|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By
: Moul Jetr.
|
|
|
 |
|
|
L'khoan Yike
|
| |
|
Exquisite
costumes and haunting music are the hallmarks of
the ancient art of Khmer dance. Each intricate movement
is the product of hundreds of years of evolution.
The effect is unforgettable and audiences now have
the opportunity to experience a performance of this
and five related Khmer art forms at the Royal University
of Fine Arts during July for less than US$1.
Six types of traditional and classical art performances
await patrons of the arts each Saturday and Sunday
from 6 pm at the Theater Hall of the Royal University
of Fine Arts, on Street 70, next to the Old |
|
|
|
Stadium or just
west of the Cambodia-Japan Friendship Bridge roundabout.
A front-seat ticket costs just 3000 riel and a back row
seat is 2000 riel (or about 50 cents).
They are available at the door of the 500-seat Theater
Hall or at the United Nations Educational, Scientific
and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) office just northeast
of the Royal Palace.
The festival is aimed at both rehabilitating and promoting
Cambodia's cultural heritage in its highest form and encouraging
the arts. The performances will give the artistes financial
income and a rare chance to perform in front of an audience.
The eight-week traditional and classical art festival
beginning from early June is split between the National
Theatre and the Royal University of Fine Arts.
About 50 actors and musicians from the National Theatre
were featured every weekend throughout June and those
of the Royal University are taking over for the July weekends. |
|
|
A synopsis
of each story performed would be available at the
door of the Theater Hall, according to Mr Suon Bunrith
of UNESCO. He said the performances were a joint
production between the Ministry of Culture and Fine
Arts and UNESCO, with the help of sponsorship from
Mobitel.
On July 1, the troupe of the Arts Department presents
its final performance when the classical dance Kray
Thong is performed.
The Royal University of Fine Arts takes over on
the weekend of July 7 and 8, performing the Bassac
Theater drama Saing Sel-chey.
The following weekend, July 14 and 15, features
the Khmer Circus and Folklore Dance.
On July 21 and 22, the Yike tragic drama entitled
Neang Padacha will be presented. The final weekend,
July 28 and 29, provides patrons with a chance to
enjoy a mixed program of classical dance and L'khoan
Khoal. |
|
| |
 |
|
L'khoan Yike
|
| |
|
|
|
The Ministry of
Culture and Fine Arts organized similar events at Chakdomouk
Conference Hall in August 1999 with support and assistance
of UNESCO, the French Cultural Center and Shell Company
and in October 2000, a similar festival was staged in
Takeo Province by the Ministry, in cooperation with UNESCO
and the Kasumisou Foundation.
Although a sponsor was found for the current eight-weekend
festival, any subsequent performances still need support
from new sponsors. For more information about the performance
sponsorship package, call UNESCO on 723 054, 426 726 or
725 071. |
|
|
| |
|
 |
|
L'khaon Khoal
|
| |
|
BACKGROUND
OF
THEATER FORMS
Classical Dance
Khmer Classical Dance is one of the oldest Cambodian
performance arts and evolved in the Pre-Angkorian
Period.
This is the most luxuriant form of classical dance,
featuring the most ornate costumes.
Khmer Classical Dance is regarded as a sacred dance
of Khmer ancestors. The traditional Pinpeat orchestra
and the accompanying troupe of singers play a major
role in directing the dancers.
This form of dance was once strictly for female
dancers but since the latter part 20th century,
men have been allowed to dance, although only in
two roles_ those of the monkey and of the holy teacher. |
|
|
|
L'khoan Bassac
L'khoan Bassac (Bassac Theater) is a traditional Khmer
form of theater that uses song and is among the most popular
of all Cambodian theater forms.
L'khoan Bassac originates from L'khoan Troeung Klok, a
style of theater founded by a man named Master Sue in
the Bassac district of Kampuchea Krom.
In 1930s, Mr. Cha Kruon and his L'khoan Troeung Klok troupe
toured Phnom Penh and several Cambodian provinces.
The form was an instant hit.
Bassac Theatre is strongly influenced by Hy (Chinese Opera)
and Kai Loeung (Vietnamese theater), which is evident
not only in its scenic, costume and makeup elements, but
also in the extremely physical, almost acrobatic acting
techniques.
In the 1960s, L'khoan Bassac was strongly promoted by
well-known actors Mr. Saing Sarun and Ms. Chek Mach. This
was a glorious period for L'khoan Bassac.
In 1982, following the dark period of the Pol Pot regime
when
many artistes perished, L'khoan Bassac was revived together
with other classic Cambodian entertainment arts and quickly
spread throughout the country once again.
However, the form is still considered threatened. |
|
|
| |
|
 |
|
L'khaon Bassac
|
| |
|
|
Khmer Traditional
Circus
Khmer acrobats, jugglers and other circus performers
are depicted in bas-relief on the walls of Angkor,
showing circus that has had a place in Cambodia's
culture for centuries.
These carvings tell us that early Cambodian circus
performers used scenes from everyday life _ climbing
palm trees, throwing building materials from man
to man when building houses, walking on tight ropes
from tree to tree as they collected sugar palm juice
_ as premises for their juggling, balancing and
clown acts.
L'khaon Khoal |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Modern Khmer circus
was almost extinct before 1980 and the revived version
has been influenced by the circus traditions of Vietnam
and Russia. However its music and dance steps remain purely
Khmer, and the tricks and acrobatics which it incorporates
maintain a strongly Khmer flavor in their execution.
An exuberant art, the feats of these performers dazzle
the audience.
L'khoan Yike
L'khoan Yike (Yike Theater) is an extremely popular and
ancient form of Cambodian musical theater.
Today, Yike is performed throughout the country and is
most popular in Siem Reap, Kampong Cham, Pursat, Kampong
Chhnang, Svay Rieng and Kampot.
At first, Yike was often used as a post-performance event
in the palace following classical ballet theater, but
soon became so popular that it began being performed in
its own rite. Research has revealed that Yike was originally
of Champa origin and evolved into its modern form between
the third and sixth centuries.
Prior to that it had been practiced as a religious ceremony
of fertility by farmers.
The earlier forms of this art incorporated mostly the
drum as musical accompaniment. Over the years, the form
changed, incorporating various costumes and musical instruments,
adapting itself to new trends in poetry, narration and
singing. Yike features highly stylized acting and is used
as a vehicle to recount famous legends.
Folklore Dance
This is a highly popular form of dance, which has always
been highly accessible and an art of the common people.
Folklore dance often embraces mythical stories but mostly
represents everyday life. There are dances that represent
the rice harvest, the beginning and ending of the rainy
season, fishing and other aspects of rural life.
Every province has its own indigenous dance and there
is also a specific folklore dance to accompany each major
Khmer holiday.
L'khaon Khoal
As most of the dancers in classical Khmer dance are traditionally
women, L'khoan Khoal or Khoal Theater was created during
the Angkor period as a form of masked classical dance
which is performed strictly by men.
The dance form itself is similar to Classical Dance.
The stories are always taken from the Reamker (the Khmer
version of the Buddhist Ramayana Epic). Performances are
accompanied musically by the Pin Peat ensemble. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Next Article
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Suite
B8, Regency Square, InterContinental Hotel, 294 Mao Tse Toung
Boulevard,
Phnom Penh, Kingdom of Cambodia.
Tel: (855) 23 213 133 Fax: (855) 23 213 033
E-mail:
editor@leisurecambodia.com |
|
|
|
Read
Leisure By :
