Northrop Presents Khmer Arts Ensemble, 4/5

Northrop at the University of Minnesota presents the Minnesota debut of Khmer Arts Ensemble on Fri, Apr 5 at 8:00 pm at the State Theatre.

Khmer Arts Ensemble debuts in Minnesota with their world premiere of A Bend in the River, a reflection on the choices we make in the heat of passion, weaving a Cambodian village tale of love, heartbreak, magic, vengeance, consequence, and redemption. Created by National Heritage Fellow and McKnight International Fellow Sophiline Cheam Shapiro, in collaboration with two of Cambodia's most renowned artists, this dance drama intertwines fifteen dancers, one unreliable narrator, two oversized crocodile puppets by sculptor Sopheap Pich, and eight instrumentalists and singers performing Him Sophy's new score for a pin peat ensemble that includes an original two-level circle gong and xylophone. Like all good stories transmitted from generation to generation, the meanings are multiple. The world is ever changing, nature a great leveler, and human choices, often made in haste, are sure to be tested. We resort to vengeance in place of justice at our peril. Crocodiles have been known to eat their young, after all.

Northrop Presents
Khmer Arts Ensemble
Fri, Apr 5, 2013, 8:00 pm
State Theatre

WORLD PREMIERE
A Bend in the River (2013)
Choreography and Direction by Sophiline Cheam Shapiro
Music by Him Sophy
Kinetic Sculpture by Sopheap Pich
Lighting Design by RoBert Henderson, Jr.
Scenic Design by So Chakriya
Costume Design by San Vannary
Narration written by John Eli Shapiro
Performed by Khmer Arts Ensemble

Tickets
$37, $48, $59
Prices do not include processing or facility fees.