Name: The magic of Khmer classical dance
Uploaded: 2017-10-03T19:50:55Z
Duration: 10 min 28 s
Description: For more than 1,000 years, Khmer dancers in Cambodia have been seen as living bridges between heaven and earth. In this graceful dance-talk hybrid, artist Prumsodun Ok -- founder of Cambodia's first all-male and gay-identified dance company -- details the rich history of Khmer classical dance and its current revival, playing the ancient and ageless role of artist as messenger.

Prumsodun Ok: The magic of Khmer classical dance

The magic of Khmer classical dance

For more than 1,000 years, Khmer dancers in Cambodia have been seen as living bridges between heaven and earth. In this graceful dance-talk hybrid, artist Prumsodun Ok -- founder of Cambodia's first all-male and gay-identified dance company -- details the rich history of Khmer classical dance and its current revival, playing the ancient and ageless role of artist as messenger.

Khmer classical dance, over 1,000 years old, was nearly erased when 90 percent of its artists were killed during the Khmer Rouge era. Once seen as a living bridge between heaven and earth, the dance endures as both a spiritual art and a symbol of resilience. Its curved gestures embody the flow of water and the cycles of life. Today, Khmer dance is being revived by new generations, offering hope, healing, and an embrace of diversity.