BALAM Dance Theatre to Debut Myths & Stars: Balinese, Spanish, Baroque & Fusion Dance

BALAM Dance Theatre (BALAM) returns to Bergen County to premiere the new Out & About series program, Myths and Stars, in Leonia on Sunday, November 15. The song and dance program features Inma Heredia from Seville, Spain, the world’s first Flamenco stand-up comedian. The performance will be presented at the Leonia Public Library, located at 227 Fort Lee Road, from 2:00-3:00 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

This latest program from BALAM’s community service Out & About series features the company’s Artistic Director Carlos Fittante, Resident Guest Actor Inma Heredia, dancer Barbara Romero, and guest dancer Yumiko Niimi in her debut with the company. Bergen County dancer Barbara Romero will perform the rarely seen Spanish escuela bolero solo, La Cachucha, with castanets. Her performance will spotlight luminary Austrian ballerina Fanny Elssler, who originally presented the balletic solo La Cachucha in 1836.

BALAM presents a new vision of contemporary dance that combines ballet, modern and diverse cultural dance styles from around the world and historic periods with Balinese theatre. Dancers Romero and Fittante recently performed at the Bergen Performing Arts Center in the New Jersey Association of Verismo Opera’s production of Lucia di Lammermoor.

World’s First Flamenco Stand-Up Comedian

The entertaining and diverse program features the charm of actor, comedian, and singer Inma Heredia, the world’s first Flamenco stand-up comedian from Seville, Spain. This dynamic performer will present excerpts from her acclaimed one-woman cabaret show, Divas de España. On the stage, Heredia will transform and become singer and actress Sara Montiel; singer, dancer and actress Lola Flores; and actress, comedian and flamenco guitarist Charo.

Two beloved myths will be represented through dance. The first, Rama and Sita, is an excerpt from the Hindu epic Ramayana, danced in a Balinese fusion style, with Fittante and Niimi. The second piece, Icarus, presents the Greek myth performed by artistic director Fittante in a Baroque contemporary dance movement style with three-foot hand carved Balinese wings. The family friendly show will include an audience participation segment.

The library is handicapped accessible. Parking is available in the back of the building, in the municipal lot located on Broad Avenue, and on the streets around the library. For further information, contact the Leonia Public Library at 201-592-5770.

For further information, call 646-361-9183 or visit BALAM Dance Theatre online, follow the company on Facebook, and Pinterest. Check for updates on Twitter @BALAMDance and view the company’s work on You Tube.