Truly unforgettable…

What a show!That’s why Festival Mediterranea is a breakthrough in the making of high culture, and not only on the local scene!It does not restrain itself just to opera or a band concert.The organisers’ decision to include a massive scale dance show as one of the Festival’s event has been more than just rewarding.

Thanks to the collaboration of Gozo’ Centre Stage Dance Academy, this has been the second year that Unforgettable was staged at Teatru Astra.Not only it has been a successful sequel to last year’s experiment; it has already been announced at the end of Saturday’s 13 November show that a repeat performance is scheduled for the Christmas season.

Directed and choreographed by Ms Natalie Sciortino, aided by an extremely flexible team of young people, including volunteers from Teatu Astra itself, the two-and-a-half hour show has once more attracted huge crowds to the theatre’s spacious auditorium.The tickets were sold out days before the show, which drew an enthusiastic audience of family members and friends, together with much many others who otherwise probably would not have walked into a theatre!The show is undoubtedly the greatest event of its kind on our small island, involving over two hundred dancers of different ages.

A fitting tribute to the great classics of music from the past, the spectacular show included a programme of more than thirty songs among the most popular of all times.The Astra stage, which only a fortnight ago hosted some of the best contemporary soloists in the opera repertoire, now changed from one colour to the next to the rhythm of dancing steps learned by heart by the well-trained Centre Stage students.In Natalie’s own words, it has also been a true experience of coming to know different people and working together as one big family… rehearseals have been on for the last weeks and months.The success of the show is the result of an unmatched joint effort of choreography, music, sound and light effects, costumes and make-up, as well as of a particular attention to each and every one involved, thanks also to the really cooperative parents who do believe in the value of dancing as a means towards the development of their children.

For the managament of Teatru Astra and Festival Mediterranea, it has been a joy and great satisfaction to watch the theatre’s foyer and halls busy with activity and life.This, after all, is what we stand for and want to promote.A young generation interested in drama, music in its various genres and arts is to find in Teatru Astra a home which satiates their quest for beauty in its many forms.Last Saturday has been an answer!

The stage is already set for December… and there’s much more in store!Truly unforgettable…

28-11-2010