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While culture officials lament the popularity of
foreign entertainment, an art club connected to TVK is training young
Cambodians to sing, dance and perform in Khmer style. "Our goal is
to provide basic and correct knowledge of Khmer art," said Sem
Sovanndeth, the director of the Media Services Limited Art Club.
The
club hired nine teachers from the University of Fine Arts to teach about
600 students from Phnom Penh, Prey Veng, Kompong Speu and Kandal
provinces. Students are taught a variety of skills, from disco and
modeling to traditional Khmer dance. "This is a good club,
"said student To Mony Udom, 28. "They have very talented
teachers."
Students must demonstrate talent before being accepted,
but the courses are free. They run Monday through Friday from 7:30
am to 11 am and from 2 pm to 5 pm. This term, 1,800 students applied for
the 600 slots; the average student studies for six months.
Sem
Sovanndeth says students are not charged because "those who
have art talent are in poor families, so we encourage them to help
upgrade our culture and our art," he said.
Klot Rattana, production
manager at MSL, said the company has shot a few comedies and will shoot
some television dramas in March. The club has a contract with TVK to
produce programs for television, he said.
Mau Ayuth, general director of
TVK, said the station has many uses for trained performers. "What
we want for our television is more Khmer style, "he said. Graduates
"can participate in a game show, concert, a comedy, or they can
make a series, " Mau Ayuth added.
Although MSL is unusual in not
charging its students, art and dance clubs appear to be popular in Phnom
Penh. Art teachers at MSL said there are at least 13 for-profit clubs in
Phnom Penh, charging monthly fees of between $10 and $20.
Officials say
they are not sure of the exact number, since not all the register with
the Ministry of Fine Arts and culture. Dek Sarin, deputy chief of the
Culture Development Department at the Ministry, and culture registered,
although some are inactive. "Some clubs opened for only three month
before closing down, "he said. So the Ministry now wait for the
clubs to become well-established before requiring registration, he said.
By
Ham
Samnang
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