MORODOK មរតក: A KHMER ODYSSEY

Morodok: A Khmer Odyssey

Our project seeks to bridge and strengthen the cultural heritage between Cambodian diasporic performers and their counterparts in Cambodia through the documentation and preservation of Khmer performing arts. This initiative addresses the significant cultural gap highlighted during our work with the Angkor Dance Troupe in 2023, which revealed a need for stronger ties and a shared artistic language that unites both communities through social media platforms. This disconnect leads to the preservation and innovation of traditional Khmer arts. Through documentation and preservation of Khmer performing arts, this project seeks to ensure that traditional dance forms are maintained and passed down to future generations.

In collaboration with local researchers and performance artists in Cambodia, the project will also provide resources to support the local economy, particularly in Siem Reap, helping to promote local tourism while contributing to Cambodia’s mission of preserving its traditional art forms on a global scale.

This initiative will be executed with the support of Chummeng Soun (Lowell, MA), Sokai Yoon (GA), Solichumnith Ouk (Cambodia PP), and Sotheavy Khieu (Cambodia PP), as well as partnerships with local Cambodian artists and institutions such as; Angkor Dance Troupe and Cambodian American Literary Art Association of Lowell, Southeast Asian American Digital Archives (SEADA) at the University of Massachusetts Lowell.

Use of Funds

The Morodok project is requesting $5,000 in funding to support the following activities:

1) Compensation for local researchers, artists, and collaborators involved in the documentation and archival processes.

2) Administrative expenses for the Morodok team to coordinate and travel between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap for fieldwork.

3) Music and documentation resources related cost to conducting interviews and dance demonstrations

Please consider donating to our project, Morodok: A Khmer Odyssey. This essential project preserves, innovates, and revitalizes Khmer performing arts while empowering the next generation of Cambodian and Cambodian-American performers. By documenting the knowledge of master teachers and offering exposure opportunities for local artists, this program will create a lasting impact across communities locally and globally. With your support, the Morodok project will preserve, innovate, and promote Khmer arts for generations to come.

Learn More about us: IN PROGRESS

https://www.khmerodyssey.com

ABOUT US:

Chummeng Soun: Born and raised in Cambodia, he navigate the intersection of multiple cultures, languages, and worldviews. As a pioneering Cambodian American dance practitioner, he focuses on creating arts programs for the Cambodian diaspora. Having grown up amidst cycles of fear, poverty, suffering, and generational trauma, he is deeply committed to cultural preservation and innovation for social change within my community. Currently, as Program Director at Angkor Dance Troupe, he aims to sustain practices that intertwine Cambodian Classical and Contemporary dance, renewing appreciation for the art form. My practice blends traditional master-apprentice training with innovative approaches centered around the Diasporic imagination.

Preah Samot Neang Bot Somaly 2017; Sopileak 2018; Reclaiming Reamker (The Reach) 2021-23, Angkor Dance Troupe at Clark 2022, MY DANCE CHILDREN កូនខ្ញុំ 2023-24

Sokai Yoon, a Khmer Krom-American visual designer and artist, is based in Atlanta, Georgia. Born as a Cambodian refugee war baby at Camp Site II in Thailand, Sokai's tumultuous upbringing in the Southeast United States through community upheaval, gang violence, and poverty has deeply influenced his artistic vision. With a background in design who worked at Condé Nast, Slalom Consulting, and Google, Sokai is dedicated to contributing to the evolving Cambodian identity and its intersections with design, technology, and culture. His work often reflects his multicultural experiences, visual colloquialisms, and unique perspectives in order to pass it down to the next generation of Khmer creatives around the world. Sokai seeks to bridge Khmer communities around the United States through creative collaboration and building relationships to empower local Khmer groups and uplift them towards a national scale.