Workshop registrations start at 8:30am

Dance Workshop Studio 1 Classes

Experimental Workshop

by Vasiliki Papapostolou (Greece)

Date: 25th July | Time: 9:00am | Location: The Dance Workshop, G'Mangia, Studio DW1 | Duration: 90mins

Class Description:

Vasiliki’s workshops draw from a rich tapestry of styles, including street dance, ballroom Latin, and contemporary dance techniques. Each of these forms serves as a versatile tool, enabling participants to explore new possibilities and ways of expressing themselves physically. Vasiliki emphasises that these movement concepts are not confined to any specific style; rather, they can be adapted and integrated into each dancer’s personal practice, allowing for creativity and self-discovery.

Workshop Target Audience: 16+ years, dancers from all dance backgrounds

Level of Experience Required: intermediate to professional

Genre of Performance: Experimental – Hybrid - exploring tools from contemporary, ballroom Latin and street style techniques

Workshop Led by:

Vasiliki Papapostolou

Vasiliki Papapostolou aka Tarantism is an international experimental dance artist originally from Greece. Her movement language is a hybrid of physical theatre, ballroom Latin, and urban street dance styles. Her work invites audiences to reflect on the forces that shape our identities and interactions, from social norms to unconscious biases. Her solo work PANOPTICON has received notable recognition, including 2 awards at 29MASDANZA: the Audience Award and the 3rd Jury Prize, the Audience Award at contact.energy 24 – Tanztheater Erfurt and the Philly Fringies Award (USA) for the split bill performance featuring her piece PANOPTICON and Self Help by mignolo. Vasiliki’s works have been presented internationally, including at renowned venues such as Sadler’s Wells -  main stage for Breakin’ Convention (UK), Whitechapel Gallery (UK), Jersey City Theater Center (Jersey City, USA), Massey Theatre - OUROFest (Vancouver, Canada), Kunstfestspiele (Hanover, Germany), National Theatre of Miskolc (Hungary), Sibenik Dance Festival (Croatia), The Place (London, UK), Arts On Site (New York, USA), Cadiz en Danza (Spain), La Fundicion (Bilbao, Spain), Armunia Teatro (Italy), Dancehauspiu (Milan, Italy),MIM Sueca (Valencia, Spain), Arteria Tortosa (Spain), Derrida Stage (Sofia, Bulgaria), Frei Art Festival (Freiburg, Germany), Philly Fringe Festival (Philadelphia, USA), Dance Waves Festival (Nicosia, Cyprus),TEDx Panteion University (Athens, Greece), CICBUNY (Burgos, Spain), Morven Museum (Princeton, USA), Koresh Dance (Philadelphia, USA), Block 336 (London, UK) more.

Street Dance Masterclass

by Oulouy (Ivory Coast)

Date: 25th July | Time: 10:45am | Location: The Dance Workshop, G'Mangia, Studio DW1 | Duration: 120mins

Class Description:

Oulouy invites participants to dive into key street dance styles that are shaping contemporary movement across the African continent and the diaspora, including Afrohouse, Ndombolo, Coupé-Décalé, Amapiano, and Azonto. Through rhythm, musicality, and embodied practice, the workshop creates a space for learning, exchange, and connection, where dance is experienced as a shared language and a collective celebration. This is a unique opportunity to learn from one of the international references in African street dance, whose practice bridges community, contemporary expression, and global street cultures. The workshop is open to all levels and all body types, fostering an inclusive, welcoming environment where joy, listening, and the pleasure of movement are at the core of the experience.

Workshop Target Audience: 16+

Level of Experience Required: open to all levels

Genre of Performance: Contemporary

Workshop Led by:

Oulouy

Born on the Ivory Coast and based in Spain, Oulouy combines his role as choreographer, dancer and artistic director with teaching masterclasses worldwide. His first work 'Black' (2020) is a reflection on violence and the emancipation of black bodies in contemporary societies. Accompanied on stage by his international crew of Supa Rich Kids, 'Afrikan Party' (2022) is a futuristic ode to Africa. And his most recent work is 'Kong' (2024). His stage works have been presented internationally in venues such as Perelman Performing Arts Center in New York, Bluma Appel in Toronto, Fabrik Potsdam in Germany, Dansens Hus Oslo, Mercat de les Flors, Teatro Principal de Palma, Journées Théâtrales de Carthage, Suzanne Dellal Centre, Dampfzentrale, among others. 'Black' was selected for the Danza a Escena 2024 catalogue to tour within Spain –Oulouy actually one of the first choreographers to present their work within this network. 'Afrikan Party' received the Best Choreography award  of the Catalan Performing Arts Critics Awards (2023), and this work has also been included in the choreographic archive of the New York Public Library. Oulouy is also the founder and curator of the festival Oyofe dedicated to street dances. Oulouy has been selected as an Aerowaves25 artist this year with his piece ‘Black’.

Little Strategies

by Lucia Burguete & Diego Pazó (Spain)

Date: 25th July | Time: 1:00pm | Location: The Dance Workshop, G'Mangia, Studio DW1 | Duration: 120mins

Class Description:

The laws of physics dictate that we are constantly falling toward the Earth's core, but they also tell us that the Earth pushes us outward with the same force. They assure us of the perpetuation of movement, but the world is full of forces that prevent such a thing. The mind, too, falls to its own centre and is simultaneously expelled, and it too tends toward inertia if its trajectory is not altered." LITTLE STRATEGIES AGAINST HUMAN PHYSICS is a contemporary dance workshop designed to place the dancer in situations of conflict with gravity, the support of the ground and other bodies, and with what is easy or organic, both physically and mentally. Using various technical exercises, movement guidelines, repertoire material from the company, and improvisation exercises, we will seek to facilitate the malleability of the body –bones, muscles, tendons, emotions, presence– bringing together technique, imagination, and intuition. We propose a challenging environment where we can train our attention, our commitment to the ideas that are proposed at the studio, and the development of our intelligence and emotionality. Small strategies aimed for building a body capable of defying the laws of physics.

