DANCE IN CAMBODIA (KHMER TRADITIONAL DANCE)

Dance in Cambodia 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.

Classical Dance

CAMBODIAN TRADITIONAL DANCING RECORDED AS WORLD HERITAGE (MADISON DANCE)

MADISON DANCE

The Madison is an oddity move that was prominent in the late 1950s to mid-1960s. 

The Madison is a line move that elements a standard forward and backward example sprinkled with called steps. Its fame enlivened move groups and rivalries, and in addition different recordings, and today it is still now and then executed as a nostalgic move. 

KING JAYAVARMAN VII

Jayavarman VII, after death name of Mahaparamasaugata,was a ruler (ruled c.1181–1218) of the Khmer Empire in present-day Siem Reap, Cambodia. He was the child of King Dharanindravarman II (r. 1150-1160) and Queen Sri Jayarajacudamani. He wedded Princess Jayarajadevi and afterward, after her passing, wedded her sister Indradevi. The two ladies are normally thought to have been an incredible motivation to him, especially in his abnormal commitment to Buddhism, as one and only former Khmer lord was a Buddhist. Jayavarman VII is for the most part considered by antiquarians the most intense Khmer ruler ever. 

KHMER TRADITIONAL DANCE ( Rom Kbach)

KHMER TRADITIONAL DANCE ( Rom Kbach)  is a genre of Cambodian popular music and a popular Khmer dance style. Rom kbach has a slower emotional melody , whereas the Chamrieng Samai music category of romvong has a faster tune.

KHMER DANCE ( ROMVONG)

Khmer traditional Dance, Romvong is is a type of Cambodian traditional dance where both females and males dance in a circle. It is a popular folk-dance in Cambodia. It is a slow round dance continuously moving in a circular manner, and incorporates graceful hand movements and simple footwork. Both men and women participate in the same circle. This dance is still popular at traditional festivities in Khmer culture.

CAMBODIA GEOGRAPHY

Map of Cambodia

Siem Reap region is 10,299 square kilometers huge and unquestionably a standout amongst the most well known ones in Cambodia. It's situated in the Northwest of the nation circumscribing toward the North with Oddor Meanchey, toward the East with Preah Vihear and Kampong Thom, toward the West with Banteay Meanchey and toward the South with the greatest sweet water save in Southeast Asia, the gigantic Tonle Sap Lake. 

PREAH VIHEA TEMPLE ( CAMBODIA)

Preah Vihear Temple

Preah Vihear Temple is an ancient Hindu temple built during the period of the Khmer Empire, that is situated atop a 525-metre cliff in the Dângrêk Mountains, in the Preah Vihear province, Cambodia.

CAMBODIA CLASSICAL DANCE

Classical Dance of Cambodia The epic poem of Rama (Ramayana) is believed to have been revealed to a Hindu holy man named Valmiki by Brahma, the god of creation. This religious literary work, dating from about ad 4, is known in various versions throughout India and Southeast Asia. In Cambodia, the story has been set to music and dance and performed by the Royal Ballet since the 18th century.

CAMBODIA KING SISOWATH

Sisowath I was king of Cambodia from 1904 to his death in 1927. He was the son of King Ang Duong and half brother of Prince Si Votha and King Norodom

APSARA DANCE (Robam Apsara)

Robam Tep Apsara

APSARA DANCE 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 Kossamak. The Apsara is played by a woman, sewn into tight-fitting traditional dress, whose graceful, sinuous gestures are codified to narrate classical myths or religious stories.

History

In 1940s, Queen Sisowath Kossomak Nearirath Serey Vatthana, the wife of King Norodom Suramarit, was sent an invitation to Sothearath primary school, seeing the school mistress prepared an inspirational angkor apsara dance which is performed by young school in the paper apsara costume includes Crown, Sampot and Flower, all referencing Apsara represented at Angkor Wat. The Queen got the idea to re-create the dance and led her first granddaughter, Princess Norodom Buppha Devi, a daughter of Norodom Sihanouk, to become the first professional apsara dancer of the modern era. The Princess started practicing the dance since she was 5 years old and danced apsara for first time during King Norodom Sihanouk's tenure.

In 1967, the fine–boned young princess, clad in silk and glittering jewels, performed beneath the stars on the open pavilion within the palace walls, accompanied by the royal dance troupe and the "pinpeat" orchestra. Selected by her grandmother, Queen Sisowath Kossomak, to become a dancer when she was only a baby. She toured the world as the principal dancer of the apsara role.

Headdress

The headdress of the lead apsara has five points or tips, with two rows of spherical decorations like the apsara pictured at Angkor Wat. Headdress worn by the subordinate dancers commonly have three points and only one row of sphere decoration. These crowns often include garlands of artificial hair with ornate adornments. The five-points crowns are frequently absent in modern dance routines.

Accessories

This round decorative collar (red colored) is highly visible; found just below the neck, the collar is embellished with detailed gold-colored copper ornaments and beaded designs. The elaborate decorations is usually found gracefully decorated on two separate rows. Additional copper ornaments are found hanging below these rows, in the shape of difficult-to-describe warped spear tips, the largest of which is centralized.

Dangling earrings, which are bound in bunches, traditionally stretch almost to the shoulder. These dangling earrings are mainly duplicated from the design of the 'krorsang' flower (a large spiny tree with sour fruit) and are preferred to the 'mete' (chili) flowers, which are held to be less beautiful.

There are a total of four types of wrist jewelry: kong rak, patrum, kong ngor, and sanlek. The first is a truly beautiful diamond-like studded bracelet a fine and elegantly wrist jewel decorated in a tree branch-like fashion, the second is more of a spring-like coiled gold colored thick copper while the third type of bracelet (two sets are worn) are small round beaded orb/sphere bunches delicately connected to one another, the last bracelet is an intricate and well decorated thickly rounded jewel. Additionally an Apsara dancer may be found wearing a garland of jasmine.

Two types of gold ankle jewelry are usually worn by the Apsara dancer, the first being kong tong chhuk the second kong ngor (or kong kravel).

The sangvar is a loosely decorated band of beads worn crosswise. The golden flower is considered a body-decorating element, either worn on the waist or carried during the performance. It too is gold in color, and made of thin flexible copper.

WHAT IS BEHIND BAYON TEMPLE IN CAMBODIA ?

Buddhist symbolism in the foundation of the temple by King Jayavarman VII

ANGKOR WAT SECRET BUILT

The Khmers used sandstones to construct the Angkor Wat. The blocks were collected from Mount Kulen. The Khmers used a combination of elephants, coir ropes, pulleys and bamboo to put the blocks in place.

UNDERSTAND MORE ABOUT ANGKOR WAT

The