Performing Arts School

The Performing Arts School of Phare Ponleu Selpak began with the music school in 1996. Today, the Performing Arts School contains the Circus, Theatre, Music and Dance departments.

PPSA welcomes all children and young adults regardless their social class, race, political orientation, nationality, or sexual orientation. We do put a special emphases on serving children who come from disadvantaged backgrounds involving poverty, neglect, violence, or trafficking. All the Performing Arts classes are free.

The Curriculum of Performing Arts School provides students classes in three different levels to train students ages 6 to more than 18 years-old:

cambodian music studentLeisure Classes

Leisure classes are open to students between the ages of 6-13 years old. There is no entrance criteria, so all students are welcome to join.

Fondation Classes

Students over the age of 13 (between 13-17 years old) who have no experience or those who just want to have fun will be put into a special older age group. It’s an opportunity for beginners to discover the activities. 

Preparatory Classes

The preparatory level welcomes students over 17 years old, and prepares them for entrance into the Vocational Training course.

Vocational Training

The secondary level welcomes students over 18 years old and prepares them for professional careers in their chosen disciplines.

All students must complete an internship through performance either inside PPSA or elsewhere in Cambodia or abroad. They all have the opportunity to enter to the professional performing arts market where they can earn an income to support themselves and their families.

How To Apply

Every case is different and we think it is important to give every child who is motivated in learning new things a chance. For this reason the admission to these programs are on an on-going basis. We will be happy to answer any question you may have regarding the application process.

Contact us

+855 012 890 360

Specializations

General
Information

The performing arts school of Phare Ponleu Selpak Association offers a variety of activities such as: circus, theater, music and dance. Each specialization requires different years of attendance before graduation: 5 years for circus arts (plus 3 years of professional practice); 3 years for theater and music (plus 3 years of professional practice), and 4 years for dance classes (plus 3 years of professional practice).

Who are the targeted beneficiaries of this program?

The first direct beneficiaries are the Cambodian artists with different and complementary skills (coming from living arts, either traditional or contemporary).
Professionals living with disabilities are specifically targeted.
The program aims to provide equal training opportunities so that professional career development opportunities can be accessed by every one, regardless of gender.

What are the objectives of the program?

The overall objective is to support the development of the performing arts cultural industry in Cambodia, in order to develop its diversity and vitality, and thereby contribute to sustainable socio-economic development.
We aim to meet two specific objectives:

  • Strengthen the capacity of artists and expand the distribution of Cambodian performing arts products,
  • Increase and improve the sustainability of the cultural industries in Cambodia.

Circus

Circus arts are turning production and reproduction into communication and emotion. Contemporary circus gets inspiration from different arts for more creativity and sensibility. Circus technique is an educational action tool.

In practice, circus allows student to discover many discipline:

  • Work with the body in balancing, flexibility, physical preparation and psychomotor capacity.
  • Ability for improvement, getting inspiration from the work and practice throughout the sessions.
  • Understanding and self-awareness, mutual assistant, and respect for others.
  • Being able to recognize and conceptualize the risks.
  • Self-confidence and self-esteem.
  • Creativity, games, imagination and artistic expression.

In addition to normal classes, regular workshops are offered throughout the year.

 

Leisure Class

Circus School Leisure Class (CSLC) is a class in which the students will discover the basic disciplines of circus through games and different pedagogical activities.

Gradually, and according to their wishes, motivation and abilities, children will start working on more practical and demanding activities. This is an opportunity to develop their artistic scene by offering course shows, but also inviting them to get on track, watch each other’s work and think critically.

Criteria: Open for young children from 6 to 13 years-old.

Duration: 3 years maximum (if the students start at the year of 8)

Fondation Class

The Fondation Class is an opportunity for beginners to discover the activities.

Criteria: Open for students who have between 13 and 17 years old and who don’t have any experience in circus.

Preparatory

Circus School Preparatory Class (CSPC) is a class the students must follow before entering to secondary class program. The CSPC is a 3 years program and students will be evaluated at the end of each semester.

This class provides the technical basis to students in circus arts disciplines (Acrobatic, balancing, juggling, flexibility, and physical exercise…) as well as other complementary subjects (theatre, music, dance…).

Criteria: Open to student aged 17 years-old and older.

Duration: 3 years maximum

Vocational Class

Circus School Vocational Class (CSVC) is flexible to students’ availability as it implements the credit system. However, circus classes are provided at least 15 hours per week. The circus classes are split into various disciplines and subjects. CSVC evaluates students’ competence in a semester basis.

  • Acrobatics
  • Theatre (Acting)
  • Music (Rhythm in music)
  • Dance (Rhythm in dance and basic gesture)
  • Presentation (Students will present their skills in front of audiences)

Optional Classes:

  • Foreign language (French or English),
  • Computer skill (focus to Microsoft Office, internet & e-mail),
  • Applied Arts
  • Other workshops: Career Development skill (focus on leadership, teamwork, communication skill, and personal selling skill…etc.), Problem Solving, Financial Management, Playwright and directing skill…

Criteria: Students who would like to pursue this vocational program must be at least 18 years-old and graduated from preparatory class or equivalent.
The students must obtain the high-school diploma to get the circus diploma with recognition from the government body when graduated from the school.

Duration: 160 artistic credits which equal 2400 hours.

Professional class

Circus School Professional Class (CSPC) is a highest program in circus discipline in which the students will also learn about other disciplines and subjects, complementing their artistic program which will allow them to obtain a professional degree from the school.
It is a fulltime program which requires students to follow all schedules, and they must obtain all required credits before they can get a circus diploma.

Students will be introduced to different subjects to maintain and improve their skills and specialty:

  • Arts History
  • Stage management
  • Technical Work
  • Playwright and directing
  • Strengthening own skills
  • Performance
  • Pedagogy

Criteria: Only students who graduated from the vocational classes will be accepted in the program;
Duration: 3 years program which equal to 121 artistic credits (1815 hours)

Evaluation

The students will be evaluated in each discipline, measuring their competence and knowledge of the subjects learned. The on-process evaluation in regard to credit will be held by the teachers. The final evaluation will be done by a jury committee, in front of which the students will show their project (they must submit their project books to the jury committee in advance).

Dance

The Performing Arts School introduced dance to the curriculum at the end of 2013.

The dance school is focused on classical, traditional and Folk dance as main discipline. Students will explore its finest and richest gestures. The dance program aims at developing choreographies that students can perform on stage. Today, dance is part of the foundational curriculum of Performing Arts.

The curriculum is divided into three levels: leisure (or fondation class), preparatory, and secondary.

 

Theatre

 

Our theater school was created to answer the need and wish of young Cambodians to express themselves in a different way. The activities we offer from initiation to professionalization are made in order to stimulate students that have never been in contact with this kind of artistic practice.

Teachers work together with a pedagogical team in order to provide students the most complete training possible. They will get training in music (vocal technique, rhythm, choir, and percussion ensemble), dance (traditional or classical dance) or circus (acrobatic, juggling, balance, flexibility and physical exercise).

 

Leisure Class

Theater School Leisure Class (TSLC) is a class in which the students will discover the basic disciplines of theater through games and different pedagogical activities.

Criteria: Open to children from 6 to 13 years-old.

Duration: 5 years maximum (when the students start at the year of 8)

Fondation Class

The Fondation Class is an opportunity for beginners to discover the activities. 

Criteria: Open for students who have between 13 and 17 years old and who don’t have any experience in theatre.

Preparatory Class

Theater School Preparatory Class (TSPC) is a class the students must take before entering the vocational program. It is a 1-year program that will introduce them to the discipline and give them the basis needed to improve their technics. There will be an evaluation of the students’ capacity at the end of each semester.

Criteria: Students who wish to pursue this program must be at least 17 years-old.

Duration: 1 year

Vocational Class

Theatre School Vocational Class (TSVC) is flexible to students’ availability as it implements the credit system. However, the school provides at least 15 hours per week and it splits into various subjects. The students’ competencies will be evaluated every semester with credit consideration. At the end of the program, the students will get a recognized certificate that will allow them to continue at University level if they desire to (the diploma corresponds to Baccalaureate/high school).

Artistic Discipline:

Core subjects: students are required to study those to build their skills and improve their artistic program:

  • Character
  • Improvisation
  • Voice
  • Physical
  • Presentation
  • Music (traditional music)
  • Dance (traditional dance)
  • Circus (Acrobatics)

Optional Classes:

  • Foreign language (French or English),
  • Computer skill (focus to Microsoft Office, internet & e-mail),
  • Applied Arts
  • Other workshops: Career Development skill (focus on leadership, teamwork, communication skill, and personal selling skill…etc.), Problem Solving, Financial Management, Playwright and directing skill…

Criteria: Students who would like to pursue this secondary program must be at least 18 years-old and graduated from preparatory class or equivalent.

Duration: 180 Artistic credits & 192 or 288 general educational credits

Leisure class

Dance School Leisure Class (DSLC) is a class in which the students will discover the basic moves of the different dances through games and different pedagogical activities.

Criteria: Open for children from 6 to 13 years-old.

Duration: 5 years maximum – when the students start at age of 8 years-old

Fondation Class

The Fondation Class is an opportunity for beginners to discover the activities. 

Criteria: Open for students who have between 13 and 17 years old and who don’t have any experience in dance.

Preparatory class

Dance School Preparatory Class (DSPC) is the first level of the Dance program. Students must follow this class before entering the secondary class program.

In this class, the students learn:

Basic movement:

  • Fundamental gesture
  • Fundamental dance

Practice dances:

  • Traditional dance
  • Classical dance

Dance Vocabulary

  • Dance gesture vocabulary
  • Body expression with dance gesture vocabulary

Music

  • Traditional music – sing and rhythm

Theatre

  • Emotion in general
  • Internal use of a character’s emotion

Circus

  • Flexibility

Presentation

Criteria: Students who wish to pursue this DSPC must be at least 17 years-old.

Duration: 1 year – 420 hours

Vocational class

Dance School Vocational Class (DSVC) is a high-school-equivalence program. This class is flexible to students’ availability as it implements the credit system. During this program students will learn about:

  • Fundamental gesture and dance
  • Deep understanding in dance
  • Traditional/Folk dance
  • Classical dance
  • Autonomous
  • Performance
  • Theatre (Acting and feeling & emotion)
  • Circus (Flexibility and acrobatic)
  • Music (Rhythm and song)

Criteria: Students who would like to pursue this secondary program must be at least 18 years-old and graduated from preparatory class or equivalence.

Duration: 166 artistic credits – 2490 hours

Professional class

Dance School Professional Class (DSPC) is a highest program in dance, in which the students will complement their artistic knowledge by learning about different subjects.

These subjects will help the students to maintain and improve their skills and specialty:

  • Arts History
  • Stage management
  • Technical work
  • Creation
  • Strengthening own skills
  • Performance
  • Pedagogy

Criteria: The students who want to attend DSPC need to be graduated from the vocational program

Duration: 3 years program which equal to 100 artistic credits (1500 hours)

Evaluation

The students of each program will be evaluated, measuring their competence and knowledge of the subjects learned. The on-process evaluation in regard to credit will be held by the teachers. The final evaluation will be done by a jury committee, in front of which the students will perform their project (they must submit their project books to the jury committee in advance).

Professional Class

Theater School Professional Class (TSPC) is the highest program in the school, in which the students will get introduced to a lot of different subjects, complementing their artistic program which will allow them to obtain a professional degree from the school. It is a fulltime class which requires students to follow all schedules, and the evaluation is based on credits that students must obtained for graduating.

Artistic Discipline

Core subjects are non-optional for students. Those will help the students to maintain and improve their skills and specialty:

  • Arts History
  • Stage management
  • Technical work
  • Playwright and directing
  • Strengthening own skills
  • Performance
  • Pedagogy

Optional Classes

  • Computer skill (focus to Microsoft Office, internet & e-mail),
  • Applied Arts
  • Other workshops: Career Development skill (focus on leadership, teamwork, communication skill, and personal selling skill…etc.), Problem Solving, Financial Management…

Criteria: Only students who graduated from the vocational program can enter TSPC.

Duration: 3 years program which equal to 100 artistic credits (1500 hours)

Evaluation

The on-process evaluation will be held by the teachers. The final evaluation of their graduation will be done by a jury committee, to which the students need to show their project (they must submit their project books to the jury committee in advance).

Music

The music school is composed of two main categories: classical & traditional music and modern music. The students must explore both, but can select one to specialize in.

Discovery class

Discovery: This class is intended to develop the sensibility of our students. Classes are made of activities based on developing sensory, physical, and vocal abilities. Interdisciplinary workshops will be provided.

Leisure Class

Music School Leisure Class (MSLC) is a class in which the students will discover the basic disciplines of music through games and different pedagogical activities. The program is part time (3 hours per week).

Criteria: Open for young students from 6 years-old to 13 years-old

Duration: 5 years maximum (when the students start at the year of 8)

Fondation Class

The Fondation Class is an opportunity for beginners to discover the activities. 

Criteria: Open for students who have between 13 and 17 years old and who don’t have any experience in music.

Preparatory Class

Music School Preparatory Class (MSPC) is the the first level of studies for those who wish to enter the vocational class program. It is a 1-year program and the students’ capacity is being examined each semester. The main topics are:

  • Music notes
  • Note durations & arrangement of pitches on the staff (reading music)
  • Rhythm
  • Music songs
  • Tunings of the instruments

Criteria: Students who wish to pursue the MSPC must be at least 17 years-old.

Duration: 1 year

Vocational Class

Music School Vocational Class (MSVC) is flexible to students’ availability as it implements the credit system.
In this program, the students will learn the basic music components which that are to become a musician. The students will have to choose one specialty in the music field, however they will also learn other musical skills as there are three different kinds of music in this class:

  • Classical music
  • Traditional music
  • Modern music

The inter-disciplinary class will help them improve their general performance.

Criteria: Students who would like to pursue this secondary program must be at least 18 years-old and graduated from preparatory class or equivalence (pass audition, which at this level should be the ability to play an instrument, accurately repeat simple passages played by the teacher, and an examination on musical knowledge).

Duration: 120 artistic credits (1800 hours) of each chosen skill

Professional Class

Music School Professional Class (MSPC) is the highest program in music in which the students will complement their artistic knowledge with other general subjects.

Artistic Discipline

  • Core subjects (which the students are obligated to follow):
  • Arts History
  • Stage management
  • Technical work
  • Composition/Recording
  • Strengthening own skills
  • Performance/programming/Musical leadership
  • Pedagogy

Criteria: This program requires the students to have graduated from the vocational classes and/or successfully completed the audition process (pass the evaluation also given to vocational-level students).

Duration: 3 years’ program which equal to 100 artistic credits (1500 hours)

Evaluation

The students of each program will be evaluated, measuring their competence and knowledge of the subjects learned at the end of each semester. They will also have a jury evaluation of the pieces they have learned and/or composed in front of all the teachers.

School facilities & fees

01.

Circus school (circus equipment and materials, circus hall with large space, other supported materials in circus)

8years x 700$= 5600$

02.

Music School (Some modern music instrument, classical music instruments and traditional music instruments, Separate room for each discipline)

Music school: 7years x 700$= 4900$

03.

Theater School (Teaching materials and costume and the theatre hall)

Theater school:6years x700$= 4200$

04.

Dance School (Some class costume, hall with pedagogical material equipped).

Dance school: 7years x 700$= 4900$

Financial aid for students

The financial aid/scholarship is designed to have an effective engagement and sustaining the financial contribution from stakeholders, especially from students and their families to maximize the impact of scholarship values. This financial aid/scholarship framework is only accessible to students who cannot afford to pay full tuition fees.

There is a tuition fee for every program, no matter the level, however the students are only asked to pay for the tuition fees from the Vocational 1 Level onwards, while the foundation program students receive 100% scholarship of tuition fees.

If a student is selected for the scholarship, it means he/she will receive a “committed tuition fees” (pay a part of the fees) or a “full-financial aid/scholarship” (nothing to pay) for his/her whole training program.

Financial Aid/Scholarship can be implemented based on either “committed tuition fees” or “full-financial aid/scholarship” as below:

Committed Tuition Fees: this committed tuition fees can be paid with the four main financial scheme:

  • Financial Contribution from Students (FCS): this FCS requires students to pay monthly tuition fees based on individual family need assessment and Financial Aid/Scholarship Agreement.
  • Part of Financial Aid/Scholarship (PFA/S): PFA/S will offer the students with percentage-off of tuition fees and individual will be given different tuition-fees-off based on their family needs assessment and discretion made by Scholarship Committee.
  • School Loan (SL): SL is considered as the remaining amount of the tuition fees which the students need to be paid. Full amount of SL is need to be paid after the students finished/graduated from school with clear agreement to be signed.

Full-Financial Aid/Scholarship: When a student is granted a full-financial aid/scholarship, he/she will be given a 100% tuition fees off or benefitting from living stipend which they can pay-back the tuition fees. There are three options they can choose to contribute back to school:

  • In-Kind Contribution (IKC): The students will be asked to work for school or for Phare’s project without fees as for their in-kind contribution to the school and Phare. The students will be given a certain amount of hours to work for the school and/or Phare’s project, however, the students will be asked to submit their interested letter/request to the school for the work and/or project.
  • Partly-Share of Living-Stipend (PSLS): Performing Arts School will implement a Hybridge system, which the students will be asked to perform a certain amount of show under the big-top in responding to Living-Stipend received, however the students will be getting an extra-internship-stipend to a show exceeding the defined amount. Even though, they will be asked to share part of a certain percentage of their Living-Stipend and Extra-Internship-Stipend to the school based on the agreement signed.
  • Post-Contribution-Back (PCB): In PCB, the students will be asked to contribute back to the school/Phare in cash in a certain year after they graduated from school and get employment. The contribution will be based on the PCB agreement signed between the school and the student.

The students are required to be at class regularly (normally at a minimum of 75% of all attendance required) to get fully trained and building their capacity and skills. With this regards, the following allocation is for a student at full-financial aid/scholarship:

Full-financial aid/scholarship

Allocation of Hours of work per year – In-kind contributions:

  • Students at Vocational Year 1: 45-hour maximum per year
  • Students at Vocational Year 2 and 3: 60-hour maximum per year
  • Students at Professional Years: 120-hour maximum per year

Allocation of Numbers of project per year – In-kind contributions:

  • Students at Vocational Year 1: 1 project per year
  • Students at Vocational Year 2 and 3: 2 projects maximum per year
  • Students at Professional Years: 3 projects maximum per year

Allocation of Performances per month under the PPSA big-top – Partly-Share of Living Stipend

  • Students at Vocational Year 1: 2 performances per month
  • Students at Vocational Year 2 and 3: 4 performances per month
  • Students at Professional Years: 5 performances per month

Extra-Internship-Stipend – when a student performs exceeding the amount defined, the followings are the calculation of extra-internship-stipend per show by student’s level:

 

Eligibility

The students who are eligible to this Financial Aid/Scholarship Structure must corresponds to the followings criteria:

  • Applicants have registered to one of the four departments of the performing arts school of Phare
  • Applicants have requested for Finance Aid/Scholarship in written form and submitted with the deadline defined
  • Applicants’ family has Family Needs Assessment done by Social Support Department
  • Applicants are issued Acceptance/approval letter from Finance Aid/Scholarship Committee
  • Applicants signed Financial Aid/Scholarship agreement with the school based on the abovementioned supports

Cancellation/Annulation

The student’s Financial Aid/Scholarship will be Canceled/Annulled if:

  • Student violates the school regulations and obtains two warning letters
  • Student does not show fully engagement to the school’s activities and/or projects
  • Student’s family condition is improved based on family follow-up and evaluation report from the social support department
  • Student’s self-decision to drop the Financial Aid/Scholarship support from the school
  • Student shows bad attitude and makes the school’s and/or Phare’s reputation down

Admission

01.

Meet with education department

02.

Show the interest of the program/school

03.

Registration as a test student

04.

Interested students can then register for the full-time program

 

The admission to these programs are on an on-going basis. Every case is different and we think it is important to give every child who is motivated in learning new things a chance.

Students that studied in the preparatory class do not have to pass an admission test Students that studied outside of PPS and want to integrate a program will have to pass a test for the admission in order to measure their competence, and to decide which class they should integrate.

 

 

Career development

After graduating the students will be professionals of the specialization they chose. They will have gained hard skills in each disciplines.

According to the specialization they have chosen, the students will be provided the opportunity to learn soft skills “professional and life-skills” that will prepare them for the working world.

 

School
team

Direction team


KHUON Det

Director

 

HUOT Heang

Pedagogical Coordinator

 

Circus teachers


KHUONTHAN Chamroeun

NEM Chanthoeun

KIM Tina

SOK Sopheak

SAM Sarry

SY Chanpheakdey

Music teachers


Sot Chomrong

Classical Music teacher

 

UM Eng

Traditional Music teacher

 

CHEA Sokleap

Modern Music teacher

 

Theatre Teachers


SAM Monny

Coordinator and teacher

 

HUOT Hoeurn

Teacher

 

Dance teachers


Hang Sela

Coordinator and teacher

 

Loeng Chenda

Teacher

 

PERSPECTIVES – STUDENTS & GRADUATES

What do they Say?

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Sokborolin, Student

I have been studying theater for 4 years, after I have been introduced to my first class by friends. Although my parents thought it was not a useful skill, they said “wait and see…!” Today I really love it and I want to do it professionally. I do a lot of exercise, acting classes but I am also practicing circus, music and traditional dance. There are so many activities we can do here on the campus!

Sopheap, Alumnus

The circus vocational training has helped both me and my brother to make a living and a better life than before, since we can both support ourselves on our artist salaries today. My job as a performer in Phare circus in Siem Reap is important because I can help share Cambodian stories with both local and international audiences, who can support us and know about the talent of Cambodian artists.

Kanha, Alumnus

Phare is different from other places to study and work because of the strong sense of community that makes it enjoyable. The other students and staff became a warm, welcoming family: together, we are able to create a quality show. While studying performing arts I fell in love with it — the teamwork, the cheering crowd, the thrill of performing difficult stunts — and I love my job today.

Can I skip the Preparatory Class and go straight to Year One?

It is possible for you to skip the preparatory class if your qualification fit the requirement.

Do I need circus/dance/music/theater experience to apply at PAAS?

You do not need to have experience but you must have a very strong commitment to those specific discipline. However, if you do not have any experience, you will have to start from the beginners’ program.

Is the Vocational Training recognized by the Cambodian Ministry of Education?

Not for now, we are currently seeking a way to apply for the accreditation and certification from the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts with the Ministry of Education Youth and Sport or the Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training.

I do not live in Battambang now, but I want to study at PAAS. What can I do?

Unfortunately, PAS does not have an online registration at the moment (we are currently working hard to develop it). If you can come to the campus, then register through education department.

Can I earn an income while studying?

When arrive to a certain level of qualifications for the show/performance/lead the workshop, you will be able to earn an income while studying by performing (this requires you to have at least at Vocational two).

Are families involved in study?

The families have to be involved in the study from the beginning as it is really important for us that they approve of the path chosen by the student. It is also necessary that they keep track on their children’s progress and careers.

Why should I move to Battambang for study?

Cambodia’s creative city: Battambang is home to many art galleries, boutiques, and creative experts. The architecture in Battambang has been influenced by the French, so you will enjoy walking around our beautiful town.

Relaxed and quiet: Battambang has all the necessary facilities, restaurants and attractions without the busy traffic and city noise.

Safety: Battambang has a low crime rate, making it a great city for students to live.

Welcoming school: When you join PAS, you become part of Phare Ponleu Selpak’s creative family. At PPS you can make friends with like-minded creative people and get to know students and staff from different disciplines (performing arts, music, theatre etc.)

Any of our performings art programs sound interesting to you? Get in contact with us to start your creative journey at Phare Ponleu Selpak today!

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