|
With "Cambodia the Beautiful" in mind, the CCD is proud to present the following programs to business, organization, and interested individual who might be interested in sponsoring one or more components. The cost stated at each component is the amount that we will be paying to the performing group, or the estimated cost that would incur to make the component possible. Part I lists all stage performance. Part II elaborates the description and facts of the cultural components so that sponsors and the public would know what they are. PART I: Stage Performances 1. PHLENG KHMER (Traditional Music)
A show case of Phleng Mohoree will be performed by Mohori Phirum group. Classical Khmer music is often divided into three categories: pin peat, the ceremonial music of the former royal courts; phleng kar, the songs of the wedding ceremony; and mohori, secular entertainment music, also originating in the royal courts, that is played by a string-based ensemble. Mohori usually accompanies a play of the same name and Khmer folk dances. It consists of roneat, khloy (duct flute), tro (two-stringed fiddle), krapoe (three-stringed floor zither), thon romonea (two-piece drum set), and chhing.
Cost: $500.00
2. CLASSICAL/FOLKLORE DANCES
Classical dance and folklore dances will be performed by Cambodian American Heritage, Inc (CAHI). Khmer classical dancers use stylized movements and gestures to tell a story much like a mime. Dancers do not speak or sing; they dance with a slight smile and are never supposed to open their mouths. Khmer classical dance can be compared to French ballet in that it requires years of practice and stretching at a young age so the limbs become very flexible.
Hand gestures in Khmer classical dance are called kbach (meaning style). These hand gestures form a sort of alphabet and represent various things from nature such as fruit, flowers, and leaves. They are used in different combinations, sometimes with accompanying foot movements, to convey different thoughts and concepts. The way in which they are presented, the position of the arm, and the position of the hand relative to the arm can also affect their meaning. Besides hand gestures are gestures which are more specific to their meaning, such as that which is used to represent laughing or flying. These other gestures are performed in different manners depending on which type of character is played.
Khmer folk dances are fast-paced. The movements and gestures are not as stylized as Khmer classical dance. Folk dancers wear clothes of the people they are portraying such as Chams, hill tribes, farmers, and peasants. Some folk dances are about love, or are folktales about animals.
Cost: $1,000.00
Back to top
PART II: Performance Description
The Cambodian-American Heritage, Inc. (CAHI) presents the Classical/Folklore dances as follow. The pictures shown are just for illustration only. Robaim Choun Por (Blessing Dance) By tradition, Cambodians mark special holidays with certain dances from the repertoire of Cambodian classical ballet.
To mark the occasion such as this Cambodian Community Day event, a performance of the Blessing Dance is in order. This dance is performed by a group of young and beautiful girls to entertain and wish guests of honor as well as the audience, good health, happiness, prosperity and success. This dance features the dancers move gracefully and elegantly, holding golden goblets. Inside the goblets are flower blossoms. The blossoms are symbolic representations of blessings from the gods. As the dancers pluck the blossoms from the goblets and gently toss them forward toward the audience, the gesture symbolizes the blessings of the gods falling upon the audience.
|  |
Back to top
Robaim Ken (Mouth Organ Dance)
In modern times, the Cambodian royal ballet moved from its very exclusive environment of the royal palace and into public performances. At the same time a rich and varied folk dance heritage had long been part of the common culture. Teachers and students of Cambodia’s Royal University of Fine Arts undertook a major project to travel throughout Cambodia’s provinces to observe folk traditions among the rural population and transform these celebrations into finalized folk dances. Immediately the first object of note is the costuming. Folk dance costuming is light and airy, representative of the clothing common to the province from which the folk dance originates or the types of clothing worn for harvesting specific crops or resources. Second, while the classical is much more purposeful in motion, the Cambodian folk dances are highly energized and much less inhibited.
Here, the theme of the dance revolves around the Cambodian mouth organ. The sound of the music and the fragrance of the flowers adorning the instruments attract young women to the male performers. As such, the dance is also a form of courtship ritual between Cambodian men and women. | |
Back to top Robaim Bopha Lokey (Flower Blossom Dance) Training in the Cambodian classical dance begins at a very early age, sometimes as young as three or four. In pictures of the girls beginning each training session, you can see the youngest dancers at the head of the line, practicing the fundamental gestures and movements that are integral to the Cambodian royal ballet. One of the most popular of the young girls’ dances is the Flower Blossom Dance. Here, the girls form a circle representative of a flower blossom as it spreads its petals and welcomes the day. Symbolically, the dance represents the dawning of a new generation of performers who begin a lifelong process of inheriting and preserving the dance for present and future generations. | | | | |
Back to top Robaim Kuos Tralauk (Coconut Shells Dance Our second folk dance in the program is the Robaim Kuas Tralauk, the Coconut Shells Dance.
Like other rural populations, Cambodians who live in the provinces and harvest the country’s natural resources make the fullest use of those resources in their daily lives. Often, these resources are fashioned into tools, food utensils and traditional instruments.
The coconut is an important natural resource in Cambodia. People who travel the countryside, particularly during the hottest of Cambodia’s seasons, often take rest in the shade of coconut trees and refresh themselves with coconut juice in season.
This dance pays tribute to this staple of Cambodian resources. | |  | |
Back to top
Robaim Neary Chea Chour (Beautiful Girl Line Dance)
| This dance is a popular classical dance often performed to open a special event or festivity. It is comparable to another classical dance, the Robaim Apsara. The Robaim Neary Chea Chuor was choreographed to represent the beauty of Young Khmer girls. | |  | |
Back to top
Robaim Kangok Pailin (Peacock of Pailin Dance)
Cambodia is famous for its varied wildlife and its natural resources.
The region of Pailin, which borders upon Thailand, is rich in precious stones. The resource is exploited by the Khmer-Kola, who, are of Burmese origin, and who have inhabited this region for generations. Their major activity is precious stone mining. They are known as the masters of the trade. Folk dances have been created for virtually all aspects of Cambodian rural life and the interaction between nature and Cambodian rural communities. .The original performance of this dance was adapted from a tale involving a peacock and a hunter, and was danced with both dancing and chasing actions. When it was brought to the University of Fine Arts, some of the original elements were eliminated and some new elements were added. The theme was changed and now emphasizes courting action
This folk dance is devoted to the peacocks found in the area surrounding the city of Pailin in Northwestern Cambodia. In this dance you will observe the peacock and peahen are flying and communicating joyfully with each other. | |
Back to top
|
Cambodian Community Day Committee. All rights reserved.