The outdoor performance at Upper Barrakka Garden (Community Performance) starts at 6:30pm. The indoor performance (Antípodas) at Valletta Campus Theatre start at 8:00pm.

Sebastian Garcia Ferro (Argentina)

WHAT IS SILENCE NOWADAYS? (Community Project)

Date: 27th July | Location: Upper Barrakka Gardens, Valletta | Duration: 30mins

This event will occur at Barrakka Gardens and attendance is free.

Synopsis:

Led by Spanish artist Sebastian Garcia Ferro, this community-based project explores the role and presence of silence in today’s world, set against the vibrant landscape of Malta. Inspired by the communal energy of the traditional Kolo dance, participants will gather in a circle formation, connecting through shared rhythm in hands and feet to embody presence, stillness, and reflection. Through this exploration, we aim to bridge the traditional and the contemporary, cultivating an experience of community, introspection, and connection with Malta’s natural and cultural rhythms.

Sebastian Garcia Ferro - Choreographer

Sebastián García Ferro is a choreographer, dancer, performer, and composer who has led his own company since 2000, creating 24 unique works to date. He has been awarded more than 18 residencies and choreography commissions across over 15 European countries, participating in prestigious programs such as the Rosas P.A.R.T.S. Summer Studio Project directed by Anne Teresa de Keersmaeker, Hellerau (Dresden), Le Bains Connective (Brussels), K3 (Hamburg), Espaco do Tempo (Portugal), TanzHaus NRW (Düsseldorf), Tanzfabrik (Berlin), The Blue Coat (Liverpool), El Graner, and La Caldera (Barcelona). Sebastián has engaged extensively in social and educational dance projects, such as +45, which explores themes of dance and life beyond age 45. His choreographic achievements have earned him several awards, including the Tot Dansa award from Mercat de les Flors and First Prize at the Maspalomas Choreographic Festival.  In addition to his solo work, Sebastián collaborates with the National Company of Contemporary Dance of Argentina and the Orquestra Simfònica of Barcelona. He serves as the artistic director of the Barcelona International Dance Exchange, is an associate choreographer with La Caldera / Les Corts Creation Center, and is a collaborating artist with the Auditori de Barcelona.

Credits: Choreography: Sebastian Garcia Ferro | Participants: Amy Vella, Charlene Galea, Derman Gulmez, Federica Coleiro, Leonora Tesi, Millie Packham, Monica Hunken, Nicole Zammit, Rebecca Grech, Sarah Sammut, Tricia Dawn Williams, Zeynep İpek Özgen

Supported by: Spazju Kreattiv and Embajada De España En Malta

Performances at Valletta Campus Theatre start at 8:00pm

Florencia Oz & Isidora O’Ryan (Spain)

ANTÍPODAS

Date: 27th July | Location: Valletta Campus Theatre, Valletta | Duration: 60mins

Synopsis:

This visual and sensory proposal represents the coexistence of two women on stage, inspired by the mythical figure of The Double—the theme of a being confronted with duality and self-identity. A concept deeply explored in literature, philosophy, and cinema since Romanticism. Twin sisters Florencia Oz and Isidora O’Ryan immerse themselves in a minimalist and contemporary aesthetic, seeking harmony, the elegance of symmetry, and balance to narrate the journey of once being one—the moment when one ceased to be the other to become herself. Dance, flamenco, percussion, and visual poetry from one influence the voice, the instrument, the melody, and the sung poetry of the other.

About the Company:

The Florencia Oz Company, led by dancer and choreographer Florencia O’Ryan Zúñiga, explores contemporary flamenco from an innovative perspective, merging tradition with avant-garde elements. Their debut was in 2021 with Antípodas, created alongside her sister, cellist and composer Isidora O’Ryan. Premiered at the XXV Festival de Jerez, the piece won the Artista Revelación Award and has gone on a successful tour across Spain, France, Portugal, the Netherlands, Germany, England, the United States, and Chile, performing at venues like the Teatro Nacional de la Danza de Chaillot in Paris and the Bienal de Flamenco de Sevilla. In 2024, they premiered En Este Día, En Este Mundo at the XXIII Bienal de Flamenco de Sevilla, reaffirming their commitment to the evolution of flamenco. In January 2025, they brought their Redux version to Chile, further solidifying their international presence. With an interdisciplinary and daring approach, the Florencia Oz Company pushes the boundaries of flamenco, engaging with other disciplines and offering a refreshed vision that has captivated both critics and audiences at stages worldwide.

Florencia Oz - Choreographer & Performer

Florencia O’Ryan Zúñiga is a Chilean dancer and choreographer who has been living in Spain for over 18 years. She has been part of renowned companies such as the Ballet Flamenco de Andalucía, the Rafaela Carrasco Company, Marina Heredia, and David Coria, as well as collaborating with artists like Encarna Anillo and Artomático. In 2021, she premiered Antípodas alongside her sister, cellist Isidora O’Ryan, at the Festival de Jerez, where they won the Artista Revelación Award. The work has toured Europe and America, performing at venues such as the Teatro Chaillot in Paris and the Bienal de Flamenco de Sevilla. In September 2024, they premiered En Este Día, En Este Mundo at the XXIII Bienal de Flamenco de Sevilla, and in January 2025, they presented the Redux version at Teatro del Lago, Chile. Florencia has received the Premio Nacional de Flamenco (2019), the Artista Revelación Award (2021), the First Prize La Perla de Cádiz (2015), and multiple awards at the Certamen Coreográfico de Madrid, including the First Soloist Prize, Original Music for Dance Award, and the Carlota Santana New York Award (2019).

Isidora O’Ryan - Performer

Isidora O’Ryan is a Chilean cellist, singer, and composer based in Spain, with a distinguished career in music and interdisciplinary arts. She has collaborated with renowned artists such as dancer Florencia Oz in Antípodas, presented at the Festival de Jerez and stages across Europe and America, and in En Este Día, En Este Mundo, premiered at the XXIII Bienal de Flamenco de Sevilla. She has also worked with David Coria and Marta Gálvez in Los Bailes Robados and Dama de Noche, respectively. In 2019, she won the Best Musical Composition Award at the Certamen Coreográfico de Danza Española y Flamenco. As a solo artist, she blends electronics, chamber music, and pop in her project I.O. Her debut album Ciénaga earned her the Artista Revelación Awardat the Índigo Awards, and her second album Altar (2023) won the Best Electronic Artist Award at the Premios Pulsar 2024.

Performance Trailer:

Credits: Original Idea: Florencia Oz and David Coria | Direction: David Coria | Choreography: Florencia Oz | Music and Performance:  Isadora O'Ryan | Music: 'Pajarito' by Isidora O’Ryan, 'Seguiriya' by Florencia Oz and Isidora O’Ryan, 'Guajira' Popular, adapted by Isidora O’Ryan, 'Cueca y Bulerías' Popular. Excerpt from 'Suite for Cello – Intermezzo and Danza Finale' by Gaspar Cassadó, 'Fandangos' Popular. Adapted by Isidora O’Ryan and Florencia Oz, 'Doppelganger' by Schubert. Adapted to Spanish and cellos by Isidora O’Ryan | Choreographic Collaboration: Eduardo Martínez and David Coria | Lighting Design: Olga García | Sound: Angel Olalla | Mixing and Mastering: Vicente Yáñez | Costume Design: Florencia Oz | Costume Creation: "Carmelilla"

Supported by: AC/E - Acción Cultural Española, PICE - programa para la Internacionalización de la Cultura Española & Embajada De España En Malta

Dance Festival Malta is sponsored by: APS Bank, GSD Marketing Ltd. & Visit Malta