Cambodian dance is the countries most precious art form. More than 1,000 years ago classical dance was established as a bridge between the gods and the kings, the spiritual and the natural world.
When the Pol Pot Regime took over the country, classical dance performances, education, and religion were prohibited. It is estimated that 90% of all Cambodian artists perished between 1975-1979. Today, dance continues to define the cultural identity and legacy of the Cambodian people.
The movements require a command of techniques, which demand flexibility, accuracy, and control of movements. With fingers curved backwards, an arching spine, bent knees, and toes flexed upwards, the fully grounded dancer moves with precise balance and divine grace.
Although songs for each dance are different, there are certain motifs that are used in every song that illustrate entrances, exits, and characteristic movements like crying, flying, or walking, etc.
Physical style, story-line, and costuming are ...
Aztec Ruins National Monument is a preserved site of Ancestral Puebloan structures located in San Juan County, New Mexico.
The monument, which was established on January 24, 1923, consists of two large ruin complexes, Aztec East and Aztec West, along with additional dwelling sites in the vicinity. The site was built and occupied over 900 years ago and is the largest Ancestral Pueblo community in the Animas River Valley. It was constructed between A.D. 1100 and 1300, and the inhabitants abandoned the area around 1300 A.D..
The monument is known for its reconstructed Great Kiva, which is the only restored great kiva in the Southwest and is accessible to visitors. A kiva is an enclosed, partially underground room, and the Great Kiva at Aztec Ruins National Monument features a round bench lining the kiva's inner wall.
Aztec Ruins National Monument is part of the Chaco Culture National Historical Park and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was also designated as a World Heritage...
Galloping Goose is the popular name given to a series of seven railcars (officially designated as "motors" by the railroad), built in the 1930s by the Rio Grande Southern Railroad (RGS) and operated until the end of service on the line in the early 1950s. They were derived from full-sized automobiles.
Originally running steam locomotives on narrow gauge railways, the perpetually struggling RGS developed the first of the "geese" as a way to keep its contract to run mail into towns in the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. There was not enough passenger or cargo income to justify continuing the expensive steam train service at then-current levels, but it was believed that a downsized railway would return to profitability. The steam trains would transport heavy cargo and peak passenger loads, but motors would handle lighter loads.
Motors were not only less expensive to operate, but were also significantly lighter, thus reducing impact on the rails and roadbeds. This cost saving meant that the first Goose ...
Durango is the county seat and the most populous city in La Plata County, Colorado, United States. The city population was 19,071 in the 2020 United States census. Durango is the home of Fort Lewis College.
The town was organized from September 1880 to April 1881 by the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad (D&RG, later known as the Denver and Rio Grande Western railroad) as part of their efforts to reach Silverton, Colorado, and service the San Juan mining district, the goal of their "San Juan Extension" built from Alamosa, Colorado.
By 1885, Durango's business district had seven hotels and restaurants, eleven saloons, dance halls and stores, two bakeries and blacksmith shops, and a variety of other businesses, also boosting the town of Silverton's population to 2,000 at the time.
The Great Depression and aftermath of World War II hurt the area's railroad industry. The Rio Grande Southern lost its contract to transport mail in 1951, and soon thereafter suspended operations. The D&RGW also ended their...
