PAST PROJECTS
Echoes of Roots is a hybrid residency project that brings together a collective of artists to explore storytelling through dance and theatre, focusing on the historical context of people seeking safety. This initiative investigates how imperialism, colonialism, and racism shape narratives of displacement and borders.
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Employing an intertextual approach, the project incorporates perspectives from local and refugee communities across Italy, Portugal, and Malta. By engaging with individuals and examining the colonial histories of these regions, the project explores how past and present power relations impact migration experiences.
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The artistic research involved delving into texts on decolonization, migration, and borders, critically engaging with diverse narratives to inform our creative process. The publication Decolonising Europe 2023 inspired much of our critical thought and creative actions. Our research spanned historical, contemporary, and future perspectives on migration and power, analyzing how social, political, and cultural landscapes have shaped our understanding.
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Our residency workshops adopted a hybrid approach, using movement as a tool to connect and explore our interdependence. The aim was to forge emotional connections, celebrate the diversity of identities and cultures in contemporary Europe, and foster compassion for those still affected by colonial oppression. The project culminated in a Work-in-Progress presentation through Dance Theatre, highlighting the violence and trauma embedded in these histories and sharing our collective research through the performance.
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Credits:
Lead Artists: Deborah Falzon, Julienne Schembri
Participating Artistic Collective: Angie Rottensteiner, Bojan Milosavljevic, Chiara Bosco, Claudia Sanchez, Elena Brea Sandin, Kjersti Nilsen, Silvia Ribero
Festival Hosts: Dance Festival Malta, Quinzena de Dança Almada Portugal, Interplay Torino
Funding Body: EFFEA - European Festival Fund for Emerging Artists
Das Arts Feedback Facilitator: Alex Weenink
Performers at Dance Festival Malta: Aaron Shah Aristun Shah, Deborah Falzon, Julienne Schembri

Å»al is the melancholy felt at irretrievable loss—shapeshifting at one moment, complacent the next, rebellious. It combines the sadness, remorse, and even the volatile rage that arise when parts of our lives change for good. As Maltese, we feel Å»al for the lives lost at sea, for the way local and European governments treat people seeking safety, and for the unforgivable borders created to disrupt the natural flow of connection intrinsic to humanity. Å»al encapsulates the embodiment of our outcry against the injustices experienced by those simply searching for a better life.
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Created to Migration Haiku by Antoine Cassar, this work is a statement on the emotional impact of displacement and the broader socio-political issues surrounding migration. Żal stands as a testament to the powerful intersection of art and activism. It invites audiences to reflect on the profound emotional responses to displacement and the broader implications of migration. Through its evocative performance and artistic collaboration, Żal contributes to ongoing conversations about justice, empathy, and human connection.
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Acknowledgements
Dancers: Julienne Schembri, Deborah Falzon
Speaker/Singer: Mariele Zammit
Percussionist: Benji Cachia
Text: Antoine Cassar
Dramaturgy: Sandra Mifsud
Set Design: Bloc Col
Videography: Emma Micallef
Commissioned: Dance Beyond Borders for Refugee Week Malta

DancingtoDementia is a community service project designed to humanize care for individuals living with dementia and offer respite for their carers through specialized dance sessions within care homes. In line with interventions proposed in the National Dementia Policy, this initiative was led by the Malta Dementia Society in collaboration with Dance Beyond Borders to develop a team of Dance Artists to deliver this service in Residential Care Homes in Malta and Gozo.
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Dance Beyond Borders played a pivotal role in setting up this initiative in Malta, contributing dance practice expertise to seek out training, recruit local Dance Facilitators, monitor the Dance Team, coordinate exchange of practice sessions to continue professional exchange among the established team of service providers, provide ongoing training for the Malta Dementia Society.
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These dance movement sessions help regulate mood, loosen participants physically, and stimulate the senses, thereby improving overall well-being and quality of life. They offer a non-verbal outlet for expression, reducing anxiety and agitation by allowing participants to release tension through movement. Props such as balls, balloons, and elastic bands enhance engagement and interaction, even for those with limited mobility. Music and dance selections often trigger memories, fostering conversations and connections with personal histories and cultural heritage.
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Acknowledgements:
Collaboration: Malta Dementia Society
Project Coordinators: Deborah Falzon, Julienne Schembri
Photography and Film: Emma Micallef
Funding Body: The Voluntary Organisations Project Scheme, Malta Council for the Voluntary Sector (MCVS).

