Darin Chhing, 11, performs the white monkey dance during a performance of the Khmer Angkor Dance Troupe on Saturday at the Luepke Senior Center. The role of Hanuman, the white monkey, is the only one performed by a male dancer in traditional Khmer dance. (KRISTINA WRIGHT for The Columbian)
Vachana Chet, from left, Paulina Khin and Ashley Kourn of the Khmer Angkor Dance Troupe line up before their performance at a Cambodian New Year celebration Saturday in Vancouver. (KRISTINA WRIGHT for The Columbian)Sunday, April 08, 2007
By Justin Carinci
The Columbian (Washington, USA)
Growing up in Cambodia, Mealeatey Pel had never performed the Khmer court dance. After moving to the United States and later joining the Vancouver-based Khmer Angkor Dance Troupe, the traditional dances took on greater meaning.
"Every time I hear the Cambodian music, it takes my mind away," Pel said. "My stress and everything goes away."
The Khmer Angkor Dance Troupe performed Saturday night during a Cambodian New Year celebration at the Luepke Senior Center in Vancouver. The group, led by Connie Mom-Chhing of Vancouver, has been teaching Khmer, or Cambodian, dance and culture since 1986.
Clark County has a tight-knit Khmer community, Mom-Chhing said. "It's still a small community, even though Washington state has the third-largest (Khmer) population in the U.S."
Mom-Chhing learned the dances from her mother, Vann Hem, once a member of the Cambodian Royal Ballet. Vann Hem, who gave up dance to become a Buddhist nun, died recently.
"We lost her this last year," Mom-Chhing said. "So it's all on me now."
Mom-Chhing has passed the elaborate dances her mother taught her to a younger generation. Most are 14 or younger. Many wear the ornate costumes Vann Hem stitched herself.
The dancers spent most of Saturday afternoon getting in costume. Before their performance, they posed on stage under a tinselly "Happy New Year" banner and in front of a backdrop depicting Angkor Wat, an ancient Khmer temple.
Ashley Kourn, 10, of Vancouver has been with the group for four years and doesn't get nervous in front of a crowd. "I like going on stage a lot," she said. "I'm not like one of those shy girls."
In the "Wishing Dance," five girls tossed flower petals to the audience to bring peace and prosperity for the new year. In another, dancers carrying red, green and blue feathered fans used them to fan in prosperity and good health for the ruler of Cambodia and fan out adversity.
Women portray both male and female characters in traditional Khmer dancing. Hanuman, the white monkey, is the exception. Mom-Chhing's 11-year old son, Darin, performed the Hanuman role Saturday, leaping and gesturing with a knife.
A group of girls, too young to learn the dances themselves, stood in a rapt semicircle in front of the stage. Mom-Chhing hopes she can use dance to teach Khmer culture even to those who have never seen Cambodia.
"That's one of the things the parents are looking for," Mom-Chhing said. "Even though (the children) were born and are growing up here, there's a piece of them that's Cambodian."
"Every time I hear the Cambodian music, it takes my mind away," Pel said. "My stress and everything goes away."
The Khmer Angkor Dance Troupe performed Saturday night during a Cambodian New Year celebration at the Luepke Senior Center in Vancouver. The group, led by Connie Mom-Chhing of Vancouver, has been teaching Khmer, or Cambodian, dance and culture since 1986.
Clark County has a tight-knit Khmer community, Mom-Chhing said. "It's still a small community, even though Washington state has the third-largest (Khmer) population in the U.S."
Mom-Chhing learned the dances from her mother, Vann Hem, once a member of the Cambodian Royal Ballet. Vann Hem, who gave up dance to become a Buddhist nun, died recently.
"We lost her this last year," Mom-Chhing said. "So it's all on me now."
Mom-Chhing has passed the elaborate dances her mother taught her to a younger generation. Most are 14 or younger. Many wear the ornate costumes Vann Hem stitched herself.
The dancers spent most of Saturday afternoon getting in costume. Before their performance, they posed on stage under a tinselly "Happy New Year" banner and in front of a backdrop depicting Angkor Wat, an ancient Khmer temple.
Ashley Kourn, 10, of Vancouver has been with the group for four years and doesn't get nervous in front of a crowd. "I like going on stage a lot," she said. "I'm not like one of those shy girls."
In the "Wishing Dance," five girls tossed flower petals to the audience to bring peace and prosperity for the new year. In another, dancers carrying red, green and blue feathered fans used them to fan in prosperity and good health for the ruler of Cambodia and fan out adversity.
Women portray both male and female characters in traditional Khmer dancing. Hanuman, the white monkey, is the exception. Mom-Chhing's 11-year old son, Darin, performed the Hanuman role Saturday, leaping and gesturing with a knife.
A group of girls, too young to learn the dances themselves, stood in a rapt semicircle in front of the stage. Mom-Chhing hopes she can use dance to teach Khmer culture even to those who have never seen Cambodia.
"That's one of the things the parents are looking for," Mom-Chhing said. "Even though (the children) were born and are growing up here, there's a piece of them that's Cambodian."
4 comments:
The natives whispered to each other. Some said; IT'S VERY VERY DISTURBING, AND EYES SORING..
No argument, here.
how wise you are,just stay for dinner.
Well, what's on the menu, hehehe!!!
We are not talking BigMac, are we?
LOL.
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