STRUCTURE UNKNOWN
2010

This piece offers enough space to explore undefined situations.  Moments that happen through chance.  I find this energy extremely exciting.  This piece is created with installation design in mind, though a shadow on its journey through every walk , freedom or restraint. 

MUSIC - UNKNOWN ARTIST WITH ACCOMPANYING PERCUSSIONIST RENZO SPITERI CHOREOGRAPHY - FRANCESCA ABELA TRANTER

HEJA
2006

One of the main elements of ‘Heja’is the amalgamation of contemporary dance and Maltese traditional music. The movements within this choreographic piece are inspired by ordinary physical activities of the past. The choreography also incorporates rhythmic structures inspired by traditional rhythms.

ALTERNATIVE MOVES AND SPACES
2006

To improvise skilfully one must be aware of the responses that are available within each given moment. This kind of awareness takes practice, discovering and saying yes to what arises from the body and mind. If the dancer doesn’t know herself, hasn’t investigated her quirks and desires, she/he will lose track of form and content. When the dancer is seduced by form, she/he loses her awareness. What happens when qualities of movement are lost and the body forgotten. What triggers the action to create more active connection between all players on stage.

WOMEN ON COMMON GROUND
2005

This dance was inspired by last 2004 nominated women for the Nobel Prize of peace – 1000 partners for peace chosen from various countries, in different political situations. The selected women promote active, non-violent responses to conflict situations, structural injustice and inequalities. This dance is dedicated to all those women who commit themselves daily to the cause of peace and justice, often under the most difficult cirmcumstances.

POETRY IN MOTION
2005

“The pencil sketches out ideas, sometimes frantic and others times in a more pensive manner, until a rhythmic development is traced and develops into metrical vocal phrasing.” Renzo Spiteri

MUSIC SCORE - RENZO SPITERI CHOREOGRAPHY - COMPANY IN COLLABORATION WITH FRANCESCA ABELA TRANTER

ARE YOU RIGHT, AM I WRONG?
2004

MUSIC - MOZART, SUNG BY CECILIA BARTOLI AND BRYN TEFEL CHOREOGRAPHY - MICHAEL JOSEPH (UK)

TEMPEST
2003

Cage’s invention or discovery of the prepared piano, for which he has remained especially famous, owed more to practical consideration than to deliberate artistic intention. Triggered to experiment to change the sound of the piano, he hit upon the all-important solution of placing suitable objects, such as screws and bolts, nuts, erasers, bamboo, cloth and wood between the strings. Francesca Abela Tranter’s Tempest collaborates with percussionist Renzo Spiteri who forms a vital part of the progress and development of this work . Francesca investigates in riding the surface of unrest and the concept of harmony, self-reflective, and aggressive reflex, through this collaboration identifying speculation and intent this undulating road arrives to the adaptation of John Cage’s score to Renzo’s dynamic interpretation.

MUSIC – JOHN CAGE (1912 – 1992) WITH LIVE ADAPTATION OF RENZO SPITERI CHOREOGRAPHY - FRANCESCA ABELA TARNTER

TVOD
2002.

Douglas Comley’s TVOD mixes text and movement, bridging dance and physical theatre, addressing an issue which relates to us all. Without prudence this disturbing game of viewer and performer slices away at the real picture to each and everyone of us and the universal affect of Television. Tying it into a rather dark and wry humorous piece of reality that will relate to us all.

MUSIC - OMNI TRIO, THE ORBITAL, BYZANTINE – ALLELULIAH, THE DISPOSABLE HEROES OF HIPOCRISY CHOREOGRAPHY - DOUGLAS COMLEY

CORPUS
PREMIERED AT THE M.I.T.P. IN VALLETTA, MALTA ON THE 19TH , 20TH, 21ST OCTOBER 2001.

This production is a development of a three month workshop with theatre instructor Stefano Bosco and composer Ruben Zahra training the dancers in the use of voice and body sound, breaking all inhibtions of movement. The interesting material developed in a full recording soundtrack. The dancers through a series of experimental tasks choreographed in collaboration with the direction of the Artistic Director Francesca Abela Tranter creating breakthroughs in theatre dance by the material developing solely from the initial source of tools, themselves.

MUSIC - REUBEN ZAHRA CHOREOGRAPHY - COMPANY IN COLLABORATION WITH LIGHTING DESIGNER - STEVE THEUMA DURATION - 20 MINUTES

'CHOICES'

'Choices' was the first production of Contact Dance Company. Danced to the score of Phillip Glass played by the Kronos String Quartett. The idea generated from a curiosity of sexual choices and relationships amongst women, discovering companionship and affection. The mutual challenging play of communication amongst women.

'LIGHTING PASSAGES AND DIALOGUES'

This dance inspired by Lighting technology, is created for lighting design where gobos play on stage. The light is the dancer and the dancer is the prop. The fusion of light, sound and movement meet and dialogue begins.

MUSIC - SHIELA CHANDRA CHOREOGRAPHY - FRANCESCA ABELA TRANTER LIGHTING DESIGNER - STEVE THEUMA REHEARSAL DIRECTOR - SANDRA MIFSUD COSTUMES - MARIA PISANI DURATION - 19 MINUTES 51 SECONDS (6 MOVEMENTS)

'THREE PIECE'    (three movements)

Choreography:  Francesca Abela Tranter                                            Music              : J.S.Bach

Three Piece is a 2002/2003 project that allows artists although oceans apart, to collaborate on the common ground of dance.  Each choreographer developed their own dance vocabulary working within the concept of interpretation of music thus using a great sense of cultural identity.  The most interesting part of the whole project is discovering how one dance company becomes versatile through their body language with each choreographer's direction and their thought process.

Undercurrents

Choreography : Jackie Gray (New Zealand)                                                        Music               : Original score by Eden Mulholland (New Zealand)

Poi are traditional folkloric dance instruments used by the Maori (indigenous people) of New Zealand.  they are balls attached to string which are swung and hit percussively on the hands and body.  This unique piece represents the first time a dance fusing poi with other contemporary dance techniques, has been especially created for and performed by a non - New Zealand Dance Company.

Based on the concept of the sea.  The experience of my ancestors sailing across the Pacific Ocean to inhabit Aotearoa (New Zealand) lies alongside my journey to Europe to meet, exchange and share information and cultures.  The questions of commonalities between two island small nations, are reflected in our shared affinity to the ever present sea natural relationship to the land.   The movement draws on the ebb and flow of the tides, and the sensuous nature of the human body out of your control;  Deep emotions run like strong undercurrents hidden beneath a calm surface.

Sac-red

Choreography : Jodie Farrugia (Australia)                                                  Music               :  United States of Islam

Sac-red explores the power of group unity and the struggle for individuality - the endless journey to find your sacred place within a group.  Reflections on the origins of the Aborigines Australia.  "I have been interested in the dancers creating a tight and strong connection with each other, but also encouraging individuality in their interpretation of the movement vocabulary".