BALAM Dance Theatre: "Devas, Divas and Mortals" in the Bronx, NY

On March 24, BALAM presented Devas, Divas and Mortals, created specifically for the Freshman Year Initiative program for its annual concert at Lehman College. This new program, featuring a host/comedian, a meditation video and of course, BALAM's cutting-edge fusion repertoire, was a resounding success for faculty and students alike! Read some of the comments from teachers and students below.

"This was the best program to date! The students just loved it."
- Phyllis Cash, Coordinator for Special Programs for the Freshman Year Initiative

"I have heard the phrase, A picture is worth a thousand words. I feel like this performance is worth a thousand thoughts. I got to travel all around the world and learn their cultures in just a single hour."

Oleg Tambulilingan (Balinese dance)

"My English composition students expressed admiration for the dancers' skills and the host's talents, as well as gratitude for being introduced to a thought-provoking performance. Their reactions are a testament to the power of dance and theater, and the lessons we can all learn from art." -Nita Noveno, Adjunct Lecturer, English Department at Lehman College

"The host told funny jokes and compared some of the performances to life."

Inma Heredia as guest host

"I like how the dancers used puppets in order to depict the ups and downs in relationships."

Wayang Blues (Shadow Puppets)

"I enjoyed the meditation session alot."

The 5 Senses Meditation Video

"I really liked this performance because I feel we can all connect to it in one way or another."

Audience participation.
Photos: Julie Lemberger

Quotes from Other BALAM Activities, March - May, 2010

3/27 Balinese Dance Master Class
"The Balinese dance solo you did is fantastic. We felt the vibrations of ancient ancestors and a far away small, powerful island." -Kathryn Posin, Adjunct Professor at New York University, Gallatin School of Individualized Study

4/16 Mistress of the Arts: Music & Dance in Madame Pompadour’s Versailles
"Carlos danced so superbly and the choreography was so beautiful and thoughtful."
-Wendy Heller, Professor of Music, Princeton University

4/28 Grace & Grandeur-An Introduction to Baroque Dance
"(Carlos) Your Arlechino was delightful, moving, and funny. You were brilliant!"
-Lionel Party, Professor of Baroque Music and Harpsichord, The Juilliard School

5/3 Arts Week-St. Thomas's Day School
"Thank you Carlos for the wonderful dance workshops. Without a doubt, you are masterful in terms of engaging children in the whole process. They just love working with you." -Roxanne Turekian, Assistant Head of School, St. Thomas's Day School

About BALAM

BALAM has performed throughout the United States and internationally at renowned venues such as: Lincoln Center Out-of-Doors, Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, American Museum of Natural History, and the Bali International Arts Festival. Its work has received acclaim from audiences, critics, scholars, and dignitaries alike, including critical praise mentioned in the New York Times, Village Voice, and endorsements from the Indonesian Consulate of New York, and the Governor of Bali.

The company's long standing interest in dance research, along with its extensive collection of Balinese masks, and cutural costumes and props, make it a resource for educators, artists, and scholars.

The Deeper Meaning of the "Ramayana"

By Shelley Lynne Cummins, www.jaisriyogis.com/

Shelley Lynne Cummins is a yoga and Oneness Blessing trainer, as well as a dancer.

The first two limbs in the eight fold path of yoga are the Yamas, Awareness of the obstacles in life, and Niyamas, cultivating practices to remove the obstacles. As these limbs are activated in harmony, a balance or zero point arrives allowing causality to permeate. The classic tale of the Ramayana is a perfect depiction of this inner balance Of polarities producing unity.

As a dancer and yogini, I have had the great opportunity to study and dance the Ramayana for many years. Every time I enter into this great epic, new realizations are found. It is likened to the dance of day, going to sleep and awaking again in the morning for a new play. Amidst the routines of life subtle realizations appear as the mystery of unity Dances around in the unseen worlds.

A yogini's reflection of this great great tale.

The Ramayana is the story of the divine marriage within. It is everyone's story with all the players aspects of their self. The story begins with a happy and harmonious marriage of Sita and Rama. Sita symbolizes the balanced female and Rama the balanced male within each individual.

One day Sita is enticed by a golden deer into the cave of the evil demon, Rawana.

The capture of Sita is a metaphor of the ego consciousness trying to gain control over the potential of all. The golden deer represents the possible deception and false allure of the illusion of this physical plane.

Upon hearing the news of Sita's capture, Rama gives his golden ring to Hanuman the Monkey King. He orders Hanuman to deliver the ring to Sita so she will know help is on the way.

Here Rama embodies his higher masculine qualities of protection of the unseen and the absolute creation which lives in his word.

The ring symbolizes the circle of light around the body, known as the merkabah or golden carriage of light.

Hanuman the Monkey King represents our monkey mind constantly chattering. As our mind unites with the purpose of reinstalling causality, it becomes a servant of the heart. In service Hanuman flies across the ocean to deliver the ring to Sita. He is able to tap into the One Heart Mind And use his merkabah to transport himself where needed.

Hanuman delivers the ring to Sita and upon his return tells Rama of her whereabouts. Rama goes to fight the evil demon, Rawana, for the release of Sita.

Rama is fighting the ultimate battle of light and dark in order to regain the feminine intuitive, All knowing, nurturing life force. The light always wins as it illuminates the dark corners and shadows. Rama reunites with Sita and together they live happily ever after in the diversity and play of unity.

And to think we know the whole story, the entire ring in the circle of life.We boldly go on experiencing each section of the ring.

As Joseph Campbell says: We are each a heroine or hero on a great journey.We begin enlightened creating a life of experiences in order to realize and reunite with our all encompassing light.