Portrait of the Artist

Rattanaksombath Mony, better known as Sambath, is an acrobat, juggler, and dancer with the Phare Circus. The artistic performances of this Khmer circus blend comedy, tragedy, and high-flying acrobatics. This institution was created by the philanthropic school Phare Ponleu Selpak in Battambang, which aims to lift children from the region out of poverty by training them in artistic professions. Phare offers genuine storytelling alongside circus performances. Audiences recently enjoyed the story of a young Khmer man, portrayed by Sambath, who faces discrimination in his native village and must confront others' judgments while affirming himself. At 25, a native of Battambang province, Sambath has had the opportunity to perform in Thailand, Bangladesh, England, Germany, and France. He is now a major player in Phare Circus's projects.

Exclusive Interview

How long have you been participating in Phare Circus performances?

I began training in circus arts at age 10 at Phare Ponleu Selpak school in Battambang. I have been performing in Phare Circus shows organized in Siem Reap since 2013, when I was 15 years old.

What motivated you to take part in this project?

At first, I attended this school because it was near my home. I could have breakfast and dinner there. I didn't really understand what studying meant, but I stayed for a while, and then a few years later, I enrolled in the artistic training program. I first studied music because I loved singing, but that only lasted a week. Then I tried learning to paint, but that was short-lived too—I only managed three days. And during a demonstration by the circus school's artists, when I felt so much love and interest, I immediately knew I wanted to learn stunts and high-flying acrobatics.

How much time do you spend training?

Training at the school was much more intense. I spent 8 hours a day practicing acrobatics. But since joining Phare Circus, I only have 3 hours of training per day, because we have performances every evening.

What is your role in Phare Circus performances?

I practice acrobatics, high-flying stunts, juggling with bouncing balls, dancing, and seesaw balance.

The performances you create for Phare Circus are both circus-based and theatrical...

That's right. With each performance, we allow the audience to better understand the story's meaning, and we also blend traditional Khmer music with modern music.

We sense real storytelling in your work. Do you need to develop your acting skills?

Yes, we must perfect our roles. When we work on a performance, everyone must adapt their attitude according to their character, so that all audience members who watch the show feel the realism of the stories.

What kind of dialogue do you have with the directors who prepare the performances?

We exchange a lot with the group of artists and the director before our performance. Sometimes I tell them I want to change a role or that I don't want to do certain acrobatics because they can be dangerous for the group.

What is your relationship with the other artists at Phare Circus, and how do you approach high-intensity combinations?

Working with other artists can be a bit mixed between difficulty and ease, because teamwork inevitably brings sometimes jealousy but above all mutual understanding, tolerance, and cooperation. Everyone loves each other—it's really perfectionism and the pursuit of excellence that explains it. We are a family first and foremost.

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