by

Cambodia Dance

People in Cambodia use dance to show the divine power, celebrate the social events, and create laughter in daily life. Cambodian dance can be divided into three different categories: Khmer Classical Dance, Folk Dance, and Vernacular Dance.

Khmer Classical Dance:

This form of dance is also known by a name in English called “Royal Ballet of Cambodia”, and it is listed in UNESCO’s Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2008. This dance was performed only for royalty meaning  the “dances of royal wealth”.

Khmer classical dance is believed to derive from Indian court dance, which traces its origins to the apsaras(see pic1) of Hindu mythology, heavenly female nymphs who were born to dance for the gods. The traditions of Thailand and Java (in Indonesia) also influenced the music and dance of Cambodia.

Depiction of apsaras dancing, Temple Bayon, 12th century, in the city of Angkor Thom

Pic1: Depiction of apsaras dancing, Temple Bayon, 12th century, in the city of Angkor Thom

Over the history of Cambodia, role of Royal Palace’s dancers have become symbols of the King’s prestige. After the signing of the 1863 Protectorate Treaty, the French, who among many other things controlled the country’s finances, tried to reduce the number of palace dancers in order to lessen the King’s prestige. In the 1930s, the French subsidized the private troupe of Princess Wongat Say Sangvann, which performed for tourists, calling it the “one and only true” troupe. But after King Norodom Sihanouk acceded to the throne in 1941, his mother Queen Sisowath Kossamak found ways to reestablish the royal troupe’s ascendancy. In support of her son, Queen Kossamak transformed performances so that the royal troupe could best serve Cambodia’s image nationally and abroad. She shortened the length of the dance programs, had pure dance pieces followed by dramatic or comic works, and added musical interludes.

However, the tradition of dance, last for over a millennium, was almost lost in the Cambodian genocide, when the Khmer Rouge targeted those involved in the dance and “imposed a massive cultural forgetting”. Khmer classical dance suffered a huge blow during the Khmer Rouge regime when many dancers were killed because classical dance was thought as of an aristocratic institution. Although 90 percent of all Cambodian classical artists perished between 1975 and 1979 after the fall of the Khmer Rouge, those who did survive wandered out from hiding, found one another, and formed “colonies” in order to revive their sacred traditions.*

*(Reference: Earth in Flower – The Divine Mystery of the Cambodian Dance Drama by Paul Cravath)

Khmer classical dancers use silent movements and gestures to tell a story. Dancers do not speak or sing; they dance with a slight smile and never open their mouths.(see pic2) Khmer classical dance can be compared to French ballet in that it requires years of practice and stretching at a young age so the limbs become very flexible.

silent movement

Pic 2:silent movement

In classical Cambodian dance, women, dressed in brightly colored costumes with elaborate headdresses (also see pic2), perform slow, graceful movements accompanied by a percussive ensemble known as the pinpeat. Pinpeat orchestras include drums, gongs, and bamboo xylophones. (see pic3)

Pinpeat orchestras

Pic3: Pinpeat orchestras

The way Khmer classical dance communicate with audience is very complicated. Different position of the arm and the position of the hand relative to the arm can also express different meaning. Besides hand gestures are gestures which are more specific to their meaning, such as that which is used to represent laughing or flying. These other gestures are performed in different manners depending on which type of character is played.

In addition to the renowned graceful hand gesture(see pic4) and stunning costumes, the Khmer Classical Dance, has been closely associated with the Khmer court for over one thousand years. Performances would traditionally accompany royal ceremonies and observances such as coronations, marriages, funerals or Khmer holidays. This art form is highly cherished by many Cambodians.

Pic4: hand gesture of Khmer Classical Dance

Pic4: hand gesture of Khmer Classical Dance

Infused with a sacred and symbolic role, the dance embodies the traditional values of refinement, respect and spirituality. Its repertory perpetuates the legends associated with the origins of the Khmer people. Consequently, Cambodians have long esteemed this tradition as the emblem of Khmer culture. Four distinct character types exist in the classical repertory: Neang (woman), Neayrong ( man), Yeak (giant), and Sva (monkey). Each possesses distinctive colours, costumes, makeup and masks. An orchestra accompanies the dance, and a female chorus provides a running commentary on the plot, highlighting the emotions mimed by the dancers, who were considered the kings’ messengers to the gods and to the ancestors.

Classical Cambodian Ballet: Apsara

Folk dance:

Folk dances play a role of performing art to entertain the audience. Khmer folk are fast-paced, and the movements and gestures are not as stylized as Khmer classical dance. Folk dances mostly are about love or the story about animals. The dancers wear costumes that portray ordinary people character, such as farmers, peasants, and tribe leaders. The elements of folk dance diversify profoundly by different area and local cultures. The most famous of all, Robam Trot, is mainly performed during the Cambodian New Year. The Dance got its history along a legend about a hunter and deer.

Vernacular dance:

In Cambodia, vernacular dance (or social dance) is the dance performed at social gatherings. Some of these dances are heavily influenced by the traditional dances of Laos. But rom kbach, for example, take heavily from the classical dance of the royal court. Rom kbach is a simple dance which uses hand gesture similar to that of classical dance and rom kbach song also utilize the melodies of classical dance songs and combine them with traditional Khmer and Western instruments.

Other social dances from around the world have had an impact on Cambodian social cultures include the Cha-Cha,Bolero, and the Madison. Such dances are often performed at Cambodian wedding receptions and banquets.

Yosuke and Tan-Chi

20,642 thoughts on “Cambodia Dance”

  1. rafting ubud offers the best services for Bali rafting adventure activity in Ayung River at Ubud – Bali. with International safety standard equipment and professional knowledgeable guide that will lead you to a great day fun adventure at Ayung River Ubud, Bali.

  2. As I am looking at your writing, baccarat online I regret being unable to do outdoor activities due to Corona 19, and I miss my old daily life. If you also miss the daily life of those days, would you please visit my site once? My site is a site where I post about photos and daily life when I was free.

  4. Of course, your article is good enough, majorsite but I thought it would be much better to see professional photos and videos together. There are articles and photos on these topics on my homepage, so please visit and share your opinions.

  9. Research Paper Writing services are not every student’s cup of tea as it takes a lot of effort and mindset to complete the assignment accurately. This is difficult for a novice who is already dealing with many other college assignments stuff. Considering this, they find it better to take help rather than do it themselves. Native Assignment Help has the best Assignment writers with experience. They are guaranteed to ensure your A++ grades.

  11. NICE POST BRO KEEP IT UP Norton.com/setup provides you the best protection against cyber threats defending your computer against viruses, malware, trojans, and rootkits. With its powerful features,Norton is one of the best providers of cyber security softwar LINK:- Norton.com/setup

  17. When office 365 setup was launched by Microsoft the user felt like their problem of installing each Microsoft product had been resolved, because in earlier days the user had to install each MS product separately in order to use them. The famous Microsoft products are MS-word, MS-Excel, MS-PowerPoint, etc. and if the user wants to use them, then in that case the user has to download and install each of them one by one. But with MS office the user does not have to do such a thing as the user needs to install MS office into their device and they will get all of MS products into their system. When the MS office was introduced then lots of other problems of users were getting solved like with the introduction of MS office the sharing of files has become a lot easier for the user, there are various other features of MS office as well. Now the user needs to know what products they will get with installing MS office into their device, MS-word, MS-PowerPoint, MS-Excel, etc. these are the few examples of MS products which the user will get when they install MS office into their device.

  19. Nice to be visiting your blog again, it has been months for me. Well this article that i’ve been waited for so long. I need this article to complete my assignment in the college, and it has same topic with your article. Thanks, great share. acim

  25. Academics is something that cannot be neglected at any cost and if you also think the same then you are at the right place where you will get best Data mining assignment help for all your assignments so that it can help you in strengthening your assignment.

  33. Thanks for sharing this amazing blog, your blog always meets my expectations. I love your writing skills because it is always filled with information. If you are looking for Accounting Assignment Help then you can go to The Student Helpline UK. It is a well-known company for academic writing services in the UK.

  36. Raising kids is undoubtedly not a piece of cake, and teaching kids essential skills is also important. By helping our kids develop essential life skills, we’re giving them a foundation for a happy and prosperous future. Following the tips mentioned in this article can help you develop essential skills in kids. You can enroll your child in Montessori in Richardson Tx when teaching kids different skills. Teachers at Montessori preschool let kids participate in countless activities that let them learn these life skills.

    https://lsmschool.com/

  37. NICE POST BRO KEEP IT UP Norton.com/setup provides you the best protection against cyber threats defending your computer against viruses, malware, trojans, and rootkits. With its powerful features,Nortonaa is one of the best providers of cyber security softwar LINK:- Norton.com/setup

  43. Website Slot Paling Gacor Hari Ini gampang menang terbaru 2022 dengan pelayanan 24 jam winrate 98% dengan berbagai macam pilihan game judi online terlengkap memberikan kemudahan bagi para pemain judi online slot gacor untuk dapat mengakses di website kami dengan pilihan game judi slot terpopuler.

  46. Wiratech, importir mesin makanan dan mesin kemasan terbaik yang telah dipercaya banyak perusahaan besar di Indonesia. Kini, wiratech berekpansi ke lini bisnis UKM di Indonesia dalam hal pengadaan alat yang berkualitas tetapi dengan harga yang terjangkau.

  48. Are you suffering from acne issues and tired of cancelling meeting plans with your friends? Acne Treatment Huntington Beach can be the right solution for you. Unaware of its whereabouts and necessary details? Worry not, we will cover all the important things circling this acne treatment. Keep reading or you’ll miss out!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *