Moni Mekhala and Ream Eyso retells the sacred drama of the same name, a tale in which rivaling students of a powerful hermit bring life to lightning, thunder, and rain. Weaving together interviews, essays, photographs, and illustrations, the book uses the story to explore the evolution of the Khmer classical dance tradition, the passage of leadership within artistic tradition nearly destroyed by genocide, and the circumstances of today's women. Additional contributors include award-winning choreographer Sophiline Cheam Shapiro, cultural anthropologist Toni Shapiro-Phim, and visual artist Brian Mendez. "[An] enlightening and engaging exploration of one of the most important works in the Cambodian dance drama repertory... A love letter to the character of Moni Mekhala and all of the women who have safeguarded this exquisite art form for generations, this book is a testament to the power of myth in our everyday lives." Cecily Cook Senior Program Officer, Asian Cultural Council - New York "This book is profoundly artist-centered and thus offers an utterly unique and intimate account of Khmer classical dance. This is the first book to acknowledge how gender and sexuality can be interrogated through Khmer dance, whether in the distant Cambodian past, in a post-genocide present, or in Long Beach, California." Dr. Deborah Wong Professor of Music, University of California - Riverside President of Board of Directors, Alliance for California Traditional Arts "Lovingly conceived... Moni Mekhala and Ream Eyso captures the essence of a woman's strength and resilience in the midst of raging violence. It is a book I would want to get as a gift to all the girls and women in the various circles of my life." Chivy Sok Cambodian American human rights advocate and co-founder of Devata Giving Circle
About the Author: PRUMSODUN OK (b. 1987) is guided by love. He works to positively transform our world through his practice as an artist, teacher, writer, and maker of things. His interdisciplinary performances contemplate René Daumal's expression of "the avant-garde in antiquity," mining the tradition of Khmer classical dance to explore the intersection of contemporary social issues with new possibilities for performance. Prum has presented his original work at venues such as REDCAT (NOW Festival 2012, Studio: 2010 & 2009), Highways, KUNST-STOFF arts/fest, CounterPULSE, Pieter, and the University Art Museum at CSULB. His writings have been published by the Alliance for California Traditional Arts (ACTA), Salon.com, LA Stage Times, In Dance Magazine and featured by the California Dance Network. He has been a guest teacher at UCLA, and has spoken at conferences and panels through out the country. Currently, Prum is associate artistic director of Khmer Arts and serves on the board of directors of the Alliance for California Traditional Arts. He is the honored recipient of grants and fellowships from TED, Association of Performing Arts Presenters, Durfee Foundation, and the Center for Cultural Innovation, was a Master Artist in ACTA's Apprenticeship Program and a mentee to Oguri through the Choreographers in Mentorship Exchange Grant. Prum is forever thankful to the many teachers and mentors who have graced his life: dancers Sophiline Cheam Shapiro, Penh Yom, and Oguri; vanguard composer Charles Boone; filmmakers Ernie Gehr, Brook Hinton, Jeanne Liotta, and George Kuchar; opera director Peter Sellars; and scholars David Gere and Anurima Banerji.