Cultural Program to Feature Dance, Music, More

BALAM Dance Theatre, which has performed throughout the world, is bringing its eclectic fusion style in a new program The Faces of Love.

The show spotlights Balinese, Baroque, Spanish, Commedia dell'Arte, and fusion works, in the organization’s debut at the Puffin Cultural Forum on Saturday, Feb. 1, at 8 p.m.

Dance, music and acting inspired by themes of love, devotion and desire resonate throughout this production. The dancers performing in this program are BALAM Resident Balinese Artist Nani Devi, Noh Theatre actor/dancer Toshinori Hamada, principal ballerina Robin Gilbert, and artistic director, Baroque dance specialist, and Boston Early Music Festival co-choreographer Carlos Fittante.  

Featured special guest artists joining BALAM’s talented team are acclaimed musician Leah Nelson on Baroque violin; Barbara Romero, co-artistic director of Danzas Españolas; and Inma Heredia from Seville, Spain and the world’s first and only Flamenco stand-up comedian.

The program presents Margapati, a vibrant Balinese dance solo performed by a woman representing the power of a lion character and Tigerlily and the Dragonfly, a fantasy courtship on point.  Spanish themes of love are seen in Amantes, a haunting masked solo performed to a rumba; Folia, a Baroque courtship performed with castanets and fan language; Fandango Fantasy, a businessman’s risqué dream performed to live Baroque violin music; and El Vito, a rarely seen, alluring Spanish 19th century Escuela Bolera dance solo.  The Melon Peel, a ribald Commedia dell’Arte monologue, will delight the audience. Sunda Upasunda, a mythic story of ambition, desire, and jealousy, blends karate, Spanish dance and sword technique, Balinese dance, and modern dance. The audience will also be invited to participate. 

The event is open to the public and will be presented at 20 Puffin Way, off of Teaneck Road, in Teaneck.  

General seating is available and tickets cost $10. Reservations are recommended and may be made via email at tix@puffinfoundation.org or by calling 201-836-3499.