In 2024 from April 29 to May 2, the teachers of the Department of Performing Arts, associate professor Dalia Babilaitė-Abarė and lecturer Povilas Butkus, had an internship at the Malaga Higher School of Performing Arts (ESAD MÁLAGA), Spain. During the visit, the recently established cooperation between the Faculty of Arts and Creative Technologies of Vilniaus Kolegija and ESAD MÁLAGA was consolidated. The teachers got acquainted with the infrastructure of the higher education institution, pedagogues, and the study process. The school theatre which can accommodate 455 spectators, has costume, footwear, wig departments, and decoration workshops left the best impression. As many as 25 performances created by students are premiered in this theatre during one academic year!
The teachers enjoyed the opportunity to learn about the teaching methods of acting professors Juan Alberto Salvatierra López, Pablo García Martínez and musical performance professor María Luisa Fernández Rodríguez. It is expected that this acquaintance will make a special contribution to the nurturing of Lithuanian young talents and will have an impact on our joint creative projects and will further develop the participation of students of both higher schools in the Erasmus+ exchange programme.
Educators also participated in the second ESAD Fest event organized by this higher education institution, where study programmes of Spanish higher theatre art schools are presented, master classes are conducted, and various theatre art events are held. Assoc. prof. D. Babilaitė-Abarė and lecturer Mr. Butkus took part in the opening GALA concert of the festival in the main Cervantes theatre of Málaga. Francisco José Sánchez Martín, director of ESAD MÁLAGA, was warmly welcomed during the concert. During the festival, the final 4th year art project of musical performance specialization of Malaga Higher School of Performing Arts was presented, Andrew Lippa’s musical “The Adams Family”. The show impressed with the high quality of acting and musical performance, as well as excellent technical performance.
During the intensive internship, the teachers could also enjoy moments of rest. The impressive Malaga captivated with the Moorish architectural accents characteristic of the Andalusia region, the ornate cathedral, locally known as the “one-armed lady” due to the incomplete construction of one of the two towers. The Alcazaba fortress and the ruins of the Ancient Roman Theatre fascinated with their grandeur, and in the small Old Town of Marbella, the white houses and cozy streets caught the eye and looked as if they were sunken in colorful flower pots.
Such Erasmus+ mobility visits allow the Department of Performing Arts to constantly improve the Musical Theatre study programme and compete not only in the Lithuanian, but also in the international context. It is expected that this strengthening of direct communication will create a solid foundation for the joint projects of Vilniaus Kolegija and Málaga Higher School of Performing Arts, as well as give students of the Kolegija more opportunities to go not only to study, but also to have professional practice abroad after completing their studies.
