Z Space

New Performance Traditions/Paul Dresher Ensemble present:

The Rebirth of Apsara

Created and choreographed by Charya Burt with a commissioned score by Chinary Ung and text by Kalean Ung

Additional Music and Music Direction by Paul Dresher
Music performed by Joel Davel, Paul Dresher, Susan Ung and Vân-Ánh Võ

February 4, 2024, 3pm on Z Space’s Steindler Stage

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 Charya Burt's own life’s journey as an artist to explore the impact Apsara has had on both Khmer civilization and Cambodian artists of today, Burt sets her re-imagined classical dance gestures to a musical score by renowned Cambodian-American composer Chinary Ung. Preeminent dancers from Cambodia’s Ministry of Culture who share Charya Burt’s passion for resurrecting the dance join Burt and her international company of dancers to explore the impact artistic lineage has had on the rebirth of Cambodian classical dance.

Charya Burt Cambodian Dance: Charya Burt, Ryan Boun, Mea Lath, and Virginia Prak with featured dance artists from Cambodia: Narim Nam, Rady Nget, and Chanmoly Vuth. Costume Design is by noted Cambodian designer Vannary San who has been involved in the efforts to revitalize traditional Cambodian silk creation and her leadership of Cambodian women. Video Projection Design is by Hsuan-Kuang Heish, her practice includes experimental film, projection art, photography, and video installation across diverse mediums

Creative Team

Music by Chinary Ung
Choreography by Charya Burt
Text & Performance by Kalean Ung
Additional Music by Paul Dresher, Pinit Pich, and Sokunthea Ros
Charya Burt Cambodian Dance: Charya Burt, Ryan Boun, Mea Lath, and Virginia Prak
Featuring preeminent Dancers from Cambodia’s Ministry of Culture: Narim Nam, Rady Nget, and Chanmoly Vuth
Music Direction by Paul Dresher
Video Design by Hsuan-Kuang Hsieh
Costume Designer by Vannary San
Lighting Design by David Robertson
Stage Direction by Rob Burt
Musicians: Paul Dresher, Joel Davel, Susan Ung and Vân-Ánh Võ

Three preeminent dancers from Cambodia’s Ministry of Culture join Charya Burt Cambodian Dance to explore how artistic lineage has impacted the rebirth of Cambodian classical dance following the Khmer Rouge Genocide and how today’s multigenerational Cambodian-American artists are empowering the Cambodian diaspora and redefining the Khmer spirit.

Produced by New Performance Traditions/Paul Dresher Ensemble with the generous support of a Hewlett 50 Arts Commission in the Traditional Arts and Lyna Lam with A Khmer Buddhist Foundation. This project was supported by the Subspace at Z Space program and the SF Grants for Arts.

For press inquiries for The Rebirth of Aspara, please contact David Hyry at daldenh@aol.com.