BALAM Dance Theatre: More Arts in Education

Upstate New York High School Students Perform BALAM’s Baroque Inspired Choreographies

BALAM has had a busy season working on several arts in education projects throughout the United States. In the spring, BALAM’s

principal ballerina, Robin Gilbert, joined Carlos Fittante to perform a demonstration of his Baroque dance piece, “Folia-A Baroque Pageant”, for the Monticello High School student body in Monticello, New York. The work was so well received Fittante was asked to create Baroque inspired choreographies for the “Steps and Sounds of Different Cultures” program at the high school, culminating in a spectacular student performance in June.

Kenneth Hamrick, artistic director of American Virtuosi and guest harpsichordist at Monticello High School, praised the choreographed pieces’ impact on the audience at the annual performance.

“Last night's performance to a capacity crowd in Monticello's Nesin Theatre was a tremendous success…there was a great standing ovation at the end of the performance. THANK YOU,” said Hamrick.

Arts Week at St Thomas's Day School in New Haven

A special treat of our Arts Week celebration was "Folia", the Spanish Baroque dance performed by Carlos and BALAM's principal ballerina, Robin Gilbert. Everyone was awestruck by the choreography embellished with period costumes, masks and haunting music. The audience responded with a thunderous applause for several minutes – definitely an unforgettable experience.

Thanks again for your impressive presentations at our Arts Week.

-Roxanne Turekian
Assistant Head of School
St. Thomas's Day School
830 Whitney Avenue
New Haven, CT 06511

Students Inspired by Workshops at Washington University in St Louis

Students from the dance and music departments at Washington University in St Louis (Wash U) in Missouri got a rare opportunity to learn and experience first hand Balinese and Baroque music and dance styles. Choreographer Carlos Fittante, a specialist in Balinese and Baroque dances, taught excerpts from the Balinese dance, Legong Kraton, during his guest residency at Wash U in the spring. Under his expert tutelage, the students danced in time to the complex rhythms of this traditional dance. His Balinese mask workshop, an integration of Balinese dance and elements from the acting system, The Method, inspired students in the Intercultural Mask Making class to create their own works masks.

Fittante introduced the Baroque style of music and dance to ballet and vocal students. He performed in costume the classic Baroque choreography, “Chaconne de Phaeton”, and taught a Baroque master-class to the ballet program students. A Baroque gesture workshop presented to selected vocalists of the music department was very well received.

“I really appreciate how much you focused on principles of movement and posture rather than specific gestures. It gave me a different perspective and a lot to work on. It was so refreshing to work with movement and singing, and to work on the Baroque style. I hope we get to work together again sometime soon," said soprano Christine Johnson.

“It’s amazing how one hour with someone can kickstart the process, and in a very positive way. Thanks.” –Elisa LaBarge, soprano

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.