(FORT LEE, NJ) -- BALAM Dance Theatre (BALAM) premieres its new Out & About series program, Dances of Love: East and West, in Fort Lee, New Jersey. This entertaining, family friendly program will be presented at the Fort Lee Public Library, located at 320 Main Street, on Sunday, April 28 from 2:00pm-3:00p.m. The event is free and open to the public.
"These magical works, with their sumptuous costuming, reflective of their courtly and culturally celebratory heritages, will enchant audiences of all ages. They will experience a vibrant array of culturally diverse dance gems presented by the romantic eloquence of BALAM Dance Theatre's performers," said Carlos Fittante, Artistic Director, BALAM Dance Theatre.
BALAM, a New York City-based company, offers a new vision of contemporary dance by combining diverse cultural dance styles from around the world and time periods with Balinese theatre. This latest cross-cultural program features these artists from Indonesia, Japan and the United States: Nani Devi, Toshinori Hamada, Yumiko Niimi, Carlos Fittante, Robin Gilbert and guest cellist Lisa Terry, Artistic Director of Parthenia, A Consort of Viols. Performers will dance in beautiful vibrantly colored traditional and fusion costumes.
The program spotlights a range of dance forms and movements from around the world. These include Oleg Tambulilingan (Love Dance of the Bumblebees), a scintillating Balinese courtship dance, and Hagoromo (Angel Dance), a Japanese Noh theatre masked solo dance. The Gran Chacona, a whimsical duet, transports the audience to 19th century Andalusia in Spain utilizing the Chacona, a wildly popular music and dance from the 18th century, with original choreography using the Spanish Escuela Bolera technique and castanets. A live music segment offers excerpts from Sebastian Bach’s acclaimed Cello Suite No. 3 in C Major.
BALAM Dance Theatre debuts the newly commissioned salsa duet, Fantasia de Amor, choreographed by master salsero (salsa dance expert) Carlos Konig. This piece is performed with music by Venezuelan salsa singer Eric Franchesky. The audience will also be invited to learn and try some movements.
The library is wheelchair accessible. Parking is available on the street and in the lot behind the library building on Hoym Street. For directions and further information, contact the Fort Lee Public Library at 201-592-3615.
Founded by choreographer and movement researcher, Islene Pinder, BALAM Dance Theatre offers a new vision of contemporary dance that is rooted in the dazzling opulence and magical aura of Balinese theatre.
The New York City-based dance/theatre company creates a unique entertainment experience that has universal appeal. Audiences of all ages and backgrounds enjoy BALAM’s innovative movement alchemy where dynamic athleticism, detailed skills, and movement techniques from around world are fused and enhanced by eclectic music, striking masks, vibrant costumes and fantasy stories.
The company educates the community about dances and cultures throughout the world. Through its Out & About Series, free and affordable performances, workshops and creative events at the grassroots level are made available for families, children, students and community residents.
BALAM has been featured at numerous festivals and venues including First Night New York; Lincoln Center Out-of-Doors; Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival; Downtown Dance Festival; and has also appeared throughout the United States and internationally. The company has received praise from the New York Times and Village Voice, the Governor and people of Bali and the Indonesian Consulate of New York, as well as others.
Photos (Top) Courtesy of First Night New Jersey (Bottom) Photo by Eric Bandiero
