The Royal Ballet of

In collaboration with the Ministry of Culture of Cambodia and the French Embassy in . Chorégraphy by her Royal Highness Princess Norodom Buppha Devi

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IMMATERIAL HERITAGE UNESCO duration : 1h20

UNESCO :

Choreography by Her Royal Highness Princess Norodom Buppha Devi

Renowned for its graceful hand gestures and stunning costumes, the Royal Ballet of Cambodia, also known as Khmer Classical Dance, has been closely associated with the Khmer court for over one thousand years. Performances would traditionally accompany royal ceremonies and observances such as coronations, marriages, funerals or Khmer holidays. This art form, which narrowly escaped annihilation in the 1970s, is cherished by many Cambodians. Infused with a sacred and symbolic role, the dance embodies the traditional values of refinement, respect and spirituality. Its repertory perpetuates the legends associated with the origins of the . Consequently, Cambodians have long esteemed this tradition as the emblem of Khmer culture. Four distinct character types exist in the classical repertory: Neang the woman, Neayrong the man, Yeak the giant, and Sva the monkey. Each possesses distinctive colours, costumes, makeup and masks.The gestures and poses, mastered by the dancers only after years of intensive training, evoke the gamut of human emotions, from fear and rage to love and joy. An orchestra accompanies the dance, and a female chorus provides a running commentary on the plot, highlighting the emotions mimed by the dancers, who were considered the kings’ messengers to the gods and to the ancestors. The Royal Ballet practically ceased to exist under the repressive rule of the , who eliminated almost all master dancers and musicians. Immediately after Pol Pot’s defeat in 1979, dance troupes re-emerged and performances of the ancient repertory resumed. The ballet has regained its former splendour but still faces numerous difficulties such as a lack of funding and suitable performance spaces, competition from modern media

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Distribution:

Her Royal Highness the Princess Norodom Buppha Devi, Proeung Chieng, Soth Somaly, chorégraphy

His Royal Highness Prince Sisowath Tesso, chef de la délégation

Chansoda CHEN, Chanmony ROTH, Sakada SIN, Chanmoly VUTH, Chamroeuntola CHAP, Savin SAM, Sopheap HANG, Chanthida OUM, Vichheka PRASETH, Vanvotey MOM, Chanvorleak SETH, Sovan POK, Phorsda SANG, Limsothea SAM, Samphors CHAMROEUN, Lydana SOK, Phirum Keo, Sovanney SAMATH, Dalis OU, Vichivi PRASETH, dancers

Thavarak SŒUR, Chumnit PENH, Sovannarith KHIEV, dancers

Phalla Se, Pruong Proeung, Kong Chum, Kol Nol, Sok Chhem, Kimsour San, musicians

Side Ek, Marey Doung, Sarath Hun, Bunly Meng, singers

Sim Mantha, Pen Sokhuon, Soth Somaly, Tep Sannarim, staff

Christophe Olivier, lights

Eric Bodard, sound

Zaman Production 14, rue de l’Atlas - 75 019 PARIS – France

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The Royal Ballet has been praised by the international medias…

The Royal Ballet has successfuly performed in the following countries : USA, Japan, , Belgium, , Northern-Corea, Singapor, , Danemark, , France, Italy, Thaïland, and Russia.

THE NEW YORK TIMES – 23 / 08 / 2001 (Jennifer Dunning)

« The celestial and the earthly coexisted with remarkable serenity on Tuesday night, when « Dance, the Spirit of Cambodia opened a week-long season at the Joyce Theater. (…) What stands out in « Robam » and the programm as a whole, though in a comparative whisper in these days of vaunted dance technique, is the extraordinary control required to sustain such distinguable features as the sloz one-legged turns and the soft S-curves of the women’s bodies.

The Dance Insider – 8/ 28 /01

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« They dance in a manner of extreme serenity, a betting description if you’ve ever witnessed the intensely calm manner of a Cambodian dancer, the technique requires intense focus made to look effortless. The manner is grouiner, often in a soft plie,yet fluid, and the bearing quite regal. A simple and subtle, but noticeably significant, shift of weight follows controlled undulations that support the articulating fingers of the graceful women, it’s both sweet and seductive. »

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Boston Sunday Globe – 5/8/2001

« (…) But Cambodian dance has a more grounded, weighty quality than ballet. Its virtusosity is less obvious, depending not on flashy leaps and pirouettes but on keepsake all parts of the body moving at once, however subtly. This requires an almost trance-like focus and concentration. The accumulated effect is spellbinding, making it stratling when certain dances actually stop. »

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San Jose Mercury News – 8/ 8/ 2001 (Anita Amirerrezvami)

« Dance is known for being sumptuous and flowing, Shapiro-Phim says the dance aesthetic may be inspired by the shape of a sacred sea , whose image appears often in Cambodia and is thought of the dancers –their curving fingers, which can reach back to their forearms, their arched backs and flexed create a sinuous look.”

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Indicative Chronology of the

The Founan and Tchenla Empires : Ist-Ixth centuryAD - Founan (1st –V1th century) : first state under Indian influence (south of the present Cambodia). - Tchenla (V1th-1Xth century) : second state under Indian influence which will become Kambuja. - Jayavarman 1st (655-681) : king of the shivaïte cult.

Construction of the kingdom : 1Xth-X1th century. - Jayavaraman II (802-850) and Indravarman 1st (877-889),shivaïtes,found the Deva- Raja cult and the economic,political,and religious power of Angkor. - Râjendravarman II (944-968) divides Kambuja into territories.

The Golden Age of Angkor : XIth-XVth century. - Sûryavaman II (1113-1152) extends considerably the Khmer kingdom. He builds Angkor Vat. - Jayavarman VII (1181-1218) builds the (Angkor Thom). - Jayavarman VIII (1242-1295) establishes . - Pillaging of Angkor (“”) by the Siamese in 1431.

Internal Wars against Anamese and Siamese : XVIth-XIXth century. - Ang Chan 1st (1516-1566):conqueror of the Siamese at Siem Reap. From 1619- 1860,the Siamese and Annamese kings colonise the Khmer lands. - Cambodia accepts the French protectorate on 11th August 1863.

The Modern Period. - 1941-1955 : reign of . - 9 November 1953 Declaration of independence from Cambodia. - 1970-1975:Lon Nol,President of the . - 17 April 1975-1979:dictatorship of the Khmer Rouge led by Pol Pot. - Signature of a coalition agreement in 1981 between the different political parties in the country. - Signature of the Paris agreements in 1991 :official end of the conflict. - Creation of a National Supreme Council.

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