Angela Bettoni
Angela Bettoni is a multidisciplinary artist/artivist and writer with Down Syndrome who explores unconventional ways to use dance and physical theatre as narration.
Angela has Italian-Sri Lankan parents, and grew up in Oxford, Rome and Malta, where she has been living since 2013. She has a BA degree in Creative Arts (dissertation: Representation for people with learning disabilities in the performing arts in Malta); Advanced Diploma in Performing Arts; and a Diploma in Community Access for Disabled People.
Her training includes placements with Chickenshed Theater UK; Skanes Dansteater, Sweden; Stopgap Dance Company UK; and a 5-week DanceWEB scholarship to ImpulsTanz Festival in 2025.
In 2024, she did her first artist residency with Perypezye Urbane, through the Professional Media Presence Creative Europe project. Angela has performed in Malta, Italy, Germany, Sweden and Sri Lanka.
Awards include a JCI Malta Ten Outstanding Young Persons Award; and University of Malta Social Commitment Award for her contribution to the arts industry and for her work in making the arts accessible. Angela is a strong advocate for inclusion, and has been an Executive Committee Member of the Commonwealth Children and Youth Disability Network (2021- 22) and is a member of the Young People’s Disability Rights Forum in Malta since 2021.
Contact details
Angela Bettoni
Performer, artivist, dance artist, disability rights advocate
Artistic Directors
Angela Bettoni
Online
Email: angela.bettoni.24@um.edu.mt
Website: https://www.angelabettoni.net
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/angela.bettoni.14
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angelabettoni18/
M.oving O.thers - Live performance at Ufer Studios, Berlin, Germany
Description: M.oving O.thers (M.O.) is a choreographic performance exploring the interplay between bodies, machines, and intelligence
Extra information: Three performers – Maia Joseph, Angela Bettoni, and Julek Kreutzer – engage with a live prompter (Giovanni Sabelli Fioretti) and an AI-driven visual system that responds in real time to movement, language, and audience input.
Credits:
Artistic direction and choreography: Giovanni Sabelli Fioretti
Dance: Angela Bettoni, Maia Joseph, Julek Kreutzer
Physical Dramaturgy: Julek Kreutzer
Dramaturgical accompaniment: Giuseppe Esposito
Music and sound: Davide Degano
Light Design: Sebastián Solórzano
Creative Coding: Martyna Chojnacka
Process accompaniment by Digital Koproduktionslabor
Funded by the Senate Department for Culture and Social Cohesion – Berlin
Duet at ‘Blå timme’ (Blue Hour) - Malmo, Sweden
Description: Behind the performance "Blue Hour" is "Viaductus", a three-year project that works to reduce the gap between performing artists with disabilities and the professional performing arts so that more performing artists can work professionally
Extra information: The Blue Hour premiered in Malmö, Sweden, during MalmöSommarscen.
Guided by choreographer Madeleine Månsson, actor and radio producer Catrine Lundell, and composer Jonas Jonasson.
Produced by Skånes Dansteater and the Viaductus project.
Performed by Olivia Arizmendi and Angela Bettoni.
The project is run by Moomsteatern, ShareMusic & Performing Arts and Skånes Dansteater, and is carried out with support from the Swedish Inheritance Fund.
Angela participated in this project during a 3-week Erasmus+ placement as a dancer-intern with Skånes Dansteater.
Credits:
Performed by: Olivia Arizmendi and Angela Bettoni
Choreography/guidance from: Madeleine Månsson and Catrine Lundell
Musician and composer: Jonas Jonasson, in collaboration with the ensemble.
Produced by Skånes Dansteater and the Viaductus project.
BALM - Mixed-ability duet developed during an Artist Residency
Description: The piece was developed during an artist residency Angela received with Perypezye Urbane, Italy, from the Professional Media Presence project funded by the Creative Europe program
Extra information: BALM is a duet performed by Angela and Niels Plotard, a non-disabled dancer/multidisciplinary artist.
BALM was choreographed by Rachel Calleja, with dramaturgy by Giovanni Sabelli Fioretti.
BALM was inspired by monologues Angela had written about her feelings of being unseen, overlooked, labelled, utilized and categorized to fit into the tight spaces of an ableist society.
BALM became the story of her journey of going from being unseen to being seen.
Angela shared the short documentary video of BALM for the International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2024.
