Chung Yeun Soo, Choreographer
CREDITS
Choreographer: Chung Yeun Soo
Dancers: Chumvan Sodhachivy (Belle), Chy Ratana (Leak), Khon Chan Sithyka (Mo), Khon Chansina (Nan), Nam Narim, Phon Sopheap
Movement Coach: Ahn Soo Young
Workshop Conceived in collaboration with Neo Kim Seng (Singapore)
Musical Compilation: Ahn Soo Young
Produced by Amrita Performing Arts
Executive Director: Fred Frumberg
Program Director: Kang Rithisal
Development Director: Hannah Stevens
Prod. Coordinator: Hourt Bunny
Project Coordinator: Va Chamnann
Office Manager: Eang Sreypoeu
Office Assistant: Lim Chanboramy
Media Assistant: Lim Hout Chhay
Production Assistant:Chen Borey
Stage Crew: Keo Thy, Som Khemrei, Tuy Vanna
Production Photographers: Anders Jiras, Lim Sokchanlina
HORIZONTAL LIFE - a new work in progress
This presentation is the result of a 3-week workshop between 6 of Amrita's dancers and choreographer Chung Yeun Soo. The narratives that are woven throughout the program are the dancers own stories, with text developed in collaboration between the dancers and the choreographer. The dancers also interpret the choreographer's first impressions of Cambodian life.
MUSICAL NUMBERS Dancing A Go Go - The Cambodian Space Project, Always Hope – Sin Sisamouth, Rainy Nights – Sin Sisamouth, Can't Help Falling In Love – Elvis Presley, Love Me Tender – Elvis Presley, Hound Dog – Elvis Presley, My Way – Frank Sinatra, Hey Jude – The Beatles, Imagine – John Lennon, Beats and Effects for Final Scene (Live) - Ahn Soo Young
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
CHUNG YEUN SOO graduated from the Department of Dance at the Graduate School of Arts, Sejong University, Korea in 2003. He has been a dance educator since 1999 and has taught modern dance and composition at high schools and universities including Sejong University, Korea National University of Arts, Yeongnam University and Dankook University. Chung has received numerous prestigious awards in Korea and has performed as a soloist and with several companies in Korea before founding his own company, Post Ego Dance Company. He has also created works in collaboration with artists from China, Ghana, Singapore and Sri Lanka.
Chumvan Sodhachivy (Belle) began training in Cambodian classical dance in 1994 focusing mainly on the male role of the all female classical court form but is also proficient in Cambodian folk dance and shadow puppetry. Eager to develop her contemporary creative skills, Belle was accepted into Robert Wilson's Watermill Center 2006 International Summer Arts Program. Since then, Belle has participated in numerous contemporary dance workshops around the world and has been a featured dancer in works by Emmanuèle Phuon, Peter Chin, Arco Renz and others which have toured internationally. Belle has choreographed many of her own works and most recently was a featured dancer in Stravinsky's Persephone directed by Peter Sellars at the Teatro Real in Madrid. Belle was a featured dancer in CRACK – a new work of Cambodian contemporary dance by German choreographer Arco Renz that was awarded the 2012 ZKB Patronage Prize in Zurich Switzerland in September 2012.
Chy Ratana (Leak) graduated from the Secondary School of Fine Arts with a Baccalaureate in 2000, specializing in the monkey role of the Lakhaon Kaol (Cambodian male masked dance) form and in 2012 was awarded a BA degree in choreographic arts at the Royal University of Fine Arts, Phnom Penh. In 2006, Leak developed a strong interest in contemporary dance and since then has been a featured dancer in works by Emmanuèle Phuon, Peter Chin, Arco Renz and others which have toured internationally. He remains faithful to his traditional skills but he is also eager to further develop as a contemporary dancer. Leak also enjoys performing as an actor and was recently a featured character in Loy 9 – a new Cambodian TV drama. Leak was a featured dancer in CRACK – a new work of Cambodian contemporary dance by German choreographer Arco Renz that was awarded the 2012 ZKB Patronage Prize in Zurich Switzerland in September 2012.
KHON CHANSITHYKA (Mo) and KHON CHANSINA (Nan) began their training in Lakhaon Kaol (Cambodian classical male masked dance) in 2002, focusing on the role of the monkey and completed their training in 2011. Throughout their studies, they performed extensively with the Sovanna Phum Khmer Association, an independent dance and puppetry theater in Phnom Penh where they were given numerous opportunities to participate in contemporary dance workshops. Mo and Nan were featured performers in new works by Khmer / French choreographer Emmanuèle Phuon and Indonesian artist Eko Supriyanto and have toured throughout Southeast Asia. Most recently, Mo was a featured dancer in Stravinsky's Persephone directed by Peter Sellars at the Teatro Real in Madrid.
NAM NARIM comes from a long family line of esteemed Cambodian classical dancers. Narim began her classical training at the age of nine. She completed the Secondary School of Fine Arts in 2000 and received her BA in choreographic arts from the Royal University of Fine Arts in Phnom Penh in 2004. She continued her studies at the Korean National University of Arts where she graduated in 2009 with a master's degree in choreography. She is currently a member of the Cambodian National Theatre troupe, Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts. Narim has performed in a number of new works of contemporary dance with Amrita Performing Arts and was most recently a featured dancer in Stravinsky's Persephone directed by Peter Sellars at the Teatro Real in Madrid, Spain. Narim was a featured dancer in CRACK – a new work of Cambodian contemporary dance by German choreographer Arco Renz that was awarded the 2012 ZKB Patronage Prize in Zurich Switzerland in September 2012.
PHON SOPHEAP studied Lakhaon Kaol (Cambodian male masked dance) and completed his training in 2000 and has toured internationally as a classical dancer. With a strong interest in contemporary dance, Sopheap joined numerous regional dance workshops including the Young Choreographer's Workshop in Surabaya in July 2006 as an Asian Cultural Council recipient where he created his first contemporary solo work entitled A Monkey's Mask. Since then, Sopheap has toured internationally in works by Emmanuèle Phuon, Peter Chin and Arco Renz and was recently a featured performer in a new work of dance theater at Theater Aachen entitled Tomorrow Maybe by German director Ludger Engels. Sopheap was a featured dancer in CRACK – a new work of Cambodian contemporary dance by German choreographer Arco Renz that was awarded the 2012 ZKB Patronage Prize in Zurich Switzerland in September 2012.
AHN SOO YOUNG studied electronics but switched to dance and graduated from the Department of Dance at Hansung University in 2005 and Graduate School of Arts at Sejong University. He has taught dance since 2005 at various high schools and universities. Ahn is a dancer and trainer of Post Ego Dance Company and has also performed with other companies. Ahn is also a choreographer and artistic director of his own company AHN sooyoung Dance Project and will be touring 5 European cities this year.
ABOUT THE COMPANIES
AMRITA PERFORMING ARTS is committed to the creation of Cambodian contemporary dance and theater, responding to the creative drive of a young generation of artists who have taken on the task of ushering Cambodia's ancient performing arts heritage into the future. Our work is developed through workshops based on intensive exchange and dialogue with international collaborators. All of our efforts emphasize capacity building as we assist in nurturing a new generation of Cambodian choreographers, directors and practitioners in all areas of arts management.
POST EGO DANCE COMPANY was founded in 2006 and embodies the concept of transcending the ego to create works intended to better understand the identity and reality of the future. The company focuses on Asian physical dance, employing demanding techniques featuring strong physicality and mind-control. The company works towards developing a relationship with its audiences by sharing with them the energy of dance. The company has performed in Canada, Japan, Macau and Singapore.
HOW TO SUPPORT US
Amrita Performing Arts is an international NGO with US non-profit status. We depend on private contributions to ensure that we can continue to support and nurture Cambodia's burgeoning performing arts community. Contributions can be made on line through our google donation system available through our website.
Amrita Performing Arts PO Box 1140 128G9, Sothearos Blvd Phnom Penh 12301 Tel: 023-220424 / Fax: 023-220425 admin@amritaperformingarts.org
www.amritaperformingarts.org
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Chung Yeun Soo, Choreographer