Khmer Pride | Cambodian Ballet Dean, Former Royal Servant, Dies

亚洲联合时报 2022-10-12 00:26

On September 13, the legendary Cambodian classical dancer, Khmer dancer and ballet dancer Sar Saroeun died of illness at home at the age of 88.

According to Cambodian media, Shasa Loen devoted his life to promoting traditional Khmer dance. He was the first person to integrate modern ballet into traditional Khmer fairy dance, and one of the few artists who survived the Khmer Rouge massacre. .
The Mudhita Foundation (a foundation dedicated to providing health services to children and the elderly in Cambodia) stated on its official Facebook page:
"Shassalon was one of the few classical dance masters who survived the Khmer Rouge, most of whom were executed by the radical revolutionary ideology… After the fall of the Khmer Rouge in 1979, She joined about 10 other surviving artists to reinvigorate the Royal Ballet, instructing thin and malnourished girls in the traditional art of dance."

“She is widely recognized by the art world as a talented dancer and choreographer. Not only was she a dancer of the same generation as Princess Norodom Buppha Devi, they were also close friends. , Shasa Ron was one of the first performers of the royal dance 'Ramayana Khmer Dance'."

Little is known about Shassalon's childhood. Some Cambodian media said that before the Khmer Rouge rule, she was one of the servants of the Cambodian royal family.
At the time, she was selected to join the Royal Ballet by Queen Sisowath Kossamak, grandmother of Norodom Sihamoni, the current king of Cambodia.