August 7–14, 1997

critic pick|sixpick

Chamroeun Yin

Yin hails from Cambodia. He left that country to escape the bloody Khmer Rouge. While in a refugee camp Yin learned movements of the Royal Court Dance of Cambodia. Here in America Chamroeun performs and teaches the style as a means of keeping hisculture alive. Yin is a master at crafting the fantastical masks and exquisite beaded costumes needed for court dancing, and he'll bring some to the reading. In his book, In My Heart I Am a Dancer, published by the Philadelphia FolkloreProject, Yin relates his love of this folk art form, along with his fondness for family, friendship, cooking and gardening. The content deals with hardships and conflicts, but what you and your youngsters may remember most from the reading is theauthor's congenial warmth and simple but wise philosophy of life.

Tue., Aug. 12, 7:30 p.m., Barnes & Noble, 835 Old York Road, Jenkintown. For information, call the PFP at 468-7871.

— Deni Kasrel