JOIN THE CIRCUS
We had heard whispers from other travellers about a famous circus in town that helps the community , combining traditional dance , circus arts and performance as a way to improve the lives of disadvantaged Cambodian youth , so we decided to book tickets on our final evening to take in the show at Phare Circus . And we were so glad we did !
The Phare Circus is the social business extension of Phare Ponleu Selpak nonprofit school , and its nightly performances have a uniquely Cambodian voice , combining acrobatics , a mix of traditional and modern live music , and engaging stories that reflect the often tough lives of Cambodia ’ s youth . Phare ’ s artists have all come through the school , a testament to the organisation ’ s success in supporting and nurturing education , talent , creativity and self-drive through performance art .
The evening experience began with a sampling of street food and drinks as we watched sweet performances from some of the youngest of the school before being ushered inside the Big Top tent to begin a captivating and often hilarious night of entertainment .
The circus has a revolving calendar of themed shows , and that night we were in for a treat — Khmer Metal , set in a grungy Phnom Penh rock bar as customers seek adventure , passion and love in all the wrong places . There was rock music , hip hop , and high-flying dynamics as the performers took over the stage , offering a fitting end to our exhilarating and fascinating trip to this charming little Cambodian city with a big heart . H
PHOTO : RANUTH YUN
58