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

27,352 thoughts on “Cambodia Dance”

  2. How to talk to someone at Samsung printer customer support?
    If you wish to talk to a live person at Samsung printer customer support, you can reach out to them using the customer support number or via live chat on the official Samsung website. You can also contact someone at Samsung using their social media handles.

  3. There are a number of Steam Boiler Manufacturers in Bangladesh that provide a range of products and services to the industrial and commercial sector. The products and services offered by these companies include boiler design, fabrication, installation, maintenance and repair, as well as steam generation and distribution. In addition to this, these companies also offer a range of other services such as boiler rental, boiler leasing, and boiler replacement.

  4. It is the center of online gambling games. and online slots biggest and the best in Asia Get ready for the user experience. Different and unique online casinos with a friendly atmosphere Easy to use in all types of services
    กีฬา 123

  6. It is the best portal to pay bills online within minutes without any complications. It avails maximum possible flexibility to users to complete their tasks in real quick time. Apart from bill payments it also avails most popular and reputed brands products to customers in affordable prices. PayTM came into existence in 2010. hong kong pilates

  9. If you have decided to remove avg.com/setup from your PC then follow the steps;Go to support.avg.com page.Click the download avg clear link to download the uninstall utility.Locate the avgclear.exe file and right-click it.To start the avg clear setup with administrative privilege select run as administrator option.User account control dialogue box will pop up. To grant permission click the yes button.On the uninstall window select the avg application you want to uninstall and click the uninstall button.The avg clear utility will remove all the files of avg setup from your computer.Next, click the restart button to apply the changes and delete any residual files left.https://simplyassist.us/avg-com-activate/AVG AntiVirus

  15. You can expect a quality answer for the questions given in your assignment because to prepare a proper answer you will need to do some basic things like researching about the answer of the question and collecting the data and other information for your answer to a single place and the last but the most important one is the presenting the answer in an appealing way so that your professor can get impressed with you and award you with the maximum marks and all these things can be done with the help of Civil engineering assignment help

  17. I definitely enjoying every little bit of it. It is a great website and nice share. I want to thank you. Good job! You guys do a great blog, and have some great contents. Keep up the good work 網上補習平台

  21. There is a lot of information in this article, and these types of articles make users interested in your website. I look forward to more of your great posts! Thank you!

  22. Kolagit Obat Diabetes alami yang terbuat dari rempah olahan gula tebu berbentuk serbuk. Kenapa gula tebu dapat menyembuhkan penyakit diabetes? Jawaban dari pertanyaan ini sangatlah sederhana, obat dan penyakit selalu datang dari sumber yang sama.

  24. Bitdefender is one of the most reliable and trusted antiviruses available in the market. It provides all the desired cybersecurity protection features that keep your device safe from all types of threats. It’s customer-friendly and can be used across all devices and operating systems.In every test, Bitdefender has given promising results and has proved superior to its competitors. Before discussing effective methods for activatingBitdefender Setup we will discuss the minimum system requirements for both Windows and Mac devices

  25. Before buying a new Epson printer, can we consult Epson Customer Support for a professional advice?
    It will be wise to contact Epson Customer Support for professional advice if you are buying a new Epson printer. It is because they have knowledge about different types of Epson printers. You can use their experience in selecting the most appropriate printer that suits your needs and budget.

  34. Thank you for very good information. May I ask for more information?? This is too helpful information for me. I think you are probably interested in 머니상 as well. The above information is on my blog, so please feel free to visit

  38. Why manufacturing industry needs Salesforce Manufacturing Cloud?
    Salesforce Manufacturing Cloud CRM assists manufacturers in managing the customer data, automate marketing and sales process. Companies can get better understanding of customer behavior and can plan the customized strategies that will improve the customer relationships.

  39. NICE POST BRO KEEP IT UP
    quickbooks quotewerks integration
    The successful integration of QuoteWerks and QuickBooks will allow its users to create Invoices, Sales Order, Estimates, and Purchase Orders from the documents in QuoteWerks, eliminating the burdensome work of re-typing. Whenever quotes become orders, QuoteWerks creates customers, products, and invoices for its users.. link:-

    LINK:- quickbooks quotewerks integration

  40. NICE POST BRO KEEP IT UP
    quickbooks quotewerks integration
    The successful integration of QuoteWerks and QuickBooks will allow its users to create Invoices, Sales Order, Estimates, and Purchase Orders from the documents in QuoteWerks, eliminating the burdensome work of re-typing. Whenever quotes become ozzzrders, QuoteWerks creates customers, products, and invoices for its users.. link:-

    LINK:- quickbooks quotewerks integration

  42. Completely shocked by the results of this site! I cannot find any difficulty using it. Works perfectly and very easy to execute as well! 5 stars for them! Suggested to everyone! situs togel

  43. Payforassignments.co.uk provides dissertation help for Ph.D. candidates across different areas of study. We will connect you with a professional dissertation writer who has been educated and experienced in your relevant study area and has walked your path.

  44. Being a housewife I wasn’t completely able solve my problem on my own due to some family reasons but when I saw them site on the internet it became a relief for me now I can relax at my home at anytime!! situs togel

  45. SexyPG888 เว็บเดิมพันออนไลน์ pragmatic play ที่นักเดิมพันนิยมเล่นเป็นอันดับ 1 ของประเทศไทย เว็บตรง ที่ดีที่สุดในตอนนี้

  46. Outstanding Service! Great Execution of their plans in work! They are just perfect! I would like to recommend them to everyone out there! You will not regret it! togel online

  47. If the avg application could not initiate a scan or the scans halt in-between the process, its files may have gotten corrupted. Try repairing it.Navigate to the control panel and open the add or remove program tool.Locate avg antivirus from the list and right-click it.Select repair then proceeds with the instructions till the process is finished.Start avg scan to check if the issue is resolved or not.https://simplyassist.us/avg-com-activate/AVG AntiVirus

Leave a Reply

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