A three-day performance celebration to mark the cultural heritage listing of Khmer Royal Ballet and shadow puppetry will be held at Siem Reap’s Cultural village from December 30 to January 1, according to Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts technical department spokesman Ok Sophon.

Ok Sophon said celebrity singers, a Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts band, abundant Khmer food, shadow puppetry and classical dance performances will entertain and inform local and international visitors.  

“It’s the anniversary of the listing our ancient classical dance, and we are also celebrating the date Angkor Archaeological Park was declared a Unesco World Heritage site in 1992,” he said.

Royal Ballet was listed as a Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2003, and shadow puppetry in 2005.

Ok Sophon said the celebration would inform visitors that these art forms were traditional and precious to Cambodia.

He said, “The celebration aims to conserve Cambodian culture and to show the world Khmer Royal Ballet, shadow puppet performance and Khmer temples. This is an occasion to show that our unique ancient art form is an important part of Cambodian culture.”

The three-day celebration is organised by the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts in cooperation with the Siem Reap Provincial Hall.