Flower Dance (ផ្ការាំ)
Over the years, I have been lucky enough to meet musicians from all over the world and witness the power of music to connect people across borders, languages and generations. One of these musicians is singer Yorn Young, who taught me this Cambodian folk song dedicated to the dance of the flowers floating in a lake. We invite you to sing and dance along!
See full lyric video playlist on YouTube
Learn
Learn some basic Cambodian hand motions for the Flower Dance with Yorn Young & dance along! Can you create or discover other dances that represent nature? Teach us!
A Music Video!
By Andrew Benincasa
See full music video playlist on YouTube
Lyrics
traditional, English verse by Elena Moon Park
(download)
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O Sakava, euy pkha trokoun
pkha euy lek khloun, phka euy lek khloun
knong beng saen changay
O Sakava, euy pkha saray
pkha doh reay pay, pkha doh reay pay
leuy phtey tik thla.
​
Oh in the winter
Roots are growing and growing and searching for a home
and in the springtime
leaves are blooming and blooming where the sunlight will roam
Oh with the flowers, we dance along!
​
O Sakava, euy pkha champa
phka laor malehna, phka laor malehna
doh kbaer cheung phnom
O Sakava, euy pkha maroom
phka rik chamm khmoum, phka rik chamm khmoum
mok kreb lom ang.
​
And in the evening
Children dancing and prancing and jumping high and low
under the moonlight
we will tell each other stories as the seasons come and go
Oh when the flowers dance, we sing along!
​
(Loose translation)
​
O Sakarava, the hybrid flowers
have lower themselves very far in the lake,
O Sakarava, the algae flowers
have grown everywhere in the clear water
​
O Sakarava, the champa flowers
have grown near the foot of the mountain
O Sakarava, the mother flowers
are blooming for bees to pollen
​
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Musicians
Yorn Young, vocals
Sam Vatanak, roneat
Hin Soth, flute
Nam Sothea, tro ou
Yoshi Waki, upright bass
David Cossin, drums, shakers
John Foti, harmonies
Elena Moon Park, violins, vocals
