Cambodian Princess to attend Czech Opera Ball

Arunrasmy (Photo: RFA)

Prague, Jan 11 (CTK) - Cambodian Princess Norodom Arunrasmy, sister of King Norodom Sihamoni who studied in Prague, will be the patron of the traditional Czech Opera Ball to be held in the State Opera building in Prague centre on February 5, 2011, its organisers announced Tuesday.

The event will be held under the aegis of the Prague and Vienna mayors, and in the Cambodian colours since Princess Arunrasmy will attend it this year.

Part of the profits from the raffle will go to charity purposes. The money will be divided between the foundation of Czech-born top model Tereza Maxova in support of abandoned children, and charity projects in Cambodia.

"People will come not only for entertainment but they also want to do something good. This is why we have focused on relations with the Cambodian royal family," ball artistic director Renata Sabongui told CTK, adding that the ball's symbolic motto is "For Life."

The princess's brother, King Norodom Sihanomi, has close links to the Czech Republic. He lived in Prague in 1962-1975 when he attended primary and secondary schools and then studied ballet at the Prague conservatory. He can speak Czech fluently.

On the occasion of the Opera Ball, Princess Arunrasmy will present Cambodian culture in Prague.

A performance of Cambodian dancers along with the Prague Conservatory's dancers will open the ball's programme. Then a Czech band will play songs of swing legend Frank Sinatra.

The Canbodian princess will dance with Czech ballet master Vlastimil Harapes, who also graduated from the Prague conservatory.

The tickets cost from 3000 to 8000 crowns per person.

The guests can win prizes in the raffle for one million crowns in total, including a trip to Cambodia, jewels and a luxurious bed.

The tradition of opera balls in Prague was restored in 2009 after a 14-year break. The first event took place in the State Opera in 1948. Others were held only after the communist regime collapsed, in the first half of the 1990s.

The balls have been attended by famous cultural personalities, such as actors Alain Delon and Peter Ustinov, businessmen, politicians, diplomats and members of royal families.