Sovanita’s Story: How Phare Kindergarten Cultivated an Early Love of the Arts

Sinat, a mother from an impoverished situation, is delighted to witness her 5-year-old daughter Sovanita thrive in the supportive environment at Phare Kindergarten. Sovanita’s passion for art reflects her dreams, making her a favorite among teachers. Phare Ponleu...

Empowering Futures: How Phare’s Lunch Support Program Makes a Difference

At Phare Ponleu Selpak, we believe every child deserves the opportunity to transform their life through education and the arts. To make this possible, we’ve developed several sponsorship programs that support children from vulnerable backgrounds.   The safety and...

Celebrating Pchum Ben at Phare: When the Living Honour Their Ancestors

If your mornings were gently filled with the sound of prayers and sacred chants, you were likely in Cambodia, near a pagoda, during the sacred period of Pchum Ben. This essential festival for honoring ancestors attracts thousands of people to temples between September...

The Water Festival in Battambang: Phare Ponleu Selpak’s role in cultural revitalization

At the heart of Khmer mythology there is a fascinating legend: the union between the Indian prince Kaundinya and the Naga princess Soma. Thousands of years ago, Cambodia was an island occupied by the Naga, half-human, half-serpent creatures, venerated as the...

Dancing Toward a Fairer Future: A New Path for Young Female Dancers at Phare Ponleu Selpak

This year, Phare Ponleu Selpak has taken a meaningful step toward creating new opportunities for young female dancers. In February, thanks to funding from the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF) we launched a new project aimed at improving the learning...

From Battambang to Cirque du Soleil: SOK Dina’s Journey to Becoming Cirque’s First Cambodian Performer

If you haven’t already heard of SOK Dina, then prepare to be amazed. Dina is the first performer from Cambodia to join Cirque du Soliel in Montreal, Canada. Dina is also a circus alumnus from Phare Performing Arts School. From 2005 to 2011, Dina – and his friend and...

Pride Month Interview: How Trans Student Sarann Found Her Place as a Khmer Dancer at Phare Ponleu Selpak [Video]

As a trans woman who is a Khmer traditional dancer, YOU Sarann faces endless discrimination. The 23-year-old Battambang native has dreamed of becoming a dancer since childhood, but many times, she’s wanted to give up. Fortunately, Phare Ponleu Selpak provides Sarann...

Meet the Volunteers of Phare Ponleu Selpak: Soree KIM, Communications & Marketing Intern [Video]

This past academic year, Phare Ponleu Selpak received two student volunteers from the United States. They have spent around 7 months at Phare and will be leaving soon to start their first year of university. As a farewell, we asked a few questions about their...

Phare Alumni Success Story: Meet LY Vanthan, the Music Pop Star of Cambodia

It is always a joy to get to interview Vanthan, the music alumni from the Performing Arts School of Phare Ponleu Selpak Vanthan is a multi-talented singer, songwriter, record producer, and instrumentalist. The well-known singer of “Khmer Gentleman” at Baramey...

Meet the Volunteers of Phare Ponleu Selpak: Eliot WITHERSPOON, Communications & Marketing Intern [Video]

This past year, Phare Ponleu Selpak received two student volunteers from the United States. They have spent around seven months at Phare and will be leaving soon to start their first year of university. As a farewell, we asked a few questions about their internship...

Sovanita’s Story: How Phare Kindergarten Cultivated an Early Love of the Arts

Sinat, a mother from an impoverished situation, is delighted to witness her 5-year-old daughter Sovanita thrive in the supportive environment at Phare Kindergarten. Sovanita’s passion for art reflects her dreams, making her a favorite among teachers. Phare Ponleu...

Empowering Futures: How Phare’s Lunch Support Program Makes a Difference

At Phare Ponleu Selpak, we believe every child deserves the opportunity to transform their life through education and the arts. To make this possible, we’ve developed several sponsorship programs that support children from vulnerable backgrounds.   The safety and...

Celebrating Pchum Ben at Phare: When the Living Honour Their Ancestors

If your mornings were gently filled with the sound of prayers and sacred chants, you were likely in Cambodia, near a pagoda, during the sacred period of Pchum Ben. This essential festival for honoring ancestors attracts thousands of people to temples between September...