Credits:
Conception, choreography, performance: Angela Bettoni, Rachel Calleja. Niels Plotard
Live music and sound design: Niels Plotard
Dramaturg: Giovanni Sabelli Fioretti
Light Technician: Niels Plotard
Co-production by Perypezye Urbane and Professional Media Presence project within the framework of Creative Europe. Funded by Arts Council Malta
Documentary video editing: Emma Micallef, using footage by Orlando Sinibaldi from Venere in Teatro Festival and footage from Dance Festival Malta by Jonathan Mercieca, produced by Festivals Malta.
BALM - Live performance at Dance Festival Malta 2024
Description: BALM was first premiered at Dance Festival Malta
Extra information: Credits:
Conception, choreography, performance: Angela Bettoni, Rachel Calleja. Niels Plotard
Live music and sound design: Niels Plotard
Dramaturg: Giovanni Sabelli Fioretti
Light Technician: Niels Plotard
Co-production by Perypezye Urbane and Professional Media Presence project within the framework of Creative Europe. With funding by Arts Council Malta
BALM - Live performance at Venere in Teatro Dance Festival 2024
Description: BALM was reperformed at the Venere in Teatro Dance Festival Festival in Venezia Mestre in September 2024
Extra information: Credits:
Conception, choreography, performance: Angela Bettoni, Rachel Calleja. Niels Plotard
Live music and sound design: Niels Plotard
Dramaturg: Giovanni Sabelli Fioretti
Light Technician: Niels Plotard
Co-production by Perypezye Urbane. With funding by Arts Council Malta
Labels dance performance
Description: Labels is a work in progress. It is an original work written and first performed by Angela Bettoni as part of her degree studies at the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology (MCAST).
The piece is about assumptions and myths that Angela has experienced, and it challenges people to see her for who she really is, looking beyond the labels.
Extra information: Credits:
Conception: Angela Bettoni
Choreography: Angela Bettoni and Julienne Schembri
Light technician: Gianluca Bianco
Live music and sound design: Johnattan Anthony, Dr Sean Vella
Dramaturgy: Dr Tyrone Grima
Videography: Eric Montebello
Labels open performance space
Description: Angela was invited to perform her monologue as part of Dopamine Drops, an informative gathering about rewriting and reperforming self narratives by fusing autobiography and fantasy that will revisit different stages of the performer’s life through ‘searching’ and ‘drops’
Extra information: Credits:
Conception: Charlene Galea
Choreography: Angela Bettoni
Soundscape: Johnattan Anthony
Light Technician: Dave Space
Labels R&D
Description: Angela developed ‘Labels’ further during a 2-day Intensive workshop with Isabel Lewis at the ImPulsTanz International Festival Vienna as part of her DanceWEB scholarship. The other DanceWEB scholars who were there were invited to take part in the piece
Extra information: To be further developed
Credits:
Concept: Angela Bettoni
Choreography: Angela Bettoni & DanceWEB scholars & Isabel Lewis
Dramaturgy: Angela Bettoni, DanceWEB scholars & Isabel Lewis
Sound design - voiceover from the ‘Labels’ dance video
Dance with me dance video
Description: The video shows Angela, a young self-advocate with Down Syndrome, dancing to a monologue she wrote. ‘Dance with me’ which invites viewers to see Angela as a person and not only in terms of her label
Extra information: The video was created and launched for World Down Syndrome Day 2022. World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD) is a global awareness day that has been officially observed by the United Nations since 2012. The message of the video is that disabilities do not limit who we are as people. We are born to stand out, and all we need is for people to see us for who we truly are. “When I see the words ‘Down’s Syndrome’ I see a label. Yes, I was born with it but it’s not my weakness, it’s my strength. It’s what makes me unique….All I really want is for you to take my hand and see the person who I am, to see my heart. To see the person who can smile, laugh, and love….”
