Dance In Dialogue: Tep Sodachan & Reclaiming Reamker

240 Central Street,Lowell MA 01852

17 May, 2022

Description

Premiering Dance in Dialogue: May 17th, Tep Sodachan (Neo-Classical Dance) & May 18th, Reclaiming Reamker (Contemporary dance) Introducing a ground-breaking cultural experience at Academic Arts Center, ‘Dance in Dialogue’ by Peter Veth Productions, a Classical Cambodian Ballet company from Lowell, Massachusetts. For two nights Peter Veth will showcase the evolution of Cambodian Classical Dance. 'Tep Sodachan' Peter is taking "the old" adding new work of neo-classical to embrace the form of preserving this exquisite art of Robam Boran Khmer (Cambodian Classical Ballet). ‘Reclaiming Reamker’ is based on ‘Reamker’, the Khmer iteration of the South Asian epic, the ‘Ramayana’. In this beautiful and compelling piece, Peter Veth will perform original choreography of ‘Chouy Chay Yeak’ for the first time, a forgotten and overlooked narrative in time from a largely oral tradition. MAY 17th - Witness the Cambodian Neo - Classical production of Tep Sodachan, an oral folklore of architecture origin from Angkor Wat. A story of a cursed goddess, Tep Sodachan, who was forbidden to do the one thing her father asked of her, to not pick seven flowers. The GOD bestowed a curse upon her that she stay behind on earth for six years to serve Mehnup, a human. He lives as a poor man who is in fact an astouding architect. Mehnup with a great talent to draw, his karma is to serve his duty to an arrogant noble man. In this piece you’ll experienced the evolution of Cambodian classical dance. With past choreography the movements slowly evolves from old into a non traditional formations. Peter has re-staged Tep Sodachan for the audience to feel and witness the emotions of Cambodian classical dance languages. The performance will start with conversations of Peter Veth's mind behind the choreography and dialogue on the challenges as a Cambodian American Artist. MAY 18th - ‘Reclaiming Reamker’, ignites a critical conversation on traditions, post-colonialism, neo-classical dance and its evolution. This groundbreaking production includes new techniques, movements and music, pulling inspiration from past literature and dancers. By reimagining Reamker, Veth has unveiled the nuances of the historical epic. ‘Reclaiming Reamker’ is a one-of-a-kind performance guaranteed to inspire the next generation of artists, and more importantly, unveiling the generational complexities of traditional and conservative art. Peter Veth, is part of the Cambodian-American diaspora community from Lowell, Massachusetts. He is a professional dancer, preservator of Robam Boran Khmer, and pioneer of contemporary Khmer arts. Combining his unique knowledge in Robam Boran Khmer with his Cambodian-American identity, Veth’s productions bring a powerful and unique lens to an otherwise exclusive, traditional, and classical form of dance.