The Water Festival in Battambang: Phare Ponleu Selpak’s role in cultural revitalization

At the heart of Khmer mythology there is a fascinating legend: the union between the Indian prince Kaundinya and the Naga princess Soma. Thousands of years ago, Cambodia was an island occupied by the Naga, half-human, half-serpent creatures, venerated as the...

Dancing Toward a Fairer Future: A New Path for Young Female Dancers at Phare Ponleu Selpak

This year, Phare Ponleu Selpak has taken a meaningful step toward creating new opportunities for young female dancers. In February, thanks to funding from the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF) we launched a new project aimed at improving the learning...

From Battambang to Cirque du Soleil: SOK Dina’s Journey to Becoming Cirque’s First Cambodian Performer

If you haven’t already heard of SOK Dina, then prepare to be amazed. Dina is the first performer from Cambodia to join Cirque du Soliel in Montreal, Canada. Dina is also a circus alumnus from Phare Performing Arts School. From 2005 to 2011, Dina – and his friend and...

Pride Month Interview: How Trans Student Sarann Found Her Place as a Khmer Dancer at Phare Ponleu Selpak [Video]

As a trans woman who is a Khmer traditional dancer, YOU Sarann faces endless discrimination. The 23-year-old Battambang native has dreamed of becoming a dancer since childhood, but many times, she’s wanted to give up. Fortunately, Phare Ponleu Selpak provides Sarann...

Meet the Volunteers of Phare Ponleu Selpak: Soree KIM, Communications & Marketing Intern [Video]

This past academic year, Phare Ponleu Selpak received two student volunteers from the United States. They have spent around 7 months at Phare and will be leaving soon to start their first year of university. As a farewell, we asked a few questions about their...

Phare Alumni Success Story: Meet LY Vanthan, the Music Pop Star of Cambodia

It is always a joy to get to interview Vanthan, the music alumni from the Performing Arts School of Phare Ponleu Selpak Vanthan is a multi-talented singer, songwriter, record producer, and instrumentalist. The well-known singer of “Khmer Gentleman” at Baramey...

Meet the Volunteers of Phare Ponleu Selpak: Eliot WITHERSPOON, Communications & Marketing Intern [Video]

This past year, Phare Ponleu Selpak received two student volunteers from the United States. They have spent around seven months at Phare and will be leaving soon to start their first year of university. As a farewell, we asked a few questions about their internship...

Catch up on everything that’s happening at Phare Ponleu Selpak we work to change lives through the arts in Battambang, Cambodia.

The Top 10 Phare Ponleu Selpak Blog Posts of 2023

The Top 10 Phare Ponleu Selpak Blog Posts of 2023

It’s that time of year when everything from music to movies is arranged in a list and counted down. At Phare Ponleu Selpak, we’re doing the same. The past year has been quite busy at Phare Ponleu Selpak with art festivals, volunteers, star alumni, and more all making...

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Battambang Water Festival: What It Is & How to Celebrate

Battambang Water Festival: What It Is & How to Celebrate

If you’re ever traveling to Battambang in October, you might hear people talking about the water festival – or you might find yourself caught in the middle of it unknowingly if you’re down by the Sangker River and surrounded by racing boats and cheering crowds. ...

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The Top 5 Videos on the New Phare Ponleu Selpak TikTok Profile

The Top 5 Videos on the New Phare Ponleu Selpak TikTok Profile

Did you know that Phare Ponleu Selpak has a TikTok account? Yep, you’ve been missing out this whole time!  You might have already seen us on your “For You” page, but in case you haven’t, our new TikTok channel has got everything from interviews to “day in the life”...

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Don’t Miss the Battambang imaginée Art Festival This Month

Don’t Miss the Battambang imaginée Art Festival This Month

It’s time to celebrate art, culture, and development in Battambang!  Phare Ponleu Selpak and AFD – Agence Française de Développement – have joined forces to bring a new art festival to Battambang Province, Cambodia entitled:   បាត់ដំបងក្នុងក្តីស្រមៃ / Battambang...

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Artist Talk: Understanding Khmer Contemporary Art [Video]

Artist Talk: Understanding Khmer Contemporary Art [Video]

The tension between Khmer art preservation and development has been growing recently. During the 2023 S'Art Urban Art Festival, there were several discussions about arts and shared cultural heritage. This discussion with artists attempted to explain and understand the...

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