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• Dancing on the world’s stage

Dancing on the world’s stage

13 February 2008

ComCelebrate! performer eyes cultural limelight

Dancing has been a passion of Krista Degaetano’s ever since she was a child.

“I have been dancing since I was three years old,” said Ms Degaetano, 25, a student at the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in London, UK.

“I started with ballet lessons and over the years, I became drawn towards contemporary dance,” added the Maltese student who will be choreographing an original dance item and performing in it as well at the ComCelebrate! multicultural concert. It will be staged at the Commonwealth Secretariat in London on 14 March 2008.

Ms Degaetano said her dance item will explore the fluidity of the human body and the creative energies that inspire the mind and soul.

“Through dance, I can find my artistic voice. My body becomes a tool for communication where I can express myself fully,” said the St Julian’s-born dancer. “I can translate my ideas by bringing together mind, message and movement to communicate thoughts, feelings and expressions.”

Ms Degaetano feels that she is able to communicate across cultures through dance with the use of body language, complemented by the visual effects of costume and lighting, as well as music.

Although she has also been trained in acting and singing, and has performed at numerous dramas and concerts at the Manuel Theatre in Valletta, Ms Degaetano is setting her sights on dance as a career.

“I hope to set up my own dance company in the future and focus on choreography, performing and training. Dance is an art form that evolves and I want to experiment on different techniques and blend them together into new compositions that will, hopefully, break new ground on the world’s stage.”