Moni Mekhala & Ream Eyso 

Moni Mekhala (Goddess of Water) and Ream Eyso (The Storm Spirit) are the age-old Cambodian legend of thunder and lighting.
Moni Mekhala and Ream Eyso were at one time students of the same teacher and both strived very hard to be his favorite. In the end, the teacher favored the goddess, Moni Mekhala, and rewarded her with a beautiful and very powerful crystal made from the morning dew. The storm demon, Ream Eyso, was given an ax as a consolation prize.
As the dance begins, we see Moni Mekhala preparing to go out and dance with the other Gods and goddesses in the heavens. But on her way, she is accosted by Ream Eyso, who is quite jealous and craves the powering glittering ball. A confrontation ensues. Ream Eyso alternates between forces- knocking her down and persuasion - putting away his ax and pleading with her.
Moni Mekhala teases him by holding the ball out very close. Then she tosses the crystal, momentarily blinding him. This brought Ream Eyso to his knees, giving her just enough time to glide away. Ream Eyso is not down for long though; he gets back up and eventually resumes this eternal battle with Moni Mekhala.
It is said that the flash of Moni Mekhala’s crystal is what we know as lighting, and the crashing of Ream Eyso’s ax is thunder. This is one of the most sacred dances in the Cambodian Classical repertoire and is still performed in Cambodian in ceremonies to pray for rain.
Featured dancers: Monica Veth, Peter Veth, Nadia Heng Noeuk
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