Royal Ballet of Cambodia Performs at Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts Tonight

By: Oct. 30, 2014
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Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts will present the Royal Ballet of Cambodia, choreographed by Her Royal Highness Princess Norodom Buppha Devi, tonight, Oct. 30, at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are available for $29, $39 and $59 through www.ScottsdalePerformingArts.org or 480-499-TKTS (8587).

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 more than 1,000 years. In recognition of its cultural significance, UNESCO proclaimed the Royal Ballet a "Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage" in 2003.

Infused with a sacred and symbolic role, Khmer classical dance embodies the values of refinement, respect and spirituality. Its repertory perpetuates the legends associated with the origins of the Khmer people. Consequently, Cambodians have long esteemed this tradition, which narrowly escaped annihilation in the 1970s, as the emblem of Khmer culture.

The gestures and poses of Khmer classical dance, mastered by the performers 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. Performances would traditionally accompany royal ceremonies and observances such as coronations, marriages, funerals or Khmer holidays.

The Royal Ballet practically ceased to exist under the repressive rule of the Khmer Rouge, which 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 splendor but still faces numerous difficulties such as a lack of funding and suitable performance spaces, as well as competition from modern media.



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