🩰🇰🇭 In 2003, the Royal Ballet of Cambodia, also known as the Apsara Dance, was inscribed by UNESCO on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. In this episode of Podcastocracy, we explore the connection between memory, art, and post-conflict healing. Our discussion centers on how Cambodia’s Royal Ballet—a centuries-old form of dance and ritual—has become a living expression of recovery after the trauma of the Khmer Rouge genocide.🗣️ Our guest, Carole Idczak, is a cultural professional and researcher whose work bridges heritage, healing, and humanity. Drawing on her years with UNESCO Cambodia, she discusses how dance, ritual, and intangible heritage can serve as tools for reconciliation, resilience, and rebuilding social trust in post-conflict societies.💬 Thematic scope of the conversation:

• How Cambodia’s Royal Ballet became a form of remembrance and healing after genocide.
• Intangible heritage as a tool for peacebuilding and social reconstruction.
• The role of refugees, diaspora communities, and local practitioners in preserving tradition.
• The impact of UNESCO and government institutions on cultural recovery.
• The emotional and spiritual dimensions of researching memory and heritage.
• Lessons from Cambodia for other post-conflict societies seeking cultural renewal.

💬 Chapters:0:00 Introduction2:11 The UNAEUROPA Doctoral Programme in Cultural Heritage3:36 Academic Framework & Supervisors4:58 Journey to Intangible Cultural Heritage6:12 The Royal Ballet of Cambodia7:45 The Khmer Rouge Genocide9:30 Near-Extinction of the Dance Tradition11:15 UNESCO's Safeguarding Role12:45 The Revival Process14:30 Role of the Diaspora15:45 Tensions in Heritage Preservation17:00 Sacred Dances of Angkor School18:11 Cambodia as a Post-Conflict Model19:24 Heritage & Reconciliation20:40 Research Methodology21:43 Documentary Recommendation22:11 Closing👤 The conversation was led by: Bartłomiej Małczyński – PhD candidate at the Doctoral School in the Humanities at Jagiellonian University, research associate and expert at the Institute of Public Policies, and host of the Podcastocracy series under the CEMORY project. Representative of the Krakow Doctoral Students’ Alliance for relations with the Krakow City Hall.🌍 Visit our website: https://ipp.expert/ 📲 Follow us on social media:  / instytutpolitykpublicznych    / instytut_polityk_publicznych   __________Projekt CEMORY finansowany jest przez Unię Europejską. Wyrażone poglądy i opinie osób zaangażowanych w projekt są jedynie ich opiniami i niekoniecznie odzwierciedlają stanowisko Unii Europejskiej lub Komisji Europejskiej. Unia Europejska i Komisja Europejska nie ponoszą za nie odpowiedzialności.