As part of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (25th November - 10th December 2021), Anchoring Connection offered intensive dance, movement, and rhythm workshops to women seeking sanctuary at Refugee Open Centres in Malta.
Taking a participatory and community-based approach, we explored the thematic duality of Power and Vulnerability through movement, reflection, and discussion. The sessions fostered both personal and collective empowerment, emphasizing the building of trust and a sense of belonging.
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One participant reflected, “After each session, I went about my days differently—I felt empowered for the whole day after” (translated from Arabic). Each session aimed to create a safe space for women to share their stories, support one another, and feel valued as part of the local community. With the support of cultural mediators, we used dance to promote self and collective empowerment, aiding in the initial process of integration for women living in the centres.
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Acknowledgements:
Artistic Leaders: Deborah Falzon, Julienne Schembri
Participating Artists: Charlene Galea, Zoe Camilleri
Cultural Mediator: JRS Malta
Location: Hal Far Open Centres
Childcare: AWAS Activity Team
Film: Emma Micallef
Production: Dance Beyond Borders
Commissioned and Funded by: UNHCR Malta

ĊAPċapċaqLAQ was a community project for women and their children who had sought safety in Malta, many of whom were living in Refugee Open Centres. It was a partnership between Teatru Salesjan, Dance Beyond Borders, and NGOs working in migration. Together, they created a space for women and their children to come together each week over the summer.
Using rhythm, dance, and movement, ĊAPċapċaqLAQ celebrated diversity and offered a space for healing. The sessions included djembe drum circles and community dance practices, inviting us all to explore our own rhythms while moving together as a group. These shared moments allowed for personal expression to grow within the collective experience.
Each week, we all experienced joy, connection, and expression—whether through the warmth of holding hands, the connections made by moving and breathing together, or the chance to play and imagine alongside one another.
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Acknowledgements:
Artistic Leaders: Abigail Agius, Zoe Camilleri, Rosetta Debattista, Deborah Falzon, Julienne Schembri
Assistants: Joshua Grogan, Zosia Stelmaszczyk
Cultural Mediator: Hadia Bashir
Location: St. Joseph School, Sliema
Intercultural Training: TAMA and UNHCR Malta
Photography and Film: Emma Micallef
Production: Teatru Salesjan and Dance Beyond Borders
Funding Body: Intercomp Malta and Arts Council Malta

HER, 2020
"Home is like a mother; you never want to leave, but sometimes you have to." — Hafsa
HER presents fragments of a woman’s experience of displacement. The piece began with an interview with a Somali woman who sought safety in Malta. She shared her journey via the Central Mediterranean Route, from Somalia to Libya, and eventually to Malta. Through Dance Theatre, HER offered a glimpse into her resilience, strength, and bravery—qualities echoed by many in Malta’s refugee and asylum-seeking communities.
The project started as part of a residency with Dance Beyond Borders, where a duet was created. It later developed into a solo for Å»finMade, Å»finMalta’s annual programme that supports emerging artists by providing a platform to present their work locally. ​
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Acknowledgements:
Artistic Research and Choreography: Deborah Falzon, Julienne Schembri
Music: Original score by Niels Plotard,
featuring Nina Simone, Human Touch
Performer: Andrea Malbert, and Amber Van Veen for ŻfinMalta
Production: ŻfinMalta and Dance Beyond Borders
Funding Body: Air2020 ŻfinMalta, Research Support Grant, - Arts Council Malta, Commission for ŻfinMade, ŻfinMalta