composer Girolamo Abos. Mary's suffering is used to explore the themes of sorrow and gratification in pursuit of spiritual ecstasy.

Kick The Bucket is a duet by Netherlands-based choreographer Iván Pérez with music by film composer Aaron Martin. Inspired by the work of Exchart Tolle - internationally acclaimed for his best-selling spiritual book The Power of Now - the piece searches for life's hidden meanings and uses the body to explore power dynamics in everyday relationships. Kick The Bucket is performed by Mavin Khoo and Gabin Corredor.

Double Bill programme: 75 minutes, no interval

Kick The Bucket Iván Pérez

Home Mavin Khoo

Home by Mavin Khoo weaves a cinematic narrative through the life of a single man and asks the audience to reconsider the notion of home as a structural location of dwelling and whether our identity is constructed via constant navigation of social rules...

"I was interested in devising a work that looked at the idea of home as a metaphor to the identity construction of a single man's life journey," says Mavin Khoo. "Home follows the man through birth, childhood, love, tragedy and death and he is accompanied by seven other manifestations of his previous existences. The man's inner voice, the Protagonist, was recorded in Valletta, where we're based, by British actor Felix Brunger which gives the piece another vital dimension."

Artistic Director Mavin Khoo (left) is a critically acclaimed dancer and choreographer, rehearsal director for Akram Khan and founder of his own company mavinkhooDance. He was faculty member of the Dance Studies Department (School of Performing Arts) at the University of Malta and became Artistic Director of ZfinMalta in 2014 for an agreed three year contract. Mavin will be leaving the company in July 2017 to pursue other international opportunities but will retain his connection with Zfin Malta by becoming Associate Artist.

"We've seen a rapid progress for Zfin Malta in relation to activities that fit our objectives," says the star of Bharata Natyam. "The creation of international work has always been of importance to the company and in the last two years we have toured Israel, Palestine, Malaysia, India, Belgrade, Slovenia and most recently Thailand thereby gaining global visibility. In my last year as Artistic Director, I am particularly excited about touring the UK in 2017. With my sustained history as a performer in Britain, it gives me tremendous pride to introduce this young, dynamic ensemble with exciting, innovative and relevant choreographic works. Zfin Malta is committed to a deep search that goes beyond codified steps and choreography; it's a particular quality that is invested in striving for a depth that is emotional and pure; it can all sound abstract and intangible, but in reality it transmits itself in the performance space and through the dancers. It's one that is slowly becoming identifiable as a 'ZfinMalta quality'."