In between, we see him studying horses in motion, recording the limp paws and coppery fur of a dead fox, and capturing the slump of a tired violinist accompanying a ballet class, all in preparation for paintings.
Physically, where Western classical ballet is grounded in five numbered positions for the feet, Khmer's ballet has its foundation in four key hand positions, all articulated by seemingly boneless fingers and named for aspects of nature: tree, leaf, flower, fruit.
Since then, Copeland has done it all, composing for the opera, ballet, and symphony, crossing back over into rock, experimenting with music from other cultures, and composing for film and television.