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

20,839 thoughts on “Cambodia Dance”

  1. NICE POST BRO KEEP IT UP quickbooks airtable integration Airtable is one of the most useful and efficient software for all project management solutions. It works like a spreadsheet. It can attach files, provides drop-down options, as well as checkboxes, and more. It is a better option than Microsoft Excel in numerous ways. In this, the user can hide/unhide fields and can even move them. For bulk editing, users can use filters and blocks and provide facilities for using an array of templates. LINK:- quickbooks docusign integration

  7. animation-boss You have done a great job on this article. It’s very readable and highly intelligent. You have even managed to make it understandable and easy to read. You have some real writing talent. Thank you

  9. NICE POST BRO KEEP IT UP Norton.com/setup provides youz 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

  13. Connect Quickbooks To Kindful
    Kindful is a smartly designed cloud-based donor management and fundraising software and database, specially crafted for non-profit organizations. It is one of the most effective CRM solution provider software with a user-friendly interface and detailed donor profiles.
    Quickbooks kindful integration

  14. Since 1987 Pranzo Italian Grill has been serving the community of Santa Fe, New Mexico and tourists from all over the world. This year we celebrate 30 years of this fine service. We still have the great classic Pranzo dishes that you all have come to love over the years. We reopened on August 15, 2021.

    Something that we want to give everyone is a fantastic family experience. We are a casual fine dining restaurant. You are always welcome to come by in your Santa Fe daily wear. Some of the things our customers say about us are that we are local-centric and family oriented.

    Our seafood is always fresh from Above Sea Level. Our mussels are from the pristine Atlantic waters off the coast of Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island mussels are known for their jet-black shells and sweet flavor. Our halibut and salmon wild caught and sourced from Alaska.

  15. Since 1987 Pranzo Italian Grill has been serving the community of Santa Fe, New Mexico and tourists from all over the world. This year we celebrate 30 years of this fine service. We still have the great classic Pranzo dishes that you all have come to love over the years. We reopened on August 15, 2021.

    Something that we want to give everyone is a fantastic family experience. We are a casual fine dining restaurant. You are always welcome to come by in your Santa Fe daily wear. Some of the things our customers say about us are that we are local-centric and family oriented.

    Our seafood is always fresh from Above Sea Level. Our mussels are from the pristine Atlantic waters off the coast of Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island mussels are known for their jet-black shells and sweet flavor. Our halibut and salmon wild caught and sourced from Alaska.

    We work with many local nonprofits such as Kitchen Angels, and the Santa Fe Animal Shelter. Chef Steven Lemon also Works with Big Brothers and Big Sisters.

    We have beautiful private dining rooms and our bar area available for private parties. We invite you to come and visit us to enjoy those special moments with the people you love and care about! Thank you for all your years of patronage!

  18. Thanks for sharing this amazing blog! Anyone looking for Uts Referencing Style Assignment Help, you can get the best Uts Referencing Style Assignment Help by Australia’s No.1 phd helpers. The Student Helpline offers you best quality assignment help in Australia with top 500+ experts. We always deliver you best quality content at lowest price.

  20. NICE POST BRO KEEP IT UP
    Epson windows service disabled error
    Epson printers are feature-enriched and are multi-faceted in their working and performance. It has caught the fancy of every printer user as it delivers brilliant output with bountiful other benefits. Therefore, Epson is the preferred printer brand over its contemporary printer brands. If you want to achieve remarkable printing and scanning facility of your Epson printer then there should not be any interruption or interference. There are many Epson printer users who get startled when they encounter an Epson windows service disabled error. The users should show their concern when they face too many malfunctions in the Windows 10 versions. Every user is not capable of handling such problems as it requires comprehensive technical knowledge
    LINK:- Epson windows service disabled error

  21. NICE POST BRO KEEP IT UP Epson Scan Cannot Communicate with the Scanner
    Besides providing world-class printing with outstanding results, Epson has also been extremely popular for producing “state-of-art” scanning machines. In the business arena of scanning gadgets, Epson scanning machines are one of the most admired and purchased products. Due to regular and consistent usage of hours and days, these machines encounter technical errors. The most commonly encountered error is Epson Scan Cannot Communicate with the Scanner. It’s a technical glitch where the Epson scanner fails to scan any type of document. There are several reasons and causes behind this error, ranging from the drivers of the scanner to the inaccurate configuration of the network. These errors can be troublesome for users Aas they halt their scanning tasks.phones.
    LINK:- Epson Scan Cannot Communicate with the Scanner

  22. I haven’t any word to appreciate this post…..Really i am impressed from this post….the person who create this post it was a great human..thanks for shared this with us. Insurance

  23. Wow, cool post. I’d like to write like this too – taking time and real hard work to make a great article… but I put things off too much and never seem to get started. Thanks though. Tips

  27. Hey, what a brilliant post I have come across, and believe me I have been searching for this similar kind of post for the past week and hardly came across this. To know more about acne treatment in Chennai, just visit my site Acne treatment in chennai

  28. NICE POST BRO KEEP IT UP How do I execute HP Officejet 8610 Printer Setup to print wirelessly? you want to execute HP Officejet 8610 Printer Setup to print wirelessly then you should use HP Smart App which is compatible with Windows 11 and Windows 10 version 1809 or higher. Now, you should first install the printer software and drivers, create an HP account and then register your printer. Now, you should connect your printer to Wi-Fi, load paper, and install cartridges.
    LINK:- HP Officejet 8610 Printer Setup

  29. We have pets. But when it comes to unconditional love. They are the masters.Breathable Material – Our dog cloth is made from good quality 75D chiffon, skin-friendly and comfortable to wear.2
    Best Dog Products

  30. At QuickBooks Data Services you will get most advanced data solutions, We majorly deals into Data Migration, Data Repair, Data Conversion, Data Condense and Cloud Hosting. If you have any sort of concern about Data then you can ask for assistance our Proadvisors.

  31. Prior to the launching of QuickBooks Tool Hub, every user who encountered problems installing or using the QuickBooks software application had to download diagnostic tools individually, which was a time-consuming process. With this particular repair programme installed on your computer, you can always look for a repair possibility with less time spent on your part, regardless of the bugs and issues that come your way. It is a one-stop shop for resolving any QuickBooks issues.

  39. This particular papers fabulous, and My spouse and i enjoy each of the perform that you have placed into this. I’m sure that you will be making a really useful place. I has been additionally pleased. Good perform! 99 problems strain

  42. Nice thanks for sharing informative post like this keep posting if like more details visit my website linkhttps://fullstackmasters.in/react-js-training/

  44. That gives off an impression of being brilliant anyway i am still not very beyond any doubt that I like it. At any rate will look significantly more into it and choose by and by!Unknown Hinson

  45. Thank you so much for this awesome ideas and information buddy. checkout for the prices.
    kati parcha

Leave a Reply

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