Cecchetti Malta 60 Years Celebration
& Enrico Cecchetti Exhibition

I represented the Cecchetti Society Trust at the launch of a photographic exhibition of Maestro Cecchetti’s Life, Career and Artistic Legacy held in the beautiful Baroque Manoel Theatre in Valletta, Malta, on Saturday 31st January 2026.

The event marked the 60th anniversary of the Cecchetti Method on the island. The Trust sponsored moving of the material from the archives in Civitanova Marche, Cecchetti’s birthplace and home, to Malta. The exhibition of some 100 photographs was originally curated by historian Professor Livia Brillarelli in 1994 and locally by Johane Casabene, Maltese Cecchetti teacher. She displayed the photographs with captions in Maltese, Italian and English – both a tribute to Enrico Cecchetti and a homage to Brillarelli’s lifelong devotion to Cecchetti’s legacy.

 At the opening of the exhibition guests celebrated the occasion at an elegant reception in the foyer of the theatre, where the exhibition will be housed for 3 months.  The Mayor of Civitanova Marche, Fabrizio Ciarapica and Andrea Foresi, musicologist and newly appointed custodian of the collection (following the untimely passing of Professor Livia Brillarelli) were in attendance. Also present was Ms Tanya Bayona who first brought the Cecchetti Method to Malta.

On Sunday 1st February festivities continued with 10 of the 12 Cecchetti schools on the island each presenting a ballet choreographed by the teachers.  The enjoyable performance and evening of dance concluded the celebration.

Johane Casabene and the Cecchetti Legacy Group – Malta, are to be congratulated on their tireless efforts devoted to staging this historic event.  

Diane van Schoor, Vice-Chair Cecchetti Society Trust