UKS 21st Annual Culture Night (2017-2018)
Though the origin of "robam," or Khmer Classical Dance (often referred to as "The Royal Ballet of Cambodia"), dates back to as early as the 7th century,its inclusion of male dancers, especially their inclusion in female-dominated choreography,is still relatively a modern innovation. Today, the number of female classical dancers still outweigh the number of male classical dancers. Prumsodun Ok, with his troupe, Natyarasa, is the first to pioneer a movement that challenges the gender norm within robam and to inspire a modern restructuring of the ancient art. His work inspires this year's production, a Disney-esque bildungsroman that features original music and talent from our UKS members and friendsat UCLA.
The genocide claimed the lives of 90%of Cambodia's artists, musicians,and dancers,forcing the country into regression that it is still recovering from 40 years later. As emerging descendants of this genocidal history,it is our belief that we must work to preserve our past in order to safeguard our future.
Tonight,we travel back in time thousands of years ago to the ancient Angkor Empire,one of history's greatest kingdoms. W u-Tong, the quirky son of a palace seamstress and the hero of our story,dreams of nothing more than to float elegantly among dancers within the Royal Palace, but the royal art form only permits female dancers. When he embarks on a journey to change the status quo, W u-Tong comes to embrace the duality of the universe,including the one within himself, and comes to understand the true meaning of robam.
The genocide claimed the lives of 90%of Cambodia's artists, musicians,and dancers,forcing the country into regression that it is still recovering from 40 years later. As emerging descendants of this genocidal history,it is our belief that we must work to preserve our past in order to safeguard our future.
Tonight,we travel back in time thousands of years ago to the ancient Angkor Empire,one of history's greatest kingdoms. W u-Tong, the quirky son of a palace seamstress and the hero of our story,dreams of nothing more than to float elegantly among dancers within the Royal Palace, but the royal art form only permits female dancers. When he embarks on a journey to change the status quo, W u-Tong comes to embrace the duality of the universe,including the one within himself, and comes to understand the true meaning of robam.