Movement in Memory: Irene Nocella’s Choreography in L-AĦĦAR BASTIMENT

As part of the Mikiel Anton Vassalli College (MAVC) annual live production L-AĦĦAR BASTIMENT – Stories from the Grand Harbour, choreographer Irene Nocella contributes a compelling movement language that brings historical memory to life through dance.

Nocella began her artistic journey at the Vittorio Emanuele II Liceo Coreutico, where she specialised in ballet and developed a strong technical foundation together with a deep appreciation for the discipline and expressive potential of dance. Following her studies there, she continued to refine her artistic abilities by focusing on contemporary dance technique at the Centro Studi Balletto di Roma.

In 2018 she commenced her Bachelor’s degree in contemporary dance at the Accademia Nazionale di Danza, where she engaged with a wide spectrum of choreographic practices. During this period, she collaborated with dancers and choreographers from diverse artistic backgrounds while shaping her own creative voice.

Nocella further broadened her international experience in 2021 through the Erasmus exchange programme at the Folkwang University of the Arts in Germany. While in Essen, she also gained valuable professional experience performing in various productions at the Wuppertal Opernhaus. Her stage experience was further enriched through the opportunity to perform choreography by Marco Goecke at the Theater Marl.

Through these experiences, Nocella has developed an expressive movement language that bridges classical technique and contemporary dance. She currently performs as a dancer with Moveo Dance Company, contributing to innovative multidisciplinary productions.

In L-AĦĦAR BASTIMENT – Stories from the Grand Harbour, her choreography forms an integral part of the production’s visual and emotional narrative, complementing the music and visual projections while embodying the human stories connected to Malta’s maritime history. Through movement, the dancers evoke moments of struggle, resilience and hope, transforming historical memory into a living artistic experience.

The performance will take place on Saturday 9th May 2026 at St. Agatha Auditorium, Rabat.

🎟️ Admission is free, but tickets must be reserved in advance via:
https://www.ticketline.com.mt/bookings/Shows.aspx?ProductionId=1293