The Rebirth of Apsara

Created and Choreographed by Charya Burt
Commissioned score by Chinary Ung
Commissioned text by Kalean Ung
Co-Produced by New Performance Traditions/Paul Dresher Ensemble
The Rebirth of Apsara is a full-length dance/theatre work that investigates the relationship between art and war exploring how Cambodian arts and in particular Apsaras, fabled female celestial beings, have embodied the essence of Cambodian culture from ancient mythology to its post genocide resurrection. Mirroring her own life’s journey as an artist to explore the impact Apsara has had on both Khmer civilization and Cambodian artists of today, Charya Burt will set her re-imagined classical dance gestures to a musical score by renowned Cambodian-American composer Chinary Ung.

Co-produced by the Paul Dresher Ensemble with the support of a Hewlett 50 Arts Commission, the “Rebirth” features esteemed dancers from Cambodia, and with live music performed by acclaimed Vietnamese multi-instrumentalist Van-Anh Vo and the Paul Dresher/Joel Davel Invented Instrument Duo. Cambodian-American theatre artist Kalean Ung will provide social and historical context using poetry and narrative to dramatize how today’s multigenerational Cambodian-American artists are empowering the Cambodian diaspora and redefining the Khmer spirit.