In 2023, my wife Keiko and I were fortunate to be invited to the USA—to Long Beach, Los Angeles; Seattle and San Francisco—to put on a series of exhibitions about refugees in 1980 and do some talks, slideshows and film screenings. Some of the highlights of our trip were related to the dancers in the photos. 

 

First we had the chance to reconnect with Dinaka Kingkeo, the dancer in the Khao I Dang performance photos, and her delightful family. When I first met her in the camp, she didn’t say much. She was shy and quiet, but she is not now! In America, she became an account executive for Shiseido cosmetics, and startled us with her sales prowess at the photo exhibition by selling over thirty “Dancers” books in a couple of hours! 

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Back in 1980, I was impressed by her confidence and poise. However, behind this image of quiet reticence lay another personality. Described as the “tomboy” of the family, Dinaka was adept at climbing palm trees and catching frogs, rats, snakes, grasshoppers and lizards. Her resourcefulness and courage served her family well during the years under Pol Pot.

 

In her own words: 

 

“After the fall of the Khmer Rouge, my family desperately fled from Cambodia to seek refuge in Khao I Dang camp in Thailand. I started dancing at the age of 13 in 1979 after I saw dancers rehearsing and looking beautiful in their traditional outfits. I asked one of the instructors if I could join and was accepted right away. I started training and was a quick learner and got promoted to lead dancer. It was there that you took pictures of me dancing. I was 14 then and was so nervous; however, you could not tell in those pictures you took. We were in the camp for over a year and I continued to perform. My family was able to get sponsored and we came to America in 1981. I carried on dancing and taught new dancers in the States until I was 22.

I grew up in a Buddhist family and followed that tradition as I learned to dance. Near the end of my dancing days, I was introduced to Christianity. It was a small struggle, but it did not affect me physically or spiritually. My upbringing was part of my culture and I am proud of what I achieved during those years of dancing. I thank God that he brought all of us out of those desperate times.”

 

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