'A guaranteed spectacle'

First off, how does one begin organising a production of this scope?

This is YADA’s eighteenth production, and one can freely say that productions of this kind are being produced and created regularly by the company. Of course, I am not saying that the work has eased up, just that we seem to have grown used to what the process entails. Nevertheless, the amount of preparation is tumultuous. Not everyone is aware of the amount of work involved. But many do remain flabbergasted at the immensity of YADA’s productions.

How do you hope to do justice to Michael Jackson’s long, illustrious career and legacy?

To be honest I have grown to idolise Jackson once we started rehearsals. His music is so beautiful, versatile, powerful and haunting that creating the choreography has taken me longer than any other production. His music does not only call for great dancing but also voices, special effects, fire, water, wind, striking projections… I have made sure that this show is huge, and as strong as his great career.

Could you describe the amount of preparation YADA students had to undergo for this production?

I have five choreographers working for this show – Justin Barker, Nina Winter (British ex-pats living and teaching dance in Malta), Daron Galea, Lara Lanfranco and myself. Although I choreographed the bulk of the show, I had a lot of help from the choreographers and assistant dance captains, namely Daphne Gatt and her dance partner and boyfriend, Clayton Mifsud. Apart from the weekly dance classes to keep all in shape, dancers had rehearsals daily from Monday to Saturday (sometimes running on till 23:30 every day), which we started in October 2010.

We also have a large amount of male dancers on board, as well as guest dancers the likes of Lynn Salamone Reynaud courtesy of the Brigitte Gauci Borda School of Ballet. I must take this opportunity to congratulate all seniors, all singers, all junior ensemble for this once-in-a-lifetime Michael Jackson venture.

What do you expect from this show, both from the technical and a musical standpoint?

Well what can I say… the biggest and most elaborate stage ever constructed by the MFCC for dance and singing in Malta, artistic consultation by Peter Howitt, lights, water, fire, wind and other special effects by Nexos, sound by Manolito Galea, son to Sammy and Doreen Galea, costumes by Charles and Ron, make-up by Diane Nikolic and her team, special make-up effects by artist Justin Brincat, singing by Chiara and Animae Gospel Choir, street dancers from Italy, gymnasts from Bulgaria, Malta and Britain, a cast of 400 dancers, cars, horses, bulldozers, bikers, fire-eaters, a warm-up to show by DJ Ruby… and the guaranteed spectacle YADA has been offering for 27 years.

Shows on March 26 and 26 are at 20:00 and 19:30 on March 27. Tickets are available online from www.ticketline.com.mt starting from €12.00 as well as from The Point, Sliema, Management Suite or Esprit, Level -1 and from The YADA Dance Company, St Michael Street, San Gwann.