New York Celebrates the Arts of Cambodia

May 16, 2013

Dance is the most popular Cambodian art form. (photo: John Shapiro)

Welcome to AMERICAN MOSAIC from VOA Learning English.

I’m June Simms.

Today, we play hit songs from the songwriting team of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller.

We also talk about “The Great Gatsby,” the movie that opened the Cannes International Film Festival this week.

But first we explore the culture of Cambodia on display this spring in New York City.

Season of Cambodia

Most of Cambodia’s artists -- an estimated 80 percent -- were killed when the Khmer Rouge ruled the country in the 1970s. The artists were among about two million victims of Khmer Rouge rule. Their skills and knowledge were lost because Cambodian culture is largely oral, passing from person to person through word of mouth.

In the past 20 years, a new generation of Cambodians has sought to reclaim those traditions and invent new forms of art. Steve Ember tells about a cultural program designed to help support that effort.

The program, called “Season of Cambodia,” is taking place all around New York City. It began with a gathering of Buddhist religious workers. There have been musical performances, films, art shows and dance by more than 120 visiting Cambodian artists.

Phlouen Prim leads Cambodian Living Arts, the group that organized the festival.