By Lauren Ingeno
The Daily Collegian Online
Staff Writer
Traditional and modern Cambodian culture intertwined Saturday night during "Cambodia: Kingdom of Wonder" -- the fifth annual cultural show presented by the Khmer Students Society (KSS).
The event was performed in front of an audience of about 100 people in HUB-Alumni Hall and was sponsored by the University Park Allocation Committee (UPAC) and SPA LateNight.
KSS invited Angkor Dance Troupe, Inc., a Cambodian dance group from New England, to perform traditional Cambodian dances dating back as early as A.D. 700. Dancers of all ages entertained the audience with their elaborate costumes and both fast-paced and elegant, slower dances.
The costumes worn by the women during the traditional Aspura dance included tall gold headpieces, chunky gold bracelets, satin brown skirts and white flowers that trickled down their hair.
In between each Angkor dance, KSS performed its own more modern routines, including a hip-hop dance. Funny video skits made by the group were also projected on a big screen.
"Some of us are American-Cambodian, so we wanted to skip from the more traditional Cambodian part to modern," KSS President Molly Kruth (senior-biobehavioral health) said.
Though KSS is a group that promotes the culture of Southeast Asia to Penn State, the group is one of the most culturally diverse on campus, Kruth said.
Chanrachna Thai, a Cambodian member of KSS who performed in the traditional Cambodian Social Dance, said she loves so many students of different backgrounds are in KSS and show awareness for other cultures.
"Sometimes it's really funny that [non-Cambodian members are] not really gentle when they dance," Thai (sophomore-nursing) said with a laugh, referring to the slow, delicate movements in some dances. "But the fact that they try is really great. It makes us so happy."
Each performance brought smiles and applause from the audience, as they snapped pictures of the performers and their dazzling costumes.
Brett Flood (senior-finance) came to the event for the second year in a row to see his girlfriend perform.
"I mean, it's not something I'd wear," Flood said of the traditional Cambodian garments. "But it's cool how they got it all together. The Monkey Dance is my favorite."
The Swva Pol (Monkey Dance) was the final performance of the night. Performers energetically flipped and danced to capture the spirit of young monkeys.
Kruth said she hopes the audience takes away a new cultural experience from the show.
"There's such a small number of Cambodians on campus that I just want them to be exposed to it and to have that experience from a different culture that they've never seen before," she said.
The Daily Collegian Online
Staff Writer
Traditional and modern Cambodian culture intertwined Saturday night during "Cambodia: Kingdom of Wonder" -- the fifth annual cultural show presented by the Khmer Students Society (KSS).
The event was performed in front of an audience of about 100 people in HUB-Alumni Hall and was sponsored by the University Park Allocation Committee (UPAC) and SPA LateNight.
KSS invited Angkor Dance Troupe, Inc., a Cambodian dance group from New England, to perform traditional Cambodian dances dating back as early as A.D. 700. Dancers of all ages entertained the audience with their elaborate costumes and both fast-paced and elegant, slower dances.
The costumes worn by the women during the traditional Aspura dance included tall gold headpieces, chunky gold bracelets, satin brown skirts and white flowers that trickled down their hair.
In between each Angkor dance, KSS performed its own more modern routines, including a hip-hop dance. Funny video skits made by the group were also projected on a big screen.
"Some of us are American-Cambodian, so we wanted to skip from the more traditional Cambodian part to modern," KSS President Molly Kruth (senior-biobehavioral health) said.
Though KSS is a group that promotes the culture of Southeast Asia to Penn State, the group is one of the most culturally diverse on campus, Kruth said.
Chanrachna Thai, a Cambodian member of KSS who performed in the traditional Cambodian Social Dance, said she loves so many students of different backgrounds are in KSS and show awareness for other cultures.
"Sometimes it's really funny that [non-Cambodian members are] not really gentle when they dance," Thai (sophomore-nursing) said with a laugh, referring to the slow, delicate movements in some dances. "But the fact that they try is really great. It makes us so happy."
Each performance brought smiles and applause from the audience, as they snapped pictures of the performers and their dazzling costumes.
Brett Flood (senior-finance) came to the event for the second year in a row to see his girlfriend perform.
"I mean, it's not something I'd wear," Flood said of the traditional Cambodian garments. "But it's cool how they got it all together. The Monkey Dance is my favorite."
The Swva Pol (Monkey Dance) was the final performance of the night. Performers energetically flipped and danced to capture the spirit of young monkeys.
Kruth said she hopes the audience takes away a new cultural experience from the show.
"There's such a small number of Cambodians on campus that I just want them to be exposed to it and to have that experience from a different culture that they've never seen before," she said.
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