Press Release - August 25th, 2007

Take a “Body Trip to Bali ” with Movement Classes in Balinese Masked Dancing at the Salem YMCA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Carlos Fittante, Artistic Director, 646-361-9183 (cell phone), 978-745-1415 ( Salem office) 

Take a “Body Trip to Bali ” with Movement Classes in Balinese Masked Dancing at the Salem YMCA 

( August 25, 2007 — Salem , MA ) – Salem native, Carlos Fittante, will offer a unique movement workshop in the ancient tradition of Balinese masked dancing at the Salem YMCA, 1 Sewall Street , Salem , MA . Fittante's workshop, “Body Trip to Bali ”, frees the imagination of the workshop participant, while introducing the basic postures and movements of Balinese dance, utilizing a collection of striking wooden Balinese masks, colorful sarongs and costume pieces, gamelan music, as well as an informative video of daily Balinese life.

The workshop consists of four lessons. Class dates are: September 8, October 13, November 24, and December 15 on Saturdays from 12:15 p.m. - 1:45 p.m. No previous dance experience is necessary, and participants are welcome to sample a single class, but are encouraged to take the full workshop, as class material is cumulative. Workshop fees are $125 members, $190 non-members. For further information call the Salem YMCA at 978 -744-0351

Balinese Dance

Balinese dance traces its origins to the esoteric Hindu courts of Java from the 11th century, and is well known for its ritual theatre of fantasy characters adorned in sumptuous costumes, radiating a magical performance aura. This dance style emphasizes a grounded posture (much like a martial artist), breath control, eye movements, and complex co-ordinations of stylized hand and facial gestures, which promote refined body awareness, physical endurance, and an increased flow of energy throughout the body.  

Take a ‘Body Trip to Bali ' with Movement Classes in Balinese Masked Dancing at the Salem YMCA

Carlos Fittante

A Salem native, Carlos Fittante works in New York City , as a choreographer and dancer and has performed throughout the United States and internationally. He is the artistic director of the acclaimed BALAM Dance Theatre (BALAM), a contemporary world dance company inspired by Balinese theatre, and has also studied and performed in Bali , Indonesia with the Semara Ratih Gamelan. The Indonesian Consulate of New York said that Fittante's East/West fusion choreography, knowledge and skill in Balinese dance successfully joins two cultures and promotes greater understanding of Bali , Indonesia . Fittante is an eminent guest teacher throughout the United States , and is currently on faculty at the renowned Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute of New York, where he teaches “Mask & Gesture” and Balinese dance.

The BALAM History

BALAM was founded in 1979 by Islene Pinder, a City University of New York dance educator to bring the mesmerizing Balinese dance and theatre style to New York . Under the directorship of Spanish choreographer, Carlos Fittante, BALAM presents a cutting-edge vision of contemporary world dance that appeals to audiences of all ages and backgrounds. Its repertoire emanates from various movement skills --ballet, Baroque, Lester Horton, Spanish, Latin, ballroom, and karate movement techniques--fused with Balinese dance.

BALAM creates and performs original works inspired by traditional Balinese theatre. The dance company has been featured at numerous festivals and venues, including First Night New York; Lincoln Center Out-of-Doors; La Mama Experimental Theatre; Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival; and internationally at the Bali Arts Festival, Denpasar, Bali, and the 2nd Encuentro Internacíonal de Danza Contempor á nea, Canc ú n, Mexico.

The company's work has been commended and highly praised by the Governor of Bali , the Semara Ratih Gamelan of Ubud, Bali , and the Indonesian Consulate of New York.

For further information, please call 646-361-9183 or visit BALAM Dance Theatre on the web at www.balamdance.org .

Photos : Attached.

Photo #1. Headshot. Cutline: BALAM Dance Theatre artistic director, Carlos Fittante. Photographer: Mark Higashino

Photo #2. Cutline: BALAM Dance Theatre performer, Kristina Berger, performs the Balinese role of “Hanuman the Monkey King”. The mask is created by artist, Tanguh, from the village of Singapadu , Bali , Indonesia and the costume is designed by Casandra Saulter of New York . Photographer: Neil Sapienza.