Maysam visiting Angkor temples. CORPUS' performance of Les moutons at PIO schools.

In November, Maysam, a 13-year-old who attends Market Lane School, embarked to Cambodia with CORPUS, the Toronto-based dance/theatre company.

CORPUS initiated an arts education project called From Slums to Stage via the People Improvement Organization (PIO), a charity based in Phnom Penh and founded by The Esplanade’s resident Phymean Noun. CORPUS taught theatre workshops to local kids staying at the PIO shelter and performed Les moutons, its signature piece, at the school, which is located by the garbage dump. After their workshop, the children at PIO created, directed, and presented their own performance as well.

Maysam took part in the workshops, performed at the school with the other kids and helped with CORPUS’ performance of Les moutons. She had an opportunity to discover Cambodia’s culture and history, to motorbike throughout Kampot province and to visit the Angkor Temples. It was a unique cultural, artistic and personal experience for Maysam and everyone involved in this project. Now back in Toronto, the next step for Maysam is to share her experience with her classmates at Market Lane School.

Maysam’s trip to Cambodia was supported by Jamii Esplanade.