Solo work

Two upcoming dance events are well worth putting in your diary. This Sunday, 21st, at 7pm at Meta House, contemporary dancer Yon Davy will present her first choreography solo work, in the form of Action Wave, with two solos and two duets with dancers Yon Chantha and Choun Sovannary. Davy, who opened up the recent Suites shows at Chenla Theater, told me afterwards that she was looking forward to it, though with some trepidation as it's her first solo work, though she won't be dancing herself. A week later, Sunday 28th, also at 7pm, the Dansez Roam! events come to a conclusion at Wat Botum in the capital with a series of brief dance performances under the banner of La rue danse, with Belle headlining a total of 20 dancers. On the subject of Belle, I found this blog entry with photos by Nicolas Havette, taken last year during rehearsals with French dancer/choreographer Sébastien Ramirez. They're different to say the least.

Meta on the move

Contemporary dancer Yon Davy at a recent Meta House performance

I've finally managed to find out where Meta House are moving to. The exhibition space and rooftop movie center, that has been located next to Wat Botum for the last three years, is moving to a more spacious home opposite the Phnom Penh Center and next to The Building at the end of April. It'll be bigger and better, with a cafe on-site. I look forward to it. This month at Meta House there's a real eclectic series of events with the highlight for me being the Sunday 21st dance night when Yon Davy presents her first choreography piece, Action Wave. Davy has been involved in the trio of recent contemporary dance performances at Meta House over the last couple of months but this time she's going it alone, albeit with two fellow dancers Yon Chantha and Choun Sovannary. It begins at 7pm. Davy, who began with Sovanna Phum and has danced in Thailand and Sweden, will also be involved in this month's Dansez Roam! performances too. Busy girl.

What a feeling

Sadness was a key element of Moving into Feeling at Meta House. LtoR: Marine Ky, Mom and Yon Davy.

A third and final contemporary dance performance at Meta House took place last night in front of a full house. All three pieces of work are expected to be included in a new show called The Sound of Rice to be performed in early April. Last night's Moving into Feeling piece explored sound and emotions, with Mom and Yon Davy again giving us their own interpretation of the work, aided by coach Bob Ruijzendaal and artist Marine Ky. The sad sections were very sad and Davy remarked after the show that having to demonstrate all the different emotions left her "feeling a bit crazy in her head." Incidentally, Yon Davy will present her first independent choreography work at Meta House on Sunday 21 February.

Mom (red top) using some of her classical training in her movements

One of my favourite noodle girls, Vey (in yellow) with a colleague. Vey and Vanny work at the noodle shop on the corner of the road leading to Meta House, opposite Wat Botum.