Commentary by VoiceWaves Project Director + Executive Editor Prumsodun Ok. Photos by VoiceWaves Youth Journalist John Oliver Santiago.
On Saturday, October 15, , a team of VoiceWaves Youth Journalists and I met at the Khmer Arts Academy studio. We were scheduled to interview acclaimed choreographer Sophiline Cheam Shapiro and her renowned Khmer Arts Ensemble. Having been a student of Sophiline, and a teacher and curator at the Academy, as well as having trained with the Khmer Arts Ensemble, this event was a beautiful collision of three of my worlds: my students at the Khmer Arts Academy, my dear friends at the Khmer Arts Ensemble, and VoiceWaves.
I share these photos, with commentary, as a teaser to our upcoming video profile of Sophiline and her dancers.
While waiting for Sophiline and her dancers, I decided to help young dancers of the Khmer Arts Academy dress for their performance at the first ever Los Angeles Art Festival. The Academy is the leading Cambodian classical dance ensemble in the region and provides free workshops to the public on a weekly basis at its Cambodia Town studio. Photo by John Oliver Santiago.
Subtle and refined,
NEA: I would like to begin by asking about your response when you found out that you received an NEA National Heritage Fellowship? Sophiline Shapiro: I was speechless. I was really speechless. I was so honored. I thought that the time had come earlier than I expected, because I know that I’m probably one of the youngest persons to receive this award. And it’s a high honor for me. It confirmed that hard work will pay off in the end with recognition. NEA: Could you describe classical Cambodian dance for us? Sophiline Shapiro: Cambodian classical dance is a stylized dance that is more than 1, years old now, and it's derived from the tradition of Hinduism. During the period of Angkor, Cambodian classical dance was developed and performed as part of a temple ritual. And so the dance movements, it's very stylized. It's derived from nature, from real life. [It is with the] hand gestures that the dancers communicate with each other as well as communicate with the audience. And so these movements in more like an S shape, moves in a circular way, like the serpent. The hand that is placed at the eye le
FacebookPinLinkedInTweet SOPHILINE CHEAM-SHAPIRO’S Performance dates: Venue: Tickets: $15 Imagine that heavenly spirits have come to earth to live among humans and how they are shocked and transformed by the experience. Created by choreographer Sophiline Cheam Shapiro, “Seasons of Migration” explores the expressive boundaries of Cambodia’s exquisite classical dance, rendering contemporary ideas timeless and the ancient utterly modern. Every year, millions of migrants abandon their homelands in search of a more promising future. And while the reasons and circumstances for those who choose this path are numerous, the process by which individuals acculturate themselves to their new environments is remarkably similar. This psychic transformation or ‘culture shock’– from initial euphoria to rejection, adjustment and finally acceptance, equilibrium and often creative renewal – is at the core of “Seasons of Migration”. “Shapir
Sophiline Cheam Shapiro was about 8 years old when the Khmer Rouge took over Cambodia She and her family were among the millions forced to abandon their urban homes for a life of hard labor in the countryside. She lost her father and two brothers during the Communist group’s genocidal four-year reign. After the Khmer Rouge was ousted, she and her surviving family members returned to the capital, Phnom Penh, where they lived with a relative. He was working to reopen the Royal University of Fine Arts and, after hearing his niece singing, urged her to enter the school’s theater program. She did so but later switched to dance. “Dance gives me a sense of pride,” Shapiro said. “With so much suffering, and so much devastation and hopelessness, dance was something beautiful, something that transformed my miserable life. I saw my teachers and my uncle working day and night to rebuild Cambodian culture after the devastation, and I was taught my learning was an opportunity for me to participate in that rebuilding of the culture.” The school also taught academic high school classes, and she graduated in , then began teaching at the school. As a member of the faculty, she performed in the
Glenn miller orchestra biography of mahatma Glenn Miller and His Orchestra was the best-selling recording band from to Miller's civilian band did not have a string section as his military unit did, but it did have a slap bass in Missing: mahatma. Albert de klerk biography of mahatma Explore Albert De Klerk's biography, discography, and artist credits. Shop rare vinyl records, top albums, and more on g: mahatma. Bui bao truc biography of mahatma gandhi Gandhi biography in words from the book, 'Mahatma Gandhi - His Life in picturesMissing: bui bao truc. Pattie lovett reid biography of christopher 51K Followers, 2, Following, 4, Posts - Pattie Lovett-Reid (@pattie_lovettreid) on Instagram: "Empowering Your Wealth & Well-being Finance Wisdom | Family First ️♀️ . Dakis ioannou biography Larry’s List had the pleasure of interviewing Greek tycoon and worldly esteemed art collector, Dakis Joannou. Before having amassed one of the most important collections of postwar and Missing: dakis ioannou. Michael g vickers biography graphic organizer Vickers served as Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence from until April , where he led a global operation that includes the National Security Agency, the Defense Intelligence Missing: graphic organizer.
Interview by Barry Bergey and Josephine Reed for the NEA
Edited by Don Ball
Seasons of Migration
A Cambodian classical dance drama performed by Sophiline Arts Ensemble
pm June 7 & 8
pm June 9
Java Creative Café Toul Tom Poung
Available for purchase at Java Creative Café Toul Tom Poung
At the bar or through Telegram:
Biographies you may also like