Workshop Target Audience: 16+, dance students, semi-professional and professional dancers, acrobats and movers in general.

Level of Experience Required: People in contact with the discipline, with average-to-good basic dance knowledge and body availability.

Genre of Performance: Contemporary Dance

Workshop Led by: Contemporary dance, improvisation, partnering.

Lucia Burguete

Lucia Burguete, trained in contemporary dance at La Faktoría CC. After a young career as a gymnast, Lucía has worked—and continues to work—with companies such as Peeping Tom, LED Silhouette, Antonio Ruz, Proyecto Larrua, Laida Aldaz, and Vicky Miranda. She has been a guest instructor on training programs such as TRY Dance Program and Impulstanz Vienna, where she was Laura Aris' assistant.

Diego Pazó

Diego Pazó is a graduate in Fine Arts from UVigo, he began dancing through breakdancing and trained at La Faktoria CC. He currently works for the Daniel Abreu Company and LED Silhouette. He has also performed for the Jesús Rubio Company, Proyecto Larrua, Isael Mata, Laida Aldaz, Joao Cidade, and Vero Cendoya. In parallel, he has also pursued a teaching career, having been a guest professor at training programs such as TRY Dance Program, SEAD Movementors, and Profitraining Freiburg, among others.

Supported by:

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

Dance Workshop Studio 2 Classes

Coded Freedom

by Diane Portelli - Moveo Dance Company (Malta)

Date: 25th July | Time: 9:00am | Location: The Dance Workshop, G'Mangia, Studio DW2 | Duration: 90mins

Class Description:

This masterclass offers insight into the creative process and movement language behind Ashes2Ashes, an ongoing choreographic work exploring the connection between the human body, the earth, and collective human experience.Led by choreographer Diane Portelli, the session introduces Coded Freedom, a movement approach developed throughout the Ashes2Ashes creation process. This technique focuses on reducing internal judgement, accessing instinctive response, and allowing movement to emerge through impulse rather than control. Participants will engage in guided improvisation tasks rooted in grounded physicality, weight, gravity, and sensory awareness, drawing inspiration from early human behaviour and the metaphor of the “8-hour hunt.” The class will also include learning repertoire from Ashes2Ashes, offering a practical understanding of how raw, instinct-driven material is shaped into choreographic form. This masterclass is ideal for dancers interested in research-led practice, embodied exploration, and contemporary choreographic processes.

Workshop Target Audience: 16+

Level of Experience Required: Advanced or Professional

Genre of Performance: Contemporary

Workshop Led by:

Diane Portelli

Diane began her dance journey at the age of three at the Tanya Bayona Princess Poutiatine Academy of Ballet, where she trained extensively in classical ballet, modern, contemporary, and flamenco. She later joined The Dance Workshop, where she now works as a teacher and choreographer. Her talent has been recognised through awards such as the Luisello Award for Spanish Dance and the Duke of Ellington Award for Modern Dance. Diane furthered her training internationally, including in Pavia, Italy, and through workshops with renowned companies such as Random Dance Company, Ultima Vez, and Hofesh Shechter Company. She also won two gold medals at the World Championships for Performing Arts in Hollywood under the guidance of Janet Vella. Since joining Moveo Dance Company in 2013, Diane has grown from dancer to director. Her choreographic work has toured internationally, and in 2018 she was named Artist of the Year alongside Dorian Mallia with her choreographic work 'Frida- my two accidents' winning Best Dance Production in 2024 by ACM.

Supported by:

European Festival Fund for Emerging Artists (EFFEA), European Festivals Association (EFA), En-Knap, Mosaico Danza Interplay Festival, OtraDanza, Arts Council Malta, and Malta International Arts Festival

Playful Imagination and Articulation

by Louis Thuriot (Belgium)

Date: 25th July | Time: 10:45am | Location: The Dance Workshop, G'Mangia, Studio DW2 | Duration: 120mins

Class Description:

In this workshop, I aim to unlock new possibilities in both body and mind through floor work and improvisation. By inviting a playful and curious state, we explore movement within our own bodies and in relation to others in space. The goal is to find more articulation in the trickier parts of the body, building toward greater coordination and freedom. Together, we create a collaborative space to explore, connect, and expand awareness through movement.

Workshop Target Audience: 16+, if you want to research movement in your own body, with others and perhaps find more articulation, then you are very welcome to join.

Level of Experience Required: Everyone can dance so feel welcome. 

Genre of Performance: Improvisation with floor work elements. 

Workshop Led by:

Louis Thuriot

Louis Thuriot (1996, Belgium) studied at Codarts and interned with PDC by Club Guy and Roni. He danced with TanzMainz (2018–2022) and Opera Ballet Flanders (2022–2024), working with choreographers like Alain Platel, Sharon Eyal, Jan Martens,Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui and more. In 2024, he became a freelance artist, exploring new creative collaborations.

Workshops supported by:

The Dance Workshop

Dance Festival Malta is sponsored by:

APS Bank, Atlas Insurance, Camilleri Preziosi Advocates, GSD Marketing Ltd, MAPFRE, and Visit Malta