BALAM Dance Theatre to Perform at Leonia Public Library, 3/23

BALAM Dance Theatre (BALAM), a non-profit professional dance theatre company, returns to New Jersey to premiere its new Out & About series program, Dancing Warriors, a dance presentation featuring Balinese, Japanese Noh, French Baroque, and Spanish dances, as well martial arts and period fencing demonstrations. The program includes an audience participation segment.

The performance will be presented at the Leonia Public Library in Leonia, New Jersey, located at 227 Fort Lee Road, on Sunday, March 23 from 2:00-3:00 p.m. The event is FREE and open to the public. The library is handicapped accessible. For further information, contact the Leonia Public Library at 201-592-5770.

The New York City-based company offers a new vision of contemporary dance by combining ballet, modern and diverse cultural dance styles from around the world and historic periods with Balinese theatre. This latest program from BALAM's community service Out & About series features the company's artistic director Carlos Fittante and principal dancer Toshinori Hamada in beautiful, traditional costumes. Among the pieces they will perform, are the roles of Baris, a Balinese warrior dance to gamelan music in the gong kebyar style; the Japanese Noh Theatre dance Yashima; and the Baroque dance solo Entrée de Apollon, published in 1701. A special feature will be demonstrations of Iaido, a Japanese sword technique, and period fencing. An audience participation segment will be included.

About BALAM

Founded as a contemporary dance company in 1979 by choreographer and movement researcher Islene Pinder, BALAM Dance Theatre (BALAM) joins diverse dances and historical periods from around the world with the dazzling opulence and magical aura of Balinese theatre. A New York City-based chamber company, BALAM creates an entertainment experience that appeals to audiences of all ages and backgrounds. The company's innovative artistry and movement fusion of athletic and detailed skills are enhanced by eclectic music, striking masks, vibrant costumes and fantasy stories.

Programs include customized choreographies, lectures, demonstrations, master classes and workshops that educate the community at the grassroots level. BALAM has been featured at numerous festivals and venues, including First Night New York, Lincoln Center Out-of-Doors, Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival, and Downtown Dance Festival and has also appeared throughout the United States and internationally. Praise has been received 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.