Tuesday, October 6, 2009

More exposure

Belle on the cover of the new Mekong Orchards packages
It doesn't take a genius to work out that my favourite dancer in Cambodia is Belle (or Chumvan Sodhachivy to give her Khmer name), the country's most celebrated contemporary dancer. She is pushing the edge of the envelope in dance in this country, breathing new life into old, fusing traditional classical dance with contemporary moves that she's been exposed to on her trips around the globe. She's currently in Europe for two months, working with choreographer Emmanuelle Phuon in Brussels and then completing an internship at the unique National Choreographic Center in Montpellier, France. Just before she left for Europe, she took time out of her busy schedule to take part in a new direction, as part of an advertising campaign for the new product of gourmet peanuts by Mekong Orchards. Here is the resultant advert that you'll see about town very soon.

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3 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Belle?!?!?! I thought it was Sam Savin... Pls post more pictures of Savin for her fans - Tony

October 8, 2009 5:52 AM  
Blogger Andy Brouwer said...

Hi Tony,
we are blessed with a lot of magical dancers here in Cambodia, whether it be classical, contemporary or whatever you want to choose. Belle is the hottest property in Cambodia right now and her dances have taken contemporary dancing here to a completely new level. Its an emerging area of dance in Cambodia and Belle and others are making people sit up and take notice.
Sam Savin and the classical dancers of the school of fine arts and the National Ballet are an intrinsic foundation of the country's visible culture. Savin is one of the country's foremost classical dancers and has been at the peak of her profession for a few years. I try to watch as many of her performances as possible but they have been few and far between in recent times and the one that did take place at Chenla recently, I couldn't gain entry to see. I just wish there were more opportunities to see the top tier of classical dancing on a more regular basis.
However, thanks for paying such close attention Tony :-)
Andy

October 8, 2009 9:22 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Andy, Belle looks like that girl that plays as the Naga princess in Secrets of Angkor! I might be wrong though! Oh one thing, I heard there's a rumor or myth about a lost Pyramid temple up in the mountain of Wat Phou! A friend of mine saw it while he flew there! It's called Phou Kao 9! number means 9 steps I believe! But I think it's not true or it could be true!

October 8, 2009 12:54 PM  

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