HOME / 2021-2022 / SELAPAK: A CELEBRATION OF KHMER ARTISTRY

CELEBRATE AND HONOR THE KHMER EXPERIENCE

Selapak (សិល្បៈ) is the Khmer word for "arts." When the Khmer Rouge took over Cambodia in the 1970s, the party tried to decimate all forms of selapak, but the beauty and culture of the Khmer arts lived on in memory. After the genocide—which took the lives of more than 2 million people—the survivors revived Khmer selapak and also passed Khmer art down to the 1.5- and second-generation Khmer artists in the United States.

The Jungle Theater and Theater Mu are proud to present a one-night event honoring the resilience and perseverance of Khmer selapak. Enjoy classical and folk dances by the Wattanak Dance Troupe, spoken word poetry from Khmer American artist Peuo Tuy, and a presentation of Mu acting fellow Deryck Hak's one-man show, Between.

The whole night will be emceed by Cody Kour, who also serves as the dramaturgy fellow for the Jungle and Mu's co-production of Cambodian Rock Band, which runs now through Jul 31.

Download Selapak’s program as a PDF file or accessible plain text.

GENERAL INFORMATION

DATE

Jul 11, 2022, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. (doors open at 6 p.m.)

There will be a short intermission with provided refreshments.

TICKETS

This event is free and open to the public. Seating is limited, so please RSVP.

VENUE

This trio of performances will take place at the Jungle Theater, located at 2951 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55408.

For directions or parking information, visit the Jungle Theater’s website.

COVID-19 POLICY

Masks are to be worn at all times: Theater Mu and the Jungle prefer that patrons wear KN95 or N95 masks.

About WATTANAK DANCE TROUPE

WATTANAK DANCE TROUPE (WDT) itself was established in 2000 by Sodanny Eir and Yousedy Peov and is currently under the instruction of disciples, Saroeun Nob and Garrett Sour. WDT is a non-profit organization that focuses on classical and folk dance styles of the Cambodian repertoire. WDT seeks to bridge generations of Cambodian Americans to their cultural heritage through the art of dance and storytelling, while also showcasing the rich and ancient culture of Cambodia to communities throughout the States. WDT is devoted to preserving and passing down the knowledge of Cambodian performing arts to the next generation.

ABOUT PEUO TUY

PEUO TUY (she/her) is a 1.5-generation Khmer American spoken word poet and educator from Lowell, Massachusetts, and New York, New York. Her poetry collection, Khmer Girl (2014), is inspired by the traumas of her life, including her family escaping the killing fields of their native Cambodia and enduring the inequities of life as refugees in the U.S. Peuo was a recipient of the Long Beach Arts Council grant and the 2017 Pushcart Prize nominee for her poem “Hasbro Neon Light Brights.” She was also selected for the Florida Literary Arts Coalition Writers’ Circuit 2018/19 book tour, awarded the Critical Refugees Studies Collective grant (2019), and the co-founder of the Cambodian American Literary Arts Association. Peuo’s work has appeared in several online publications, anthologies, and magazines. She is currently an English language learner teacher at a Hmong elementary school in Minnesota. During her free time, she loves to swim, travel, and devour dark chocolate cakes.

ABOUT DERYCK HAK

DERYCK HAK (he/him) has enjoyed being part of his first production with Theater Mu, Cambodian Rock Band and is thrilled to continue working with them by presenting his one-man show, Between! Favorite credits include Laurie in Little Women (Lyric Arts), Minoru Masuda in Christmas of Swing (History Theatre), and himself in his one-man show, Between (Renegade Theatre). He has also had the pleasure of working with Minneapolis Musical Theatre, Wildwood Theatre, and the National Theatre for Children. He received his BFA in acting from the University of Minnesota Duluth. Deryck would like to thank his family for their continued support and love. When he is not on the stage or waiting tables at Olive Garden, he can be found snuggled up in a blanket with Dude… his 10-year-old tabby cat. Enjoy the show! | deryckhak.com 

ABOUT CODY KOUR

CODY KOUR (he/him) is a second-generation Khmer American writer, teacher, and scholar. A son of refugees, Cody is excited to be a part of Selapak. He enjoys working on projects that interrogate the distance between memory and truth, the relationship between artifice and "real life," and the boundaries that love always transcends. Currently, Cody is also the dramaturgy fellow for Cambodian Rock Band, which is being co-produced by the Jungle and Theater Mu through Jul 31. In his spare time, Cody likes to read graphic novels, write poetry, grill out with family, and go on night drives. In the future, Cody hopes to continue to collaborate with others to uplift Asian American stories through his work and art.

SPECIAL THANKS