Master musicians Kong Nai, left, and Suon Pe, at Cambodia's first arts retreat, Mohaosrop Selepak Khmer Amatak, in Battambang.
Twelve-year old Joy Rithy trotted barefoot for more than two kilometers from his
Andong Jeng village to hear what the commotion was at the Phare Ponleu Selapak campus
in Battambang. When he arrived at the sprawling arts complex, Rithy was awed by the
spectacle before him.
"There is so much energy and excitement here," he said. "I did not
expect to see so many students and so much Khmer art all in one place."
Battambang was recently the site of a week-long explosion of art demonstrations,
musical performances, workshops, games, and dance.
The first arts retreat, Mohaosrop Selepak Khmer Amatak 2006, featured more than 310
master artists, students, visiting artists and observers - brought together by an
alliance of arts organizations such as Cambodian Living Arts, Phare Ponleu Selapak,
Epic Arts, Friends Economic Development Association, (FEDA) and US-based Watkinson
School.
According to Phany Tum, 34, Country Manager of Cambodian Living Arts, the focus of
Mohaosrop was "learning and sharing."
"At the opening day procession on August 24, students were on the edge of their
seats as the thunder roared in the background," said Tum, an expatriate Khmer
from Providence, Rhode Island. "Already, I could anticipate what awaited the
students and masters. The event will be special."
There were four workshop sessions in 12 different art forms. The classes included
traditional Khmer and Western arts, and ranged through wedding music, ritualistic
funeral chanting known as smot, painting, street circus, Bassac opera, chapey dong
veng or long-necked guitar, and even salsa dancing.
"These workshops were inspirational to participate in and observe," said
Dickon Verey, 31, who represented FEDA, a youth-centered organization that provides
educational opportunities to rural residents.
"If you go on any bus trip in Cambodia, every kid sings. There is music in every
child. And during the music workshop, young students were taking notes and asking
question after question of the masters."
Sor Touch, 23, a Phare student in painting, echoes similar sentiments. "I attended
the Bassac Theater workshop with very little knowledge of this traditional art. I
came out of Master Norng Chock's workshop understanding the relationship between
the placement of music and dance movements."
Master musicians Kong Nai, left, and Suon Pe, at Cambodia's first arts retreat, Mohaosrop Selepak Khmer Amatak, in Battambang.
According to the Mohaosrop program booklet, Bassac Theater is a traditional Khmer
form of theater that uses song and is among the most popular of all Cambodian theater
forms. It is strongly influenced by Hy (Chinese Opera) and Kai Loeung (Vietnamese
theater), which is evident in its scenery, costumes and makeup and also in the extremely
physical and almost acrobatic acting techniques.
Besides the educational component of Mohaosrop, the seven-day program offered a rare
opportunity for rural villagers to enjoy performances of many Khmer art forms. One
crowd favorite was the Phare street circus and sbaek thom, a form of shadow puppetry
that means, "large skin."
Ben Sokchea, 13, of Phnom Penh, was dazzled by Wat Bo's shadow theater troupe.
"My eyes lit up from the burning fire behind the cloth stage," Sokchea
said. "I was mesmerized by the detailed puppet pieces, rhythmic body movements
and story of warfare."
The collective energy of the participants did not dissipate, and often lasted until
the early hours. At the closing finale, students, masters and international guests
performed non-stop.
According to event organizers, the objective of Mohaosrop 2006 was to create lasting
memories for the participants, revive traditional Cambodian art forms and inspire
contemporary artistic expression.
"If the arts die, so will the nation; today, it gives me strong hope that our
beloved Cambodia has been reborn," said Kum Sinath, 63, of Siem Reap.
Contact PhnomPenh Post for full article
Post Media Co LtdThe Elements Condominium, Level 7
Hun Sen Boulevard
Phum Tuol Roka III
Sangkat Chak Angre Krom, Khan Meanchey
12353 Phnom Penh
Cambodia
Telegram: 092 555 741
Email: [email protected]