Sunday, 14 August, 2005
The "1st AMICI at the MED", a collaboration between the YADA Dance
Company and E. Macario was a series of Master Classes conducted by
five top dancers from the famous Canale 5 TV series "AMICI Di Maria
De Filippi".
The popular dancers, all of Albanian origin, included KLEDI Kadiu,
ILIR Shaqiri, LEON Cino, ANBETA Toromani and OLTI Shaqiri. Some 280
Maltese dancers followed the classes held at the Mediterranean
Conference Centre and the College of Jazz Dance between the 28th
July and the 7th August 2005. Numerous other dancers left their name
on a waiting list hoping to be able to attend at least one of the
lessons.
The event was a huge success. All the Maltese dancers attending the
classes participated with great enthusiasm and gave their utmost.
The 5 guest dancers who were also in Malta to scout for new talent
were very impressed.
In a comment to the organizers KLEDI KADIU pointed out that he
appreciated the fact that Maltese dancers who train or take classes
twice a week were trying to reach the professional levels of dancers
who train every single day.
The success of this event is highlighted further in the results
obtained. The talented and beautiful Maltese dancer Ritianne Sacco
will be the first Maltese to ever take part in the famous TV
programme "AMICI di Maria de Filippi." Spotted by Kledi during his
classes Ritianne made a huge impression on the powerful Italian TV
producer and presenter.
On seeing footage of the classes Maria de Filippi decided that
Ritianne Sacco is up to the programme's standard and will be
a "Sfida Esterna" in October, challenging the dancers chosen to be
part of the programme's school, without the need of any further
auditions. Ritianne Sacco was one of the students on L-iSfida
produced by Cliche Media & Entertainment for Net TV.
Enzo Macario, Felix Busuttil and Claudette Pace (organisers of this
event) will shortly be setting up the official agency representing
AMICI in Malta. The agency will be working on various related
events. Kledi Kadiu's film "Passo a Due" will be launched in Malta
this autumn.
Further Master Classes for actors, singers and dancers conducted by
the teaching staff of AMICI are scheduled to take place. There will
also be a joint dance production which will be performed in Malta
and Rome.
The following dancers have been awarded a one month scholarship at
the KLEDI KADIU DANCE ACADEMY in Rome: (students) Lisa Brincat,
Christina Vassallo, Ritianne Sacco (all from the YADA Dance Company)
and Andy Galea (College of Jazz Dance), (teachers): Catherine
Strawbridge (College of Jazz Dance) and Lynn Salomone Reynaud
(Brigette Gauci Borda School of Ballet).
Next year, 40 students will be attending a Master Class at the KLEDI
KADIU DANCE ACADEMY, Felix Busuttil will personally be sponsoring
the following students selected by ANBETA TOROMANI: Jennifer
Busuttil (YADA Academy Gozo), Kane O'Flaherty (College of Jazz
Dance) and Daron Galea (YADA Dance Company).
Claudette Pace and Felix Busuttil would like to publicly thank
Minister Francis Zammit Dimech for his help and support, the
Mediterranean Conference Centre, Justin Roy Barker and the College
of Jazz Dance.
Congratulations to all the dancers for leaving such a good
impression on our guests, particularly the scholarship winners. A
special hug to Ritianne Sacco -- you make us proud!