Credits:
Conception: Angela Bettoni, Banjo Rancho & Julienne Schembri
Choreography: Angela Bettoni & Julienne Schembri
Live music and sound design: Banjo Rancho
Videographer: Emma Micallef
Dance with me: open performance space
Description: Angela was invited to perform her monologue as part of Dopamine Drops, an informative gathering about rewriting and reperforming self-narratives by fusing autobiography and fantasy that revisited different stages of the performer’s life through ‘searching’ and ‘drops’
Extra information: Credits:
Conception of Dopamine Drops: Charlene Galea
Choreography: Angela Bettoni
Soundscape: Jonathan Anthony
Light Technician: Dave Space
Dance with me: live performance
Description: Angela danced to her monologue of “Dance with me” in a performance called ‘Foreigner’ by Barbora Langerova, as part of the “Creativity Unlocked” showcase of student work by the University of Malta Dance Department. The performance is a personal exploration of belonging, identity and transformation
Extra information: Credits:
Conception: Barbora Langerova
Choreography: Barbora Langerova, Angela Bettoni, Amy Vella, Martina Calmati
Light Technician: Greta Grech
Supported by University of Malta Dance Department
Heart – mixed ability duet
Description: Angela performed with Andre, a Sri Lankan dancer, with Tracy Holsinger reading the monologue, which was written by Angela about her take on the heart surgery that she had when she was a baby
Extra information: Credits:
Conception: Angela Bettoni & Tracy Holsinger
Choreography: Tracy Holsinger, Andre Hawson, Angela Bettoni
Live music and sound design: Jonathan Anthony
Produced by Mind Adventures Theatre Co., Colombo Sri Lanka
- Post-show discussions about the ideas and themes about Angela’s work
- Participating in panels on accessibility in the creative arts for performers with intellectual disabilities
- Motivational talks to students in schools and colleges, doctors and medical/therapy students, and other audiences.
- Advocacy talks at social events/festivals, e.g. Venere in Teatro Festival in Italy; Rotary Club; UNICEF retired staff’s global event; Mihilaka Medure, BMICH, Sri Lanka; Ayati Resource Centre, Sri Lanka. Sometimes combined with a solo performance.
- Co-leading movement workshops for young people with intellectual disabilities.
- Angela is also a published fiction writer. She is also currently finishing the script of a full length play that includes a lot of movement/dance, working with mentors Suzanne Lofthus from Edinburgh, and Clare Azzopardi and Toni Attard from Malta. Funded by an Arts Council Malta Right to Culture grant.
For more details, see the Advocacy Activities page on her website
DOCUMENTARY VIDEOS
2024, Oct. 20 – Times of Malta – Watch: ‘I’m no trailblazer’, says first student with Down’s to join University
2023, Feb. 21 – Malta Indepedent – Shattering Stereotypes: JCI Malta’s new inclusivity documentary
2023, Feb. 04 – Times of Malta – Watch: ‘I’m not an angel’ – how a woman is debunking myths about Down Syndrome
2023, Sep. 15 – Inclusive Mobility – Discover the story of Angela BA student from Malta
2022, July 27 – Oh My Malta – Angela Bettoni | Author and Down Syndrome Advocate
NEWS FEATURES/INTERVIEWS
2025, June 14 – Ramona Depares.com / Deep Dives – There should be no room to question inclusivity in Maltese theatre
2024, Sep. 19 – Venice City Guide news – ANGELA BETTONI | B A L M. Venere in Teatro 2024
2024, June 25 – Professional Media Presence – Find the people that work best with you – interview with Angela Bettoni
2022, Oct. 12 – Lovin Malta – Malta’s First TV Presenter With Down’s Syndrome Will Be Part Of New TVM Docuseries
2022, Mar. 21 – Times of Malta – I’m not my disability, so no assumptions please: performer with Down Syndrome
PUBLICITY FOR PERFORMANCES
Perypezye Urbane – BALM
Live Arts Cultures – VENERE IN TEATRO. Festival di danza. Goccia a goccia – IV Edizione: BALM
Perypezye Urbane – M.oving O.thers
Skånes Dansteater – Blue hour
PODCASTS
2025, July 11 – Apple Podcasts / ResDance – ResDance Series 8: Episode 10: Inclusive Dance and Empowerment: Voices from Opening Doors Malta with Angela Bettoni and Sara Accettura
2023, May 26 -Spotify / The JD Dragon Disability Rights Podcast: Exploring how disability and diversity are connected – TVM’s First Presenter with Down Syndrome (feat. Angela Bettoni)
INVITED BLOG POSTS/WRITING
2024, June 03 – Professional Media Presence – My first Artist Residency as a young performer with Down Syndrome
2023, May 23 – Stopgap Dance Company – My Placement with Stopgap: Angela’s Reflections
2022, May 13 – Culture Venture – GUEST POST: Angela Bettoni on inclusion in the arts
Erasmus Generation Blog – Island, theatre and magic: Erasmus in Greece as a student with Down Syndrome
ImPulsTanz – Vienna International Dance Festival – danceWEB Scholarship 2025 – DANCEWEB 2025: THE SUMMER MY HEART FOUND ITS RHYTHM
Latest Video
M.oving O.thers - Teaser video (unofficial)
Duet at ‘Blå timme’ (Blue Hour)
BALM - Docu/trailer video
Labels dance performance
Dance with me dance video
Heart - Portrait video
Heart - Landscape video



