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Charya Cheam Burt
Cambodian Classical Dance
Charya Burt
Charya Cheam Burt began her training in classical Cambodian dance in 1982, at the School of Dance at the University of Fine Arts in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. She learned this traditional art form under the direction of the foremost dance masters of Cambodia, all survivors of the Pol Pot Regime. In 1990, she received a teaching certificate and became a faculty member in the same institution. An accomplished dancer, Burt was among the dozen dancers chosen to accompany the Cambodian Prince on his first overseas mission following the royalty’s return from exile in 1991. As one of a small number of Cambodian dancers to have studied under the dance master Soth Som Onn, Burt has Khmer classical dance lineage by direct training. Since moving to the United States in 1993, Burt has worked as a teacher and performer in Santa Rosa and the Bay Area, striving to keep Cambodian tradition alive. She also presents lecture-demonstrations for a variety of audiences, revealing a strong commitment to and love of her art and her Cambodian traditions.
Classical Cambodian music and dance ensembles founded in America bring to life the story of Khmer civilization of Southeast Asia. Classical Cambodian Dance, also known as the Royal Court Dance, is one of Cambodian culture’s most precious art forms.A highly stylized performance of mythology, in ancient times the dance served as communication between the kings and his gods. In modern times, dances were performed at the court for foreign dignitaries and other privileged visitors. Royal Court Dance almost disappeared during the rule of Pol Pot from 1975-1979, when up to 90 percent of the Khmer dancers perished. Survivors and their students have set as their lifelong work the recording and preservation of that complex and intricate art, which includes 4,500 basic movements.
Select Performances
A Gathering of Gamelans, ShawdowLight, Cowell Theater, San Francisco, California, October 2005
27th Annual San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival (8th appearance), Palace of Fine Arts, San Francisco, California, June 2005
Forever My Ancestors, Santa Rosa Cambodian Community Cultural Center, Santa Rosa, California, April 2005
Dance Presentation, Immigrant and Refugee Artists in the San Francisco Bay Area, San Francisco, California, April 2005
Accomplishments
Dance USA’s Dance: Creation to Performance Grant, To create and produce a solo classical dance piece, Forever My Ancestors, 2004-2005
The Fund for Folk Culture’s California Traditional Arts Advancement Program, To conduct a series of dance workshops, Santa Rosa Cambodian Community Cultural Center, 2002-005
California Arts Council’s Multicultural Impact Grant, To conduct series of dance workshops, Santa Rosa Cambodian Community Cultural Center, 2004
California DanceMaker Grant, To create The Magic Peacocks, 2002-2003
Isadora Duncan Award for Outstanding Achievement in Individual Performance, 2000-2001
Alliance for California Traditional Arts’ Apprenticeship Program Master Artist, 2000-2001
Recent Teaching Experiences
Santa Rosa Cambodian Community Cultural Center, 13 students, Santa Rosa, California, 2002-2005
Carpenter Performing Arts Center’s Classroom Connection in six public schools sites in Long Beach, California, March 2005
Asian Pacific Islander Youth Promoting Advocacy and Leadership Dance Exchange workshop series, 15 students, Oakland, California, October 2004-January 2005
Santa Rosa Elise Allen High School, 60 students, Santa Rosa, California, November 2004
Professional Services
Mentorships
Demonstrations
Lectures
Educational presentations to schools or community organizations
Exhibitions
Performances
Plans arts events
Cultural consultancies
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