WFWPI Virtual Cafe: The Mysterious World of a Dancer

The world of dancers has always been a mystery. The Women's Federation for World Peace International and Mrs. Althea Palombi Collette prepared a special session for the WFWPI Virtual Café, opening a whole new door into the world of art, body and happiness, sharing her story and practical tips for daily enhancement. The session was held on March 24 via Zoom, bringing together around 20 people from different countries in one space.

Mrs. Palombi is a dancer, dance teacher and choreographer. She is currently teaching at the Malta Visual and Performing Arts School in Malta and reading a master's in Education at the University of Malta. She is a co-founder of TikkArti, and she is also running BALLETFORT, teaching adult beginner ballet classes with the intention of inspiring everyone to move. Her training started at the Olivia Dow School of Russian Ballet in Malta, where she graduated as a senior ballet teacher and then further her training in Maryland in America under the guidance of Hope Garden Ballet. She graduated with a degree in Media & Theater at the University of Malta in 2012 and later moved to Berlin and Nuremberg, Germany.

Her recent performances were Vanitas (2019) and LIBRA (2017) physical theater performances with the company she forms part of Teatru Santwarju, SPARK Staadthalle, Vienna (2018) co-choreographing for the Peace Starts With Me Festival, and before that, landing a role as a contemporary dancer in the cast of the Opera Benvenuto Cellini (2016 and 2017) under the direction of Laura Scozzi.

Her interest particularly lies in dance education in areas of playfulness in students' work, focusing on how our ability to learn and grow lies in the very heart of being in touch with ourselves in our approach. During the session, Mrs. Palombi introduced her dance studio and talked about how she started her life as a dancer and how her family has been an important supporter in helping her succeed on her uncertain path.

She also shared her experiences as a mother with children, balancing family and work. Despite her young age, Mrs. Palombi works hard not only to teach dance, but also to raise funds, audition, train for new dances and offer classes for different age groups. Her spirit of challenge has inspired many participants to open their lives to new challenges and opportunities.

The “WFWPI Virtual Cafe” is a new online bimonthly implementation hosted by WFWPI HQ for WFWP leaders, members and guests to gather in a hospitable space to explore issues and questions that matter, encourage everyone’s contributions, connect diverse perspectives, listen together for insights and share collective discoveries