In 1927, thinking that the Royal Ballet is endangered, George Groslier, director of the National Museum decides to preserve the memory of this ballet by a remarkable work of alive documentation. Five women dancers – Nou Nâm, Ith, Anong Nari, Kieuvan and Suon – in the roles of men (Nearong), women (Neang), monkeys (Sva) and demons (Yeak) sometimes in duos, repeat the postures which are taken by the photographer. The result of his work is a fantastic and unique collection of glass plates. Forgotten and subjected to conditions that made preservation difficult, this unique collection (of photos) was recently re-discovered, cataloged, restored, and digitized. The dancers appear in rehearsal costumes, which gives these images a special authenticity, along with a great emotional quality. At the initiative of the EFEO and with UNESCO support the pictures are exhibited for the first time just near the place of the shooting, the National Museum of Phnom Penh.
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