Dance of Cambodia
Encyclopedia
Dance in Cambodia consists of three main categories: classical dance of the royal court used for invocation, entertainment and to pay homage, folk dance which portrays cultural traditions, and social dances performed in social gatherings.
As Cambodia's premiere performing art form, Khmer classical dance, or robam preah reachtrop, is a highly stylized dance form originating from the royal courts. Performances of classical dance consists of elaborately costumed dancers and music played by a pinpeat ensemble. It is performed for invocation of deities and spirits as well as to pay homage to royalty and guests. In the mid-20th century, it was introduced to the general public and became widely celebrated as iconic of Cambodian culture, often being performed during public events, holidays, and for tourists visiting Cambodia. Two of the most performed classical dance are the 'wishing dance' (Robam Chun Por) and the 'apsara dance' (Robam Tep Apsara
).
orchestra.
s are dances which are danced at social gatherings. Such dances include Romvong, Romkbach, Saravan, Lam Leav (literally, "Lao dance") and so on. Some of these dances have much influence from the traditional dances of Laos
., but Romkbach, for example, is loosely styled after the classical dance gestures of the royal court. Romkbach songs utilize several of the melodies of the repertoire of the Royal Ballet of Cambodia and are played with a combination of 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 banquet parties.
Classical dance
As Cambodia's premiere performing art form, Khmer classical dance, or robam preah reachtrop, is a highly stylized dance form originating from the royal courts. Performances of classical dance consists of elaborately costumed dancers and music played by a pinpeat ensemble. It is performed for invocation of deities and spirits as well as to pay homage to royalty and guests. In the mid-20th century, it was introduced to the general public and became widely celebrated as iconic of Cambodian culture, often being performed during public events, holidays, and for tourists visiting Cambodia. Two of the most performed classical dance are the 'wishing dance' (Robam Chun Por) and the 'apsara dance' (Robam Tep Apsara
Robam Tep Apsara
Robam Tep Apsara is the title of a Khmer classical dance created by the Royal Ballet of Cambodia in the mid-20th century under the patronage of Queen Sisowath Kossomak...
).
Folk Dance
Created in the 20th century are folk dances that emphasize that various cultural traditions and ethnic groups of Cambodia. Cambodian folk dances are usually more fast-paced than classical dances. The movements and gestures are not as stylized as 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 folktales. Most of the music of folk dances is played by a mahoriMahori
The mahori is a form of Thai and Cambodian classical ensemble which was traditionally played by women in the courts of both Central Thailand and Cambodia...
orchestra.
Select list of folk dances
- Trot Dance - a popular dance representing a tale of a hunter and a deer who spread several danger between giant to ogress and peacock. It is performed to ward off evil and bad luck.
- Sneak Toseay Dance - a dance around a tiger, a peacock, a deer, and other animals. The dance originates in Phnum Kravanh DistrictPhnum Kravanh DistrictPhnum Kravanh district is a district in Pursat Province, Cambodia. In English the name translates to the Cardamom Mountains.-Location:Phnum Kravanh shares a border with Veal Veang district to the west and Koh Kong, Kampong Speu and Kampong Chhnang provinces to the south. Bakan and Sampov Meas...
, Pursat Province and depicts the Pear peoplePear (people)The Pear people are an indigenous group living a sparse existence after years of conflict in Cambodia and Thailand.-Ethnography:Pears call themselves: Samré in Pursat Province; Samray in Battambang; Chong and Chong-Samré in the Trat Province of eastern Thailand; and Chong la and Chong heap, in...
.
- Robam Kom Araek - a dance mainly used two or three bamboo pole which hitting every second. It is reported that the dance came from Kuy peopleKuy languageKuy language is a Katuic language, part of the larger Austroasiatic family.Kuy is one of the more important languages of the Mon–Khmer family...
but it is more believed that the birth place is Philippines during the regn of King NorodomNorodom of CambodiaNorodom I ruled as king of Cambodia from 1860 to 1904. He was the eldest son of King Ang Duong, who ruled on behalf of Siam, and half-brother of Prince Si Votha as well as the half-brother of King Sisowath. Norodom is cognate with Narottam in Sanskrit which means Best of men . Norodom was...
(1834-1904) when he was traveling in PhilippinesPhilippinesThe Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
.
- Robam Kngaok Pailin (Pailin peacock dance) - a dance portraying the Kula people in PailinPailinPailin is a province at the northern edge of the Cardamom Mountains, in the west of Cambodia near the border of Thailand. This province is surrounded by Battambang Province, and was officially carved out of Battambang to become a separate administrative division after the surrender of the Ieng...
and their amusement with a pair of peafowl.
- ChhayamChhayamChhayam is a traditional Khmer musical dance.It features the long-drum , clashing hand-held cymbals, wooden clackers , and other noisemakers made of commonly found materials....
- a well know entertainment dance about pleasure, including several comedic roles and beautiful girls. The dance is performed at holidays and is a pure Khmer dance.
Social Dance
In Cambodia, social danceSocial dance
Social dance is a major category or classification of danceforms or dance styles, where sociability and socializing are the primary focuses of the dancing...
s are dances which are danced at social gatherings. Such dances include Romvong, Romkbach, Saravan, Lam Leav (literally, "Lao dance") and so on. Some of these dances have much influence from the traditional dances of Laos
Laos
Laos Lao: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Burma and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south and Thailand to the west...
., but Romkbach, for example, is loosely styled after the classical dance gestures of the royal court. Romkbach songs utilize several of the melodies of the repertoire of the Royal Ballet of Cambodia and are played with a combination of Khmer and Western instruments.
Other social dances from around the world have had an impact on Cambodian social culture include the Cha-cha
Cha-cha-cha (dance)
The Cha-cha-cha is the name of a dance of Cuban origin.It is danced to the music of the same name introduced by Cuban composer and violinist Enrique Jorrín in 1953...
, Bolero
Bolero
Bolero is a form of slow-tempo Latin music and its associated dance and song. There are Spanish and Cuban forms which are both significant and which have separate origins.The term is also used for some art music...
, and the Madison
Madison (dance)
The Madison is a novelty dance that was popular in the late 1950s to mid 1960s. The Madison was created and first danced in Columbus, Ohio, in 1957. The local popularity of the dance and record in Baltimore, Maryland, came to the attention of the producers of The Buddy Deane Show in 1960...
. Such dances are often performed at Cambodian banquet parties.