The Khmer Rise Up association is announcing the first edition of its artistic springboard, to be held on 28 December from 4.30pm at the Pontoon Club in Phnom Penh. A cultural event that promotes inclusion and diversity by celebrating the potential of the young Cambodian generation, ready to showcase the Kingdom's wealth by combining art and talent.
The genesis of Khmer Rise Up, between artistic solidarity and a return to our roots
The founder of the association, Zakary Peang, found the origin and common thread of Khmer Rise Up in his own artistic career, but also in his own cultural identity. The son of a father from Siem Reap and a mother from Phnom Penh, Zakary is guided by his parents' story and by a desire to highlight Cambodia's artistic talents and cultural wealth.
“Their journey has always been a source of inspiration for me, even though as a child I didn't yet understand the scale of their sacrifice,” says Zakary.
A life punctuated by training sessions and battles against the big names on the hip-hop scene since 2006. It was after treading the biggest stages in France and enjoying great success, notably with his first collective Move and Art and his integration into the Secrets of Moonwalk troupe, that Zakary felt the inevitable need to reconnect with his Cambodian origins. It was particularly after meeting Samuel Hak and Vibol Lim between 2015 and 2017 that returning to the land of the Kingdom became an obvious choice for Zakary.
“Samuel and Vibol awakened in me the need to reconnect with my history. The more I spoke to them, the more the desire to return to Cambodia grew.”
Dance as a universal language, sharing your story through art
In 2017, Zakary took action alongside Vibol, a founding member of Rombak Battle since 2013 and close associate of the NGO Tiny Toones, and Samuel. At that point, together they relaunched Rombak Battle, a hip-hop event in Cambodia, thanks to a participatory kitty.
“This project enabled me to discover the extent to which hip-hop could transform lives, particularly those of the young people supported by Tiny Toones and its founder, Kay-Kay”, says Zakary.
He adds: “At Tiny Toones, I left a part of myself, but I also received in return an inestimable richness: the certainty that, even in adversity, the human heart can find reasons to beat, to laugh and to dance”.
For Zakary, these moments in life were both a brutal and beautiful reminder, reinforcing the idea that here in Cambodia, art, and dance in particular, remains a universal language that allows us to transcend the feelings that lie deep within us. So, after leaving the Rombak association in 2019 to devote himself to other projects, Zakary finds himself faced with the upheaval of the health crisis which, despite the difficulty, has been an opportunity for him to reflect.
“I realised that I wanted to come back to Cambodia, but not just to travel. I wanted to contribute, to create something that reflected my background and aspirations,” says Zakary.
The idea for Khmer Rise Up was born in 2023, during a discussion with his friend Shean, a founding member of the Breton group Klan D'Est 1, where Zakary told him: ‘I won't travel to Cambodia without having a project linked to art and dance’.
With the support of his cousin and his best friend Philippe, Zakary built this project alongside a passionate team. This determination and unfailing commitment will give rise to the first Khmer Rise Up, scheduled for 28 December 2024 in Phnom Penh.
Khmer Rise Up's mission: to unite and inspire the Cambodian art scene
The founder of Khmer Rise Up has long been on a mission to bring together friends, family and artists around artistic performances. Aspiring to support artists through innovative ideas, platforms and events celebrating art, music and dance. Zakary quickly realised that it was essential for him to return home with his team.
He confides:
“The name ‘Khmer Rise Up’ came to me almost as a sudden inspiration less than a year ago. The name resonates with me in a special way, as I am deeply attached to my history and my country, the majestic Cambodia. My wish is that this name might encourage other creative souls, like mine, to share their talent at a festive and talented event.”
Constantly on the lookout for emerging Khmer talent via social networks, Zakary wants to work alongside recognised and experienced personalities to support the young Cambodians who are driving the Kingdom's artistic renaissance.
“I'm acting for myself, for all of us and above all for these artists who are evolving in the shadows. It's crucial never to neglect our talents, present and future, because they will inspire generations to come. I believe deeply in this and I'm dedicated to this mission to unite and inspire,” he says.
He adds, “When I say “Khmer Rise Up”, I imagine artists gathered at Angkor Wat, all united by a love of art and pride in our heritage.”
The first Khmer Rise Up in Cambodia, an inspiring cultural and artistic event
For this event, the artistic springboard includes three categories: a 1vs1 Break dance battle, a stand-up dance battle or ‘All Style’, also in 1vs1 format, and a talent contest, ‘Khmer Got Talent’. In this competition, the organising team sought to highlight Cambodian nuggets thanks to the expertise of an exceptional panel of judges: Bboy Slick and Bboy Shean for dance, and Chive Chheng Heang and Asnavy Sar for vocals. For this first edition, the Khmer Rise Up team hopes to welcome artists from all over the Kingdom, whether they are talented in singing, comedy, magic, circus, beatbox or any other discipline. The winners of this springboard will have the chance to win cash prizes of up to $150.
So, as the artistic springboard approaches, Zakary confides: “I'd simply like this event to be widely publicised and for as many people as possible to discover this first springboard, which I hope will be the first of many. I hope it will open up some unique opportunities, as well as offering some magical moments for the participants. When we believe strongly in ourselves, we can also believe in our collective potential. I firmly believe that Cambodia will rise up and that our passionate artists will represent our colours, just like Vandaa did at the Olympic Games.”
With his ambition to bring together and give a chance to as many Cambodian artists as possible, Zakary is brimming with ideas for the future of the emerging Cambodian art scene and hopes that this first edition will be the start of a great adventure.
“It will be much more than just an event: it will be a springboard for Cambodian artists, a platform to showcase their talent and passion. Cambodia is full of young artists and creators who deserve to be discovered. We want to give them that chance. Our aim is to amaze and delight the audience,” concludes Zakary.
Details of the event :
Date : Saturday 28 December 2024
Hour : 16h30 - 22h30
Venue : Pontoon Club - 80 Jayavarman 7 St. (172), Phnom Penh City, Cambodia
Access : FREE
More information about Khmer Rise Up : https://khmerriseup.podia.com/
To follow Khmer Rise Up on social media :
• Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/khmer_rise_up/
• Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/people/Khmer-Rise-Up/
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