Dance in Cambodia (Khmer: Robam ) is the main dramatic art form of Cambodia. Cambodia Dance can be divided into three main categories, such as classical dance which developed in the royal courts.Also,folk dances which portray everyday life, and vernacular dances which are danced for social functions.
Classical Dance
Main article: Khmer classical dance Khmer classical dance, also known as Khmer royal ballet or Khmer court dance, is a form of Cambodian dance originally performed only for royalty. It is called robam preah reachea trop in the Khmer language, which means 'dances of royal wealth.'
The dances have many elements in common with Thai classical dance, most likely a result of the royal Khmer court exchanging culture with the royal Thai court throughout the post-Angkor era. Khmer and Thai classical dance costumes once looked very similar to each other, but Khmer dance and costume have gone under slight changes and reforms brought on by the former Queen of Cambodia, Kossamak Nearireath. *During the mid-20th century, it was introduced to the public where it now remains a celebrated icon of Khmer culture, often being performed during public events, holidays, and for tourists visiting Cambodia.
The ones among the well know royal ballet, Apsara Dance is a major dance which firstly performed on the re-creation by princess Norodom Bopha Devi, the first Daughter of King Norodom Sihanouk at 1964.
Select List of the Dance
- Apsara Dance - a dance about the apsara named Yaovamalya and her servants picking flowers for her in a garden.
- Tep Monorom - a dance about angels dancing in delight and Powering from the god to recuse the people.
- Robam Thvay Preah Por - a dance presented to the King of Cambodia.
- Robam Phuong Neari - a dance concerning the beauty of flowers and maidens.
- Robam Moni Mekhala - an excerpted dance about Manimekhala with Ream Eyso (Parashurama) in pursuit of taking away her crystal ball.
- Robam Makar - a dance where Manimekhala , Vorachhun (Arjuna), and a group of angels dance in line using fans to represent the scales of the Makara
- Robam Sovann Maccha - an excerpted dance from the Reamker about Hanuman' and Suvannamaccha , the golden mermaid.
Folk Dance
Folk dances here refer to a performing art where it is performed for an audience. Khmer folk dances are fast-paced. The movements and gestures are not as stylized as Khmer classical dance. Folk dancers wear clothes of the people they are portraying such as Chams, hill tribes, farmers, and peasants. Some folk dances are about love, or are folktales about animals. The folk dance music is played by a mahori orchestra, which is similar to a pinpeat orchestra except that it contains many stringed and plucked instruments and a type of flute in place of the sralai (an oboe-like instrument). The kind of dance particularly performed depends on the area and its local birthplace. 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.
Select List of the Dance
- Trot Dance - a popular dance represent a tales of a hunter and a deer who spread several danger between giant to ogress and peacock. Trot Dance perform to chase away bad luck, just like Dragon dance during Chinese New Year.Its history know as came from Samrey People who is one of the most khmer ethnic group and now live at Kulean Mountain area, Svay Leu District, Siem Reap.Another than Cambodia, Khmer Surin also likely act the dance out as well with a similar song which combined between Khmer Language and Thai Language.
- Sneak Toseay Dance aka Robam Kangouk Pursat -a dance involves around tiger, peocock, dear etc.THe Dance was born along Phnom Kravah mountain between Phnum Kravanh District, Pursat Province.Pear People is believed as the enthic group in Cambodia create this dance.
- Baboo Pole Dance as Khmer name: Robam Kom Araek - A dance mainly used two or three Bamboo Pole which hitting every second. It report that the dance came from Kuy People but It more believed the born place of the place is Philippines during the region of King Norodum (1834-1904) when he traveling in Philippines. It is the khmer version of Philippines's Singkil.
- Pailin Peacock Dance a dance which highly focus on Peacock style included Dress and Movement style. A ethnic group in Cambodia, Kula people in Pailin which come from Burma, create this dance depend on Burmese costume.
- Yike Dance -The Dance is confirm with opera combination with dance, perform along the legend of giant and royalty. It originally was born in Java.
- Chhayam a dance illustrates about enjoyable and a well know entertain dance included several active comedian and a beautiful girl dance. The dance performed at a holiday and is a pure Khmer dance.
Vernacular Dance
In Cambodia, vernacular dance (or social dance) are dances which are danced at social gatherings. Such dances include ram vong , ram kbach , ram saravan, lam leav (literally: "Lao dance") and so on. Some of these dances have much influence from 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 dances 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 culture include the Cha-cha, Bolero, and the Madison. Such dances are often performed at Cambodian wedding receptions and banquets.
See also
- Chhayam
External links
- Cambodian Classical Dance site
- Popular Khmer Dances (social activity dances)
- Photo Gallery of Cambodian Dance
- Types of Khmer dance
- Photo Gallery of early 20's Cambodian Dance &
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