Eternal Shadows of Em Theay: Photographic Legacy for Khmer Renaissance

At the heart of the Royal University of Fine Arts (RUFA) new campus in Phnom Penh, an emotive gesture perpetuates the immortal grace of Khmer classical dance. Photographer Arjay Stevens donated sixty-six precious shots capturing the essence of Em Theay, the legendary Royal Ballet master who passed in 2021.

A Ceremony Steeped in Emotion

On January 14, 2026, ancestral pinpeat orchestra airs resonated at Prek Leap as RUFA students performed Robam Joun Por, the Dance of Flowers, in homage to the grande dame. This ritual opening, under the gaze of rector Dr. Heng Sophady and Ministry of Culture representatives, preceded the official handover of the iconic fund. "These images are not mere visual beauties but living lessons in gestural precision," declared the rector, stressing their pedagogical role in rebuilding an art ravaged by the Khmer Rouge.

Em Theay, Khmer Soul Guardian

Born in 1932 within the royal palace grounds, Em Theay grew up amid dancers, learning chants and mudras without formal schooling. A survivor of the 1975-1979 horrors, where 90% of artists perished, she became Neak Krou, master dancer, training generations at RUFA and resurrecting the Royal Ballet under the patronage of Queen Sisowath Kossamak and Princess Bopha Devi. Her rigorous teaching—finger tilts, gaze depths—embodied Khmer resilience, honored by UNESCO in 2003 as an intangible cultural masterpiece.

Arjay Stevens, Faithful Witness

German Rainer J. "Arjay" Stevens, settled in Cambodia since 1996, traded his scientific career for the lens, passionately documenting Khmer arts. Meeting Em Theay in 1997, he shadowed her for twenty-four years, immortalizing rehearsals and performances, as in the 2017 exhibition and book A Century Artist. "These photos must remain here, where she gave so much," he confided emotionally during the donation, securing transmission at Prek Leap.

A World Heritage Revitalized

The Royal Ballet, or Lkhon Preah Reach Trop, draws millennial roots from India and Siam, restructured in the 19th century by King Ang Duong. UNESCO-listed since 2003, it blends fluid choreography, opulent costumes, and choral commentary for royal rites and ceremonies. Housed in RUFA Chroy Changvar's modern frame, these visual archives will now guide students and scholars, linking a turbulent past to a radiant future. With Em Theay's descendants present, this gift seals a living legacy: Khmer dance, like a lotus rising from murky waters, blooms anew.

More photographs here...