John Baldacchino

John Baldacchino , (19.02.1942 - 15.02.2007) co-founder of Olivia Dow School of Russian Ballet. He obviously supported the School in more ways than one can possibly imagine. John came from a family of musicians and artistes, he studied art at the Malta School of Arts aided by his father Alfred who also painted in oils. He concentrated on singing when he joined the famous Vocal Harmony Group, the Four Links in the 60's and after a very long career: first as a singer John B. Gové & later as an Impresario, a career which spanned 25 years in which time he booked hundreds of Maltese & International Artistes in Malta and abroad. Indeed this is how Olivia & John met in 1973. John booked Olivia's company and together they produced and choreographed shows in Malta, Italy, Holland & England. John was then irreversibly converted to a Balletomaniac and supporting Olivia opened the Olivia Dow School of Russian Ballet. In 1994 they formed their own company "Petit Ballet Russe de Malte" later known as "Ballet Russe de Malte" (the Russian Ballet of Malta). As Artistic Director he was a profound expert in his field of arts and music! The Engine, the Creator! Touching Youth with the magic of making Childhood Dreams come True! John, with this in mind, started writing original stories for Olivia Dow's ballet productions, inspired by Maltese landscapes:
1996 "Stone Ghosts"
1997 "Red Rose for a Ballerina"
1998 "The Alien Princess"
1999 "Slaves of Medina"
2000 "Mermaids from the Blue Lagoon"
and 2001 "Giants of Xlendi Bay".
The Olivia Dow School of Russian Ballet annually awards the John Baldacchino Memorial Scholarship.

Olivia Dow, Principal of the Olivia Dow School of Russian Ballet, Malta. Gold-medalist Ms. Dow graduated with honours in 1968 and joined famous opera and ballet companies including the Pfalztheater-Munster & Kaiserslautern in Germany, where she spent 6 years touring major cities. She studied Ballet (Legat System) with Mdme. Legat who was one of the most celebrated ballerinas in Russia of her time. She returned to Edinburgh and danced in the ballet La Sylphide with the Scottish Theatre Ballet and also performed on various programmes on the Scottish TV station. In 1973, she formed her own Company, produced and choreographed in Malta, Italy, Holland & England, including Mayfair, London. She met John in Malta and the rest is history! Olivia Dow's ballet school has gone from strength to strength and leads the way to more creativity in the new millennium.

Jessica Farrugia, educated at Anthony Lawrence Bartolo School in her primary years, then at Maria Regina Secondary School from where she obtained her Matsec Exams in various subjects and later she successfully completed the Administrative & Secretarial Studies Course at MCAST. Jessica joined the Olivia Dow School of Russian Ballet at the age of 5 yrs and has performed in most of Olivia Dow's productions. She has graduated as a Senior teacher and will continue to develop her teaching in the Legat System together with Martina, her co-worker under the guidance of Ms. Dow.

Martina Zammit, in her primary years she attended Chiswick House School and later at St. Martin's College from where she continued her studies at De La Salle 6th Form and is now following a Master's Degree in English. She joined out of curiosity, at the tender age of 5 yrs, the Olivia Dow School of Russian Ballet which was located at that time in Gharghur and since then has never ever failed to perform in any of Olivia Dow's ballet productions under the influence of the Artistic Director, the late John Baldacchino. Martina has increased her ballet enthusiasm when she graduated as a Senior teacher and intends to further her teaching in the Legat System. Given the opportunity by Ms. Dow, her principal and alongside Jessica her colleague, she is able to explore a new area: choreography. To complement her teaching, she also achieved Honours in the Soloist ballet level wherein she was awarded the John Baldacchino Memorial Award. Never tired of expanding her knowledge, Martina has just started a 3 year course in Bachelor of Arts in Dance at the University of Malta.

Ilona Attard, recently graduated as a Senior teacher, was educated at Chiswick House School and later at St. Martin's College from where she then prolonged her studies at De La Salle Sixth Form and has recently obtained her degree in Bachelor of Psychology (Hons.) at the University of Malta. At 8 years of age, Ilona joined the Olivia Dow School of Russian Ballet where she performed in several ballet productions set up by Olivia Dow. Her love for dance pushed her to discover other forms of dance, such as Contemporary Dance, which she finds liberating and boundless to the body.

Marianna Dogum, of Russian origin, moved to Malta at the age of 7 years. In Moscow she formed part of the Ostankino Ballet Group, training mainly in the traditional Russian Character dance and performing in various shows. Educated at St. Paul's Primary School and later at Sir Adrian Dingli Junior Lyceum, she continued her studies at the Junior College. Marianna joined the Olivia Dow School of Russian Ballet at 7 years of age, performing in almost all the ballet productions set up by Olivia Dow and in 2008 she was awarded the John Baldacchino Memorial Scholarship for achieving Honours in the Soloist ballet level. Whenever she had the opportunity Marianna visited Moscow to improve her technique not only in Classical Ballet but in other form of dance. During 2009 she attended intensive ballet classes at Goube' European Dance Centre in Paris. Summer of 2011 Marianna attended a 2 week rigorous training held by the Russian Ballet Society in Musselburgh, Scotland together with her colleagues Martina and Ilona and other Senior students. She has recently graduated as a Senior teacher in the Legat System and is currently following a Bachelor of Arts course in Theatre Studies and History of Art at the University of Malta. Marianna is hoping to return to Moscow to try her luck in joining a dance company.

Althea Corlett

Althea Corlett studied at Lily of the Valley and continued at Giovanni Curmi – Higher Secondary. She started ballet at 9 years of age with Olivia Dow School of Russian ballet, performing in most of Olivia Dow's productions. Her greatest achievement was in 2004, Barbie of Swan Lake as Barbie/Odette. Before furthering her studies, Althea wanted to reach out and try something different. Between 2006/2007 she volunteered and got involved in a project building programme around Europe. In the summer of 2006, she attended dance training at Kledi Dance Academy in Rome, Italy. Sometime after she enrolled at the Hope Garden Ballet Academy in Maryland, USA and took daily Advanced Classes to strengthen her technique and repertoire experience. Whilst in the States in 2008, she attended audition/workshop at New York Ballet Theatre. On her return home Althea taught dance with Masquerade Musical Theatre between 2009/2010. Althea has just recently graduated as a Senior teacher in the Legat System and she is presently finishing a 3 year course in Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Communications at the University of Malta. Althea's wish for the future is that in the field of dance she wants to train further in the hope to dance and perform more.

Joe Brown

Well known internationally for his outstanding musicianship and as an incredible arranger, Joe Brown who comes from a family of musicians, has many compositions to his credit including the soundtrack and title theme of the Maltese soap-opera “Ipokriti”. “The Alien Princess" was his first Classical Ballet which he composed with enthusiasm and love. The soundtrack was recorded at his own recording studios which is equipped with the lateset state-of-the-art technology. Joe Brown has appeared on many TV and Radio shows and also conducted the orchestra for the Malta Song Festival on various occasions. His musical scores are very imaginative and highly acclaimed internationally. “Slaves of Medina” was his second Ballet which he produced exclusively for the Olivia Dow School of Russian Ballet in 1999. After a successful tour of Australia, more TV scores for “Simpatici”, Joe Brown then wrote his third Ballet – “Mermaids from the Blue Lagoon” for Olivia Dow. His latest work “Giants of Xlendi Bay” is one of his finest ever.

Olivia Dow School of Russian Ballet
Leli Falzon Street, Naxxar, Malta. Tel: 2158 3368, 2141 9725.
Fax: 2142 2592. Mobile: 9947 4127
email: news@oliviadow.com