BYU-Hawaii’s Cambodian Student Association is back in action this semester and performed at Culture Night for the first time in eight years. According to the Alyssa Humphreys, the association president, the members were hoping to reintroduce the Cambodian culture to the university through traditional dances.
“The chapter [had] less than one semester to put an act together while all of the other chapters have been preparing for two, even three semesters,” said Humphreys, a junior from Colorado studying international cultural studies.
Humphreys comes from a half-American and half-Cambodian family. She said starting the association this semester has been a great opportunity for her to share her Cambodian side and connect with students from all around the world.
The chapter had eight people perform, the smallest group at this year’s Culture Night. “Trying to organize our dances was tough at first, but we have all worked so hard,” said Humphreys.
The association performed a coconut dance and a dance featuring a Cambodian krama, a traditional Cambodian scarf. Both dances are exciting to watch, according to Humphreys, because they use fun, traditional props.
“The coconut dance is very entertaining as it is traditionally performed at weddings and anniversaries. Each dancer has a partner of the opposite gender and we dance holding two coconut shells. The other dance is performed using a krama.”
The dances were choreographed by Pattica San, a freshman political science major from Cambodia. San was a professional dancer in Cambodia prior to serving his mission in the Australia Brisbane Mission. He said there are four different classes of dances in Cambodia: classical, folk, traditional, and modern. Both dances the association chose were traditional, he said. “I chose two dances that I felt could best represent our culture and help the audience connect to us.
“The coconut dance is a happy dance that makes you happy when you perform and happy when you watch. I also know how important the coconut is in the islands, as is in Cambodia… I hope [the dance] will serve as a link between Cambodia and everyone here in Hawaii.”
San said the krama is important to Cambodians because of its protection and long-lasting material. “We often wear them on our heads and outside to protect us from sweat and dirt. Kramas are made from Cambodian silk worms. The special thing about their silk is that it actually begins to look better and becomes more beneficial the more it is used and washed.
“We can use this as an example of how to live our lives. The more we use our talents and stretch ourselves, the better we can become and the more lives we can bless. Just as a worm before it produces its silk, we have nothing, but we grow and learn and die with the things that matter most,” said San.
Humphreys said practice was daunting, but “we decided as a chapter that performing now would be the best way to introduce the school to the rich history and culture of Cambodia.
“I feel like, more than anything, I have been a bridge between the Cambodian students and those from other cultures. I am so excited to share our culture with the rest of the school and community.”
Kristen Conrad, a sophomore from Washington studying TESOL, said she learned a lot from being a member of the chapter. “Before joining, I couldn’t have told you where Cambodia was on a map. But now I have such a great appreciation for the food, the language, and the culture,” she stated.
Humphreys said Dr. Eric Orr, the association adviser who served a Cambodian-speaking LDS mission, provided much needed help in preparation for the event.
Writer: Alyssa Odom