Hun Sen slams royal ballet performance in Singapore

via Phnom Penh Post, 05 March 2020: Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen criticises a Singaporean magician (a feng shui master, not the pulling-a-rabbit-out-of-a-hat-kind) for performing a ritual with his back facing a performance of the Royal Ballet, which is perceived as an immense sign of disrespect. It’s not archaeological but a good reminder that many ‘artistic’ forms we see in archaeology also have cultural attitudes inscribed into them, e.g. a dance is not just a dance but a sacred act of devotion. The main story is a video from the Phnom Penh Post, with additional stories in the Phnom Penh Post linked below.

Prime Minister Hun Sen on Tuesday criticised a performance by the Royal Ballet of Cambodia in Singapore, saying it insulted Cambodian culture and arts because a Singaporean magician performed in front of them as they sat in prayer behind him.

Source: Hun Sen slams royal ballet performance in Singapore | Phnom Penh Post