As dance piece Bombyx Mori is scheduled to premiere in Malta, Jo Caruana chats to choreographer Avshalom Pollak about why touring work is all part of his passion.

Maltese audiences have become used to the influx of foreign performances that the annual Malta Arts Festival brings.

Audiences should come with an open mind and the desire to learn and see something new. Curiosity is vital and expectations should be left at the door

From international comedy to dramas from across the world, it’s the chance to experience new genres of art and to keep abreast with the ever-developing global cultural scene.

Highlights from last year’s festival included The Kronos Quartet, the Barbarossa Project and Stomping La Luna, all of which were hits with local patrons. Now that this year’s festival is just days away, audiences are already keen to see which international works will draw the crowds this year, and Bombyx Mori seems to be set to do just that.

This vibrant performance is the latest piece by renowned choreographers Inbal Pinto and Avshalom Pollak, whose work has been performed across the globe. Dark and mystical, it promises to be a dance show away from the ordinary. “There’s a real air of mystery to the piece; it’s dark, illusive, poetic and playful,” explains Pollak, chatting excitedly about the upcoming tour.

The Inbal Pinto and Avshalom Pollak Dance Company, which was founded by the duo in 1992, has grown to become one of the most respected companies in its home country Israel, and has produced hits that have received critical acclaim across the world.

“When Pinto and I met, our worlds melded; we both has different talents and were trained in different disciplines but they seemed to work beautifully together… and have ever since.”

The company now has 12 dancer-actors, all of whom work closely together to fulfil their collective mission of interweaving various artistic disciplines to create truly intricate works.

Their past productions – Oyster, Hydra, and Rushes – proved very popular, and the team are keen to continue in that vein.

“Most of all we want our audiences to think,” continues Pollak, whose talent as a dancer has now made way for a career in choreography.

“It’s all about creating a rich tapestry of sensations that allow audiences to rediscover that childlike awe dormant within them again and again.”

Although the title of the piece is the Latin word for a breed of silkworm or moth, Pollock explains that this came later. “We devise the piece first and then name it, not the other way around,” he says. “Once the piece was ready, that name seemed to suit it perfectly – it’s not just about meaning, but the way it looks on paper and sounds out loud. It’s the perfect representation of the multiple ideas that have gone into it.”

Mysterious through and through, it seems the piece isn’t targeted at a particular age group or demographic. Instead Pinto and Pollock believe they have created something that will have universal appeal.

“Audiences should come with an open mind and the desire to learn and see something new. Curiosity is vital and expectations should be left at the door. I’m sure that every single person will be able to recognise something of themselves or someone they know in this piece and it will give them the chance to reflect on that.”

This will be the company’s first performance in Malta and Pollock is eager to see how local theatregoers and dance lovers will react. “I’m sure they will be struck by how different it is,” he says.

“The thing is, I don’t really like talking about a show, but prefer people to come along, watch it and make up their own minds.

“Touring is a definite highlight for me because I want to reach as many people as possible, all over the world. Plus, we always take something away from every single place we perform – new ideas, new faces, new memories. We know a lot about Malta already and hope to learn more in the days before we arrive; we’ll be doing our best to explore and discover the true beauty of the island.

“Who knows? It may help to inspire our next piece!”

Bombyx Mori, part of the Malta Arts Festival in collaboration with the Israeli Embassy, will be performed at Argotti Gardens in Floriana on July 9 at 9 p.m. Tickets cost €20 (concessions €15) and are available from www.ticketline.com.mt or The Embassy Complex, Valletta. www.maltaartsfestival.org.