Students Join Forces to Preserve Khmer Dance
Students in Phnom Penh have taken time off from their studies to preserve Cambodian traditions and rehearse the trot dance for the Khmer New Year. Photo provided
- By Phoeurng Phearak
- April 12, 2024 9:50 AM
PHNOM PENH – Students in Phnom Penh have taken time off from their studies to preserve Cambodian traditions and rehearse the trot dance for the Khmer New Year.
The dance is only performed during the New Year. The Khmer Folk Dance book says the word "Trot" is from Sanskrit and means to cut off the old year and move into the new one.
Thorn Brostoch, a singer in the dance troupe, said it was his first time taking part in the training, along with other students and part-time workers
The fourth-year electrical student said he found out about the dance when he saw a performance and became interested in taking part.
"The purpose of participating is that I love this dance. Even though I am studying and working it can not stop me from training and performing,” the 23-year-old said.
“I went through it with my group, got a new experience and got to know this Khmer dance better.
"I want to participate in conservation directly, I have practiced and have the opportunity to perform in front of the public, which is our conservation activities."
He also encouraged other young people to participate in the preservation of Khmer dance through activities.
One should know how to perform a kind of dance to participate in the preservation of this traditional dance.
Chorn Chan, a student from the Royal University of Phnom Penh, is another student who participated in this training group and used to train with a teacher from the dance school.
He can also perform Kous Angre, Kous Tralork, Yike, Lakhon Khol, and Lakhon Sbek Thom traditional dances.
Having experience in acting, he also gathered twenty students to train at the Royal University of Phnom Penh(RUPP) for a week before performing at the Sangkranta festival at RUPP.
The fourth-year geography and land management student said, "The new members are busy with their studies and work, but they are enthusiastic and dedicated to their time to train and perform successfully at the university. "
Chan also encouraged young people to take part in training, not just the trot traditional dance, for the preservation of Khmer dance.
