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Overlooked & Underrated Docs & Features
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Dancing Across Borders: From Cambodia to the American Ballet Stage “Dancing Across Borders” tells the story of Sokvannara Sar—he’s called Sy for short, and Sy is pronounced ‘see.’
Sar was dancing with a traditional Cambodian dance troupe when he was discovered by American philanthropist Anne Bass. She approached Sar and his family offering them to sponsor him to go to the United States and study ballet. Sy was 16 at that time.
It was a long shot, someone that age beginning ballet for the very first time.
The training was grueling. The separation from family, friends, geography, and culture followed by his inculturation in the United States—New York City, no less—must have been deeply painful. But he did it. Beating the odds, Sokvannara Sar is now a ‘soloist’ for an American ballet company.
Bass wisely and generously executive produced and directed this dramatic, incredulous, unlikely story of personal transformation. She captures Sar’s internal struggles, the development of his artistry, and the critical high points of his apprenticeship.
This First Run Features film is available as a DVD, a Blu-ray disc, and a DVD version in the Khmer language.
The DVD contains the following bonus features: Recent performance by Sokvanna Sar, Selected performances from the film, Interview with Director Anne Bass, a Photo Gallery.