BALAM Dance Theatre to Debut Program, Live Baroque Music and Dance, at Gotham Early Music Scene's Midtown Concerts

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BALAM Dance Theatre to Debut New Program:

Live Baroque Music and Dance at

Gotham Early Music Scene's Midtown Concerts

(New York, New York; May 19, 2021) -- BALAM Dance Theatre (BALAM), a non-profit professional dance theatre company, premieres Live Baroque Music and Dance, a new Baroque inspired choreography created by the company's artistic director, Carlos Fittante. The virtual performance will be presented live by Midtown Concerts, a project of Gotham Early Music Scene, at Church of the Transfiguration, located at 1 East 29th Street, New York, New York 10016 on Thursday, May 27 from 1:15 to 1:55 p.m. EST.

            The program is FREE and may be viewed live on May 27 at these websites:

• https://gemsny.org/midtown-live
• https://www.youtube.com/MidtownConcerts
• https://www.facebook.com/MidtownConcerts/live

            BALAM, a 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. The new program features two New York premieres, El Bosque and Fandango, and the world premiere, Four Corantos. The program will be performed by BALAM's artistic director, Baroque choreographer and dancer Carlos Fittante, and guest musicians Lisa Terry of Parthenia Viol Consort and Ryan Closs of 4&20 Strings and the Lute Society of America New York Chapter.

            The company celebrates its first live performance since the COVID-19 pandemic began with this intimate and imaginative program using Baroque musical gems from England, Scotland, Italy, and Peru. These works are featured: diverse Corantos and other selections from the Leycester Lyra Viol Manuscript by John Jenkins (1592-1678) for solo viol, charming Scottish Tunes by Francesco Barsanti (1690-1775), the rolling Toccata Arpeggiato for theorbo by Giovanni Girolamo Kaspberger (1580-1651), and the commanding Fandango for Baroque guitar by Matías Maestro Alegría (1766-1835).

            "This new intimate program expresses the creative spirit that sustained us during the pandemic period and the renewed opportunity to perform together in-person feels like a joyful blossoming, after a harsh and austere winter," said Fittante.

            Fittante presents these original and historically informed choreographies: El Bosque (The Forest); Fandango, with castanets and taconeo (rhythmic footwork in the Escuela Bolera style); and four distinct representations of the Coranto, a dance form inspired by King Louis XIV’s favorite dance, the Courante. These dances bring history to life through an elegant and artistically charged embodiment of period aesthetics.

About BALAM Dance Theatre

            Founded by choreographer and movement researcher, Islene Pinder, BALAM Dance Theatre offers a new vision of contemporary dance that is rooted in the dazzling opulence and magical aura of Balinese theatre. 

            The New York City-based dance/theatre company creates a unique entertainment experience that has universal appeal.  Audiences of all ages and backgrounds enjoy BALAM’s innovative movement alchemy where dynamic athleticism, detailed skills, and movement techniques from around world and time periods are fused and enhanced by eclectic music, striking masks, vibrant costumes and fantasy stories.

            The company educates the community about dances and cultures featured in its repertoire.  Through its Out & About Series, free and affordable performances, workshops and creative events at the grassroots level are made available for families, children, students and community residents.  

            BALAM has been featured at numerous festivals and venues including First Night New York; Lincoln Center Out-of-Doors; Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival; Downtown Dance Festival; and has also appeared throughout the United States and internationally. The company has received praise 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. 

           For further information, call 646-361-9183 or visit BALAM Dance Theatre on its blog, www.balamdancetheatre.blogspot.com, follow the company on Facebook, www.facebook.com/balamdancetheatre, and check for updates on Twitter @BALAMDance.

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