Balinese Connection

Balinese dance and a gamelan performance are among the highlights at the upcoming Family Sunday at the Honolulu Academy of Arts in conjunction with "Four Thousand Years of Southeast Asian Art" exhibit. The new exhibit features bronze and ceramic works from Thailand and Cambodia. Traditional Balinese dances like Oleg Tamulilingan (bumblebee dance) and Baris (warrior dance) are featured in the entertainment lineup.

Family activities, including making your own clay versions of weapons or ceramic ware, will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. tomorrow. The museum is open until 5 p.m. The Pavilion Cafe turns into a snack bar from noon to 3 p.m.

Attendees can also enter a drawing to vie for a family membership for the Academy. The winning entry will be featured on the museum’s website and on the cover of the next Family Sunday brochure.

Admission is free.

Ballet school has European pedigree

Ballet programs abound in Hawaii, but a new program is bringing added credentials to dance instruction.

The Royal Academy of Ballet, which opened this summer at the Gentry Pacific Design Center, is the first in Hawaii to be certified by the Royal Academy of Dance. Founded in 1920 by instructors from the major European schools of ballet, the academy of dance was established for the purpose of reviving dance instruction within the United Kingdom. Its program is now taught in 79 countries.

Vivienne Ma, who began ballet studies at age 3 in her native Malaysia and studied at Hawaii Pacific University, is the founder and artistic director of the Royal Academy of Ballet.

"We measure progression by examination," said Ma, who has taught ballet using academy curriculum in Los Angeles and London. "We have examiners fly in from all over the world to look at the students, and you get a report card."

Her program accepts students as young as age 2, with formal examination beginning at age 5.

For more information, visit www.rabhawaii.com.

Fall camps get keiki into science

Bishop Museum offers a specialty camp during the fall intercession. Camp Ed-Venture explores the fun side of science through a combination of excursions and hands-on experiments. The camp, open to children in kindergarten to sixth grade, will be held from Oct. 4 to 8 with daily access to the Science Adventure Center. Cost is $55 per day.

SPIRIT Adventures Day Camp, also held from 0ct. 4 to 8, will be held at various locations on Oahu, including Laniakea YWCA, Waimalu Elementary, Mililani Tech Park, Hahaione Elementary and Heeia Elementary. Students will participate in an array of activities including sailing, surfing, kayaking, team-building initiatives, dancing and cooking. The program is open to students in fifth to eighth grades. Cost is $200 per week.

Registration deadline is Friday for both of the Kamaaina Kids programs. The formal program begins at 8 a.m., but camp is open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Participants should bring lunch for either program. Register online at www.kamaainakids.com or call 262-4538 for more information.

Aquarium dresses up for storytelling

Mystical mermaids, costumed characters and storytelling are among the highlights at Ocean Literacy Day at the Waikiki Aquarium today from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Celebrity storytellers will read from popular books about the ocean and its underwater creatures at the inaugural event. Costumed characters will entertain the children on the lawn area. Attendees will also have an opportunity to explore the Waikiki Aquarium’s exhibits.

Admission is $9; $6 for kamaaina, military, students and seniors; $4 for youth ages 13 to 17; $2 for kids ages 5 to 12. Call 923-9741 or visit www.waquarium.org.

Can-do for food at Pearlridge

"Kids Can!" is the theme of this year’s annual "Canstruction Competition" at Pearlridge Center. Children ages 5 to 12 have an opportunity to work with architects to build their own structures today from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Participating keiki will be asked to donate at least five cans of food to the Hawaii Foodbank.

While the kids are building in the Kids Can Corner, teams of local architects, design and engineering professionals will create oversized structures made entirely of thousands of cans of food in the competition from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The structure that receives the most votes from members of the public during the two-week exhibition will be named People’s Choice Award winner. One can of donated food equals one vote.

The structures will be displayed through Oct. 3. All canned goods will be donated to the Hawaii Foodbank. In the past four years, the annual competition has raised 165,000 pounds of canned food for the Hawaii Foodbank. For more information, call 488-0981.