Charya Burt Cambodian Dance Digital Library
Proper costuming is central to a classical Cambodian dance performance. Each item of the ensemble must be worn in a very specific fashion. It can take several hours for a classical Cambodian dancer to prepare for a performance. Their look is as sacred as their movement.
Costuming Instruction Highlights:
Costuming instruction highlights for Male and Female Characters with Master Teachers Sokhuon Pen and Yom Penh (Poy) with dancers Charya Burt and Molyta Pum, Cambodia, 2019.
Charya’s Thoughts on Costuming:
“When dancers are costumed ornately, complete with elaborate headdress, they transform themselves into divine beings, celestial gods or goddesses. It is up to the dancers to then maintain their physical and emotional sense of spirituality so that they can embody the essence of the heavenly beings they portray.”
To honor her lifetime commitment to preserve and advance Cambodian dance, Charya has dedicated herself to provide resources that can be used by Cambodian Dance communities around the world. Those resources include video links to authentic dances from the classical repertory, innovative new works by Charya Burt rooted in tradition, and instructional dance and costuming videos all located in The Charya Burt Cambodian Dance Digital Library at the bottom of this web page in Airtable. Video links are either public or private identified under Video Accessibility at the far right side of the Airtable. If you find a video you would like to see that is private, please send a message.
Working with Cambodian classical master teachers along with some of the best dancers in Cambodia today, Charya developed a series of instructional videos at a studio outside Phnom Penh in December of 2019. These videos are in the process of being uploaded onto this page. Be sure to visit this page intermittently to see what new resources have been posted.
Costuming Instruction with Master Teachers Sokhuon Pen and Yom Penh for the Neang (female) and NeayRong (male) character:
Costuming Instruction with Master Teacher Sophiline Cheam Shapiro for the Neang (female) character:
Dance Instruction conducted by Charya Burt with professional dancers Molyta Pum, Srey Leak Rin, and Phirom Sao:
Dance Instruction Trailer Part I: https://vimeo.com/418139931
Dance Instruction Trailer Part II: https://vimeo.com/418133628
Here are a few sample videos from The Charya Burt Cambodian Dance Digital Library:
Robam Bopha Lokai Instruction: https://vimeo.com/570079684
Robam Bopha Lokai: https://vimeo.com/570495329
Robam Phuong Neary Instruction: https://vimeo.com/570090507
Kbach Batt Kley Instruction: https://vimeo.com/436572800
Kbach Batt Yeak Kley: https://vimeo.com/570107043
The Charya Burt Cambodian Dance Digital Library has been made possible in part by a grant from the Alliance for California Traditional Arts, in partnership with the Walter & Elise Haas Fund, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, Grants for the Arts, and the California Endowment.