BALAM Dance Theatre - A New Vision of Contemporary Dance

  Silver Jubilee 25th Anniversary Season at the John Ryan Theatre at

Friday, Saturday, at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m., November 4 - 6, 2005

Ramayana-Abduction of Sita, Photo: Neil Sapienza

(September 13, 2005- New York, NY) BALAM Dance Theatre is a contemporary dance company that creates and performs original works inspired by traditional Balinese theatre. BALAM will present three performances of two vibrant programs featuring three premieres: The Haunting of Lady Macbeth , Kacapi and Bali-Bolero , guest artists, live music and repertory favorites, at WHITE WAVE John Ryan Theatre (25 Jay Street, in Brooklyn's D.U.M.B.O. district). (Subway: F train from Manhattan to York Street station, or A/C train to High Street station), on Friday and Saturday, November 4 & 5 at 7 PM and Sunday, November 6 at 3 PM . Tickets are $20 ($15 students and seniors). There is general seating. Tickets are purchased the day of the performance at the theatre. For further information call (212) 563-9111 or email: pinderbal at aol.com

BALAM Dance Theatre (BALAM) was founded 25 years ago by choreographer and dance educator, Islene Pinder or "Ibu-lene" (Mother Islene) as she is known in Bali, and later joined by choreographer/dance-artist, Carlos Fittante as co-artistic director. BALAM Dance Theatre is a unique chamber-sized dance ensemble that fuses Balinese and contemporary dance styles. BALAM's Silver Jubilee 25th Anniversary season celebrates its unique aesthetic and affirms the company's history and contribution to the New York community.

This celebratory season will feature guest artist; actress, Judith Robinson in the premiere of The Haunting of Lady Macbeth with actors from the Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute, as well as the premieres of Kacapi , an ethereal masked solo with music by Lisa Karrer, and Bali-Bolero , an ensemble work inspired by Ravel's score adapted and performed live by Gamelan Son of Lion. Also presented will be selections from BALAM's fusion repertoire including Ramayana-Abduction of Sita , Tigerlily & the Dragonfly , Eden and Hanuman the Monkey King .

BALAM Dance Theatre explores sacred sensibilities in a contemporary Western context and presents a vision of contemporary-world dance that is ethnic in origin. Its mission is to: expand the horizon of contemporary dance, create original works and a new fusion movement style and technique; educate the community about Balinese dance, customs, and culture; and offer live performances, lectures, master-classes, workshops, & dance lessons.

Program A (Friday & Saturday, November 4 & 5 at 7 PM)

Ramayana-Abduction of Sita , an action packed story ballet inspired by the Hindu epic with a cast of mythic gods and demons; Haunting of Lady Macbeth (premiere), a tragic journey that ranges from heroic potential to mad revenge featuring actress, Judith Robinson and masked actors from the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute; Hanuman the Monkey King , a beloved character from the Ramayana known in Bali for his strength, playful antics and white furry mask; Eden , innocent lovers lost in Tantric ecstasy with music by Vivaldi and Brazilian jazz ensemble, Uakti; Kacapi (premiere), an ethereal masked solo which presents sensual images of flowers, crowds, light, and shadows inspired by a poem from Indonesian poet, Sitor Situmorang with music by Lisa Karrer; and Bali-Bolero (premiere), an appealing ensemble work that incorporates the sun salutation from yoga and dance improvisation to a melody inspired by Ravel's famous score adapted and performed live by Gamelan Son of Lion.

Program B (Sunday November 6 at 3 PM - Family Show)

Hanuman the Monkey King , Tigerlily & the Dragonfly , a fairytale love duet on point inspired by the popular Balinese dance, Oleg Tambulilingan ; Haunting of Lady Macbeth (premiere), Kacapi (premiere), Coyote Stories , a shadow puppet play performed by Gamelan Son of Lion with music by Lou Harrison; Bali-Bolero (premiere) , and Ramayana-Abduction of Sita .

Visit BALAM Dance Theatre on the web at: www.balamdance.org