Francesca Abela Tranter, born in Malta, is an independent choreographer, dance practitioner, researcher, and pedagogue with a rich history of national and international collaborations. She is widely recognised as a pioneering force in the establishment and development of contemporary dance in Malta, with a practice grounded in hybridity, diversity, and interdisciplinary exchange.

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She began her dance training at the Tanya Bayona Princess Poutiatine Academy, a historical landmark for classical ballet training in Malta, before continuing her studies at the London Contemporary Dance School, specialising in contemporary dance techniques and choreography. Upon returning to Malta, she performed with the Tanya Bayona Dance Theatre Company (1987–1997), while simultaneously teaching and choreographing, developing the foundations of her own creative and pedagogical methodologies.

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In 2012, Francesca obtained a Master’s Degree in Dance and Choreography from the University of Malta, School of Performing Arts. Her thesis focused on an analysis of physical brutality in European contemporary dance, examining personal aesthetics in relation to current dance practices. She has since continued to expand her research through participation in international seminars, laboratories, and practical training programmes.

Since 1981, her extensive professional experience has led her to teach, choreograph, mentor, and coach across a wide spectrum of dance institutions. Her work has focused on developing strong, athletic, and versatile dancers within professional training contexts. Through sustained dialogue with dancers, collaborators, and students, her practice has evolved into a detailed and embodied teaching methodology rooted in rigor, curiosity, and exchange. Throughout her career, she has collaborated with celebrated artists across disciplines, continually expanding her choreographic language and passion for interdisciplinary performance.

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In 1998, she founded Contact Dance Company, creating and performing original works as a platform for her choreographic research. The company’s productions have toured extensively to high-profile theatres and festivals in Malta, England, Scotland, Poland, Hungary, Serbia, Palestine, Italy, Lithuania, Germany, Turkey, Tunisia, Portugal, France, Cyprus, Sicily, and Greece. Over time, her choreographic approach has been deeply influenced by questions of cultural identity within a post-colonial Mediterranean context.

Alongside her artistic practice, Francesca has maintained a strong commitment to social engagement. In 2000, she joined SEDQA as a volunteer, working with movement therapy as part of a drug rehabilitation programme—an experience that deeply informed her understanding of communication, embodiment, and the role of movement in restoring balance within everyday life.

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In 2001, she founded Dance Hybrid Malta, an annual intensive training programme dedicated to dance exploration and the exchange of revolutionary practices. The programme invites exceptional international artists to Malta and continues to thrive as a respected platform, attracting participants from around the world while embedding intensive dance study within Maltese culture.

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She was instrumental in the development of the full-time dance degree at the University of Malta, contributing to the establishment of undergraduate studies in dance (launched in 2010), as well as postgraduate research at Master’s and Doctoral levels within the School of Performing Arts.

In 2011, Francesca initiated Dance on the Move, an ongoing weekly masterclass platform that hosts a rotating programme of international choreographers, practitioners, and artists. Since 2014, she has also been part of the artistic programming team of the Malta International Arts Festival, directing the dance sector and collaborating with leading international companies. A core priority of her curatorial work has been the creation of opportunities for local artists to collaborate with international practitioners in both creation and performance contexts.

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Her current research focuses on the written legacy of contemporary dance in Malta, mapping a chronological study of the events, influences, and cultural shifts that shaped its development. This research is supported by an extensive archival process, including video documentation tracing the evolution of dance on the island from the 1970s to the present day.

Francesca is currently an Assistant Lecturer in Dance Studies at the University of Malta, School of Performing Arts (since 2010), teaching contemporary dance techniques, practices, and theory. From 2010 to 2019, she coordinated the school’s dance outreach programme The Evening Space, creating an inclusive and welcoming environment for artists and community members through open classes and shared practice.

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In 2022, she became Artistic Director of Dance Festival Malta, founding and curating a multi-disciplinary dance festival dedicated to cultivating a sustainable dance ecosystem in Malta. The festival provides platforms for intensive training, professional development, performance, dialogue, and exchange, hosting an average of 24 performances over four days. Under her direction, the festival introduced post-performance talks, choreographers’ platforms, community-based outdoor projects rooted in artivism, critical writing initiatives, an intergenerational dance platform for dancers over 40, and a youth dance platform, including international exchanges.

“My responsibility lies in developing a dance culture that is lived, appreciated, and critically engaged with—one that forms part of the global dance family, values diversity and inclusion, and builds a legacy for future generations.”