At one point in time, I was hired as a part-time interpreter for a group of Khmer dancers who were coming to SG. At first, I thought “Great opportunity…gotta meet some khmer dancers (probably some beautiful Apsara dancers!!), watch free performance, and get paid for it”. So I skipped class 1 full day just to go for it.
I had thought there was some cultural show or something but it turned out to be a rehearsal for a Theater Documentary directed by a SG director. And the title of the play was “The Continuum: Beyond the Killing Fields” which tells the true stories of 5 survivors of the Khmer Rouge regime, something I hadn’t expected. It was performed by Neak Kru Em Theay who was at her 70s and bong Kosal, Bun Thom, Kim Ann who looked in their 40s. Kim Ann is a daughter of Neak Kru Em Theay.
As I read the scripts and watched the play, I realized they were not just ordinary artists. They are masters and grand master of khmer classical dances.
Neak Kru Em Theay was one of the most famous dancers of the Royal Palace during the 50s to 70s. She has been commonly known as the Tenth dancer or the Tenth Apsara and is the only survivor amongst the royal Apsara dancers. Amongst her friends was Cambodia most famous singer/song writer, Sin Sisamuth who sadly did not survive during the period.
There were tales of terrors, sadness, loves, emotions and sometimes joys. As the four described their stories in the play, tears were dropping from their eyes even though it was just a rehearsal. Neak Kru Em Theay described how she was sent to the labour camp in Battambang where she was instructed to work, look after children, sing and dance. She was often asked:
With combination of incredible luck, she survived. She recalled how she walked barefoot from Battambang back to Phnom Penh. Some former students recognized her and she was asked to teach along the way.
Neak Kru has some difficulties remembering the scripts, but the her dancing and singing skills were the best I have seen and heard. Neak Kru now dedicates her life to teach and develop khmer classical dances.
I did have some chit-chat with her and all the artists during the break. Neak Kru was like ordinary grand mothers. We even shared a couple of jokes. The closest I got to the Tenth Apsara was to help her stand up at one point. I am proud and honored to have met her and watched her performance.
Support Khmer Classical and Cultural Heritages!! learn some dances!!
You can learn Khmer dances at most art schools or art associations. One of them is:
Sovanna Phum Khmer Art Association
Address: #111, St.360(corner 105) Beong Keng Kang III, Phnom Penh
Contact: Director Mann Kosal (+855 12 857 437)
Email: sp.admin[at]camintel[dot]com
For more info on the documentary and Neak Kru Em Theay, google for her name!
Photo courtesy of copied from BBC
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18 Wonderful Comments:
November 25th, 2006 at 2:19 am
[…] Vireak has a chance encounter with a legendary Khmer dancer. “Neak Kru Em Theay was one of the most famous dancers of the Royal Palace during the 50s to 70s. She has been commonly known as the Tenth dancer or the Tenth Apsara and is the only survivor amongst the ten royal Apsara dancers. “ Preetam Rai […]
December 1st, 2006 at 7:40 pm
When i was just young i said to mum i wanted to be a dancer of Khmer traditional– Apsara. Hhahah guess what my mum replied? Hm……..!!! but now i still love dancing,
December 3rd, 2006 at 12:57 pm
WENDY: you’re asking us to guess? What if I guess right, what do I get? Anyway, nowaday it’s rare to encounter khmer girls having aspiration to learn Khmer traditional dances… good that you are.
December 4th, 2006 at 1:08 pm
I saw Em Theay and her daughter rehearsing ‘Continuum’ in Siem Reap, in 2001.
When she dances, everything about her changes, she is spellbinding. What an incredible person.
December 4th, 2006 at 2:39 pm
Let me convey my best regards to Neak Kru Em Theary.
Many girls love the dance and wish to be Apsara dancer on the stage. However, it takes more than aspiration to be an Apsara dancer.
Financial sustainability of this career may have curbed many girls to choose this option. I’m not sure if Apsara dancers recieve salary they deserve. They would feel insecured about their earning if they don’t get part time job outside government. This is not to mention when they get abit older, they can’t be the dancer. Hence, the barrier to choose this career is quite big if they are not from a well-to-do family. This is not to mention another barrier, the beauty.
I think government should ensure a salary that dancers can have a decent living of these dancer over the long run.
December 6th, 2006 at 9:29 pm
Not exactly true, anyone can be a dancer if she/he wants to. They don’t have to be full-time professional dancers, just take it as part time hobby.
May 5th, 2007 at 9:24 am
I am interested in that phrase! I like Khmer Dancing! Don’t you have any khmer breakdance?
July 25th, 2007 at 1:04 am
I think it is impossible to learn Apsara dance in private school. I am not sure but just i used to ask an old lady to teach me and some of my friends to dance (apsara) she said she is not allowed to teach apsara though she is teacher at the Art uni. so i ended up dancing the greeting dance (rorbam barch pka)
July 26th, 2007 at 9:47 pm
Pim: true…Aspara dance is most difficult one. It requires alot of practices and body stretching. That’s why Aspara dancer need to start learning since young.
Good to know that pim can dance Robam Barch Pka. Reak knows Coconut dance (Robam Trolouk). If reak looks for dance partner, will pim accept?
June 23rd, 2008 at 10:36 pm
i think that nuk kru EM TEAY is the importent arts tichure fo Khmer so i wish she have good luck and long years for khmer.