Ballet Theatre Company Hosts Balinese Master Classes Taught by Carlos Fittante

In May, 2007, Ballet Theatre Company hosted a series of four master classes in the traditional Balinese dance style. The classes were taught by Carlos Fittante, Artistic Director of New York City’s Balinese-American Dance Theater (BALAM). While here, Mr Fittante staged a new contemporary work, “Primordial Embers” for the the spring performance season.      Dancers had the opportunity to learn about the eye, hand and foot movements that constitute an important part of the Balinese dance and to work with traditional skirts, fans and masks that Mr. Fittante brought to the classes.      Carlos Fittante is a remarkable dance artist who specializes in Balinese and Baroque, dance.  He is a graduate of the School of American Ballet, holds a Bachelors of Arts in Dance from Empire State College, and has studied and performed extensively in Bali, Indonesia.  Since 1990, Fittante has been the artistic director of BALAM Dance Theatre, a contemporary dance company inspired Balinese theatre.  As a Baroque specialist, Fittante was principal dancer with the New York Baroque Dance Company, and a featured soloist with New York City Opera, Boston Early Music Festival.  He has performed in Bali , Japan , Korea , England , Germany , Mexico , and throughout the United States .  His choreography has been presented at La MaMa E.T.C.,  Lincoln Center Out-of-Doors, First Night New York, DUMBO Dance Festival, Queens Museum of Art, Washington University in St Louis, MO to mention a few.  He teaches “Mask & Gesture” at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute, and has performed as an actor onstage and in film.   Mr. Fittante’s residency was made possible by the generous support of the Edward C. and Ann T. Roberts Foundation.     Other Photos: