31 Mar 2019, 6:00-8:00pm
Venue: Water front next to BESUN Temple, Arey Ksatr village Map: https://goo.gl/T1CMdT

“Beloved”
by Prumsodun Ok & NATARASA

Journey to the other side of Phnom Penh Chaktamok Sereimongkul, to a stage built at the intersection of four rivers at Arey Ksatr, amidst the union of earth, water,air, and fire. Join Prumsodun Ok & NATYARASA for a special offering of new dance and music, and experience Khmer conceptions of art as spiritual technology take on contemporary life. Young male dancers transform into the divine feminine in Robam Buong Suong Thorani, venerating the earth goddess witness to the Buddha’s
enlightenment. And, in Robam Preah Indrasvargareach, the lord of lightning,thunder, and sky prepares to slay the rain-blocking asura Vrtra. Performance offerings will culminate in Beloved, inspired by a tantric lovemaking ritual recorded at Angkor in the thirteenth century. Hailed as “Radical Beauty” by The Bangkok Post, the contemporary meditation on love layers English narration,Khmer melodies, and a Japanese invocation to Avalokitesvara onto a lush soundscape.

About the artists

Prumsodun Ok & NATYARASA is Cambodia’s first gay dance company. We restage Khmer classical dances with a vital freshness, and create original, groundbreaking works at the intersection of art and human dignity. As we infuse our tradition with a contemporary spirit, we elevate the quality of life and expression for LGBTQ
people in Cambodia and beyond. Since being founded three years ago, we have become what Channel NewsAsia (Singapore) celebrates as “one of the most revolutionary dance troupes in Cambodia . . . a dance troupe like no other.” Our story of courage, compassion, service, and equity has been shared internationally
on diverse stages in Thailand, India, and Hong Kong, and on platforms such as Atlas Obscura, SBS (Australia), and South China Morning Post (Hong Kong) among others.We are led by Prumsodun Ok, whose TED Talk has received more than 2.5 million views across various platforms.

​We are joined by musicians of the Sophiline Arts Ensemble for this special performance.