Press
“Near the end… Burt launches a solo that gently breaks the rules. The hands are elevated above the head (a no-no in Cambodian dance). Palms are flat, bits of ballet intrude. Burt is attempting to infuse her tradition with modern inflections, if only to revivify it.”
– Allan Ulrich, San Francisco Chronicle, 2013
Cambodia’s Dark past Behind Her, A Dancer Steps into the Light
The video piece below aired multiple times in 2014 on KQED, San Francisco’s main PBS station. KQED Arts describes this segment as, “Charya Burt trained in and taught classical Cambodian dance in Phnom Penh, where her family suffered oppression by the Khmer Rouge. Now in the Bay Area, she’s passing on her art — and pushing it in new directions.”
“Charya Burt and her six female dancers recreated an allegory from Cambodian mythology. The serene patterning, curved feet and delicate hand work were transcendent.”
–Allan Ulrich, Voice of Dance, 2008
“… a magnificent practitioner, Charya Cheam Burt, who has established an academy. Her performances are mesmerizing in their focus and clarity of detail (she received an Isadora Duncan Award, and fully deserved it, for outstanding performance a few years ago).”
–Paul Parish, DanceView Times, 2005
Charya Burt has performed her original works at noted venues around the country. Here are some selected press-links:
2024
Santa Rosa Press Democrat – Charya Burt Presents Cambodian Dance at Green Music Center: https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/entertainment/charya-burt-presents-cambodian-dance-at-green-music-center/
San Francisco Classical Voice – The Rebirth of Apsara Brings Centuries-Old Cambodian Spirits to Life: https://www.sfcv.org/articles/preview/rebirth-apsara-brings-centuries-old-cambodian-spirits-life
Mission Local – A Cultural Mission: New life for Cambodian Arts with The Rebirth of Apsara: https://missionlocal.org/2024/01/new-life-for-cambodian-arts-with-the-rebirth-of-apsara/
KALW Public Media – On The Arts: https://www.kalw.org/show/on-the-arts/2024-01-30/underground-jazz-cabaret-bay-area-cabaret-the-rebirth-of-apsara
2022
The Phnom Penh Post: Legendary Traditional Khmer Dance Master Neak Kru Charya Burt
Santa Rosa Press Democrat Feature Story: Sonoma County choreographer confronts lingering aftermath of 1970s Cambodian tragedy through dance.
SoCoNews/Healdsburg Tribune:
2021
Hewlett 50 Commissions Announcement:
2020
10/15/2020 Dance/USA eJournal Community Builders: Transmission and Legacies of Immigrant American Artists: https://www.danceusa.org/ejournal/2020/09/24/community-builders-transmission-and-legacies-immigrant-american-artists
10/6/2020 Live Arts in Resistance: Ancestral Knowledge, Art and Resistance an interview with Charya Burt presented by World Arts West https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=3081481888630203
2019:
“Charya Burt Presents Dance of Cambodia at OSF”
https://www.ijpr.org/post/charya-burt-presents-dances-cambodia-osf#stream/0
“Art Drives Social Change in Refugee Communities, Thanks to Local Dancer”
2018
“Charya Burt Cambodian Dance and Khmer Arts Academy Present, Silenced”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0ZfSyN_bPM
2017
“Innovative Artist and Traditional Teacher: The Passion of Cambodian Choreographer Charya Burt”
“Hello Suorsdey – Khmer Arts Academy with Master Dance Instructor Charya Burt”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdwMjhx3lbE
2014
“Cambodia’s Dark Past Behind Her, A Dancer Steps into the Light
http://ww2.kqed.org/arts/2014/02/20/cambodias-dark-past-behind-her-a-dancer-steps-into-the-light/
“Watch the 1000-Year-Old Tradition Nearly Killed by the Khmer Rouge”
2013:
“Encounter with Charya Burt Cambodian Dance”
“Charya Burt in SF”
http://www.sfgate.com/performance/article/Dance-review-Charya-Burt-in-S-F-4590277.php
2007:
“Cambodian Dancer Turns to Tennessee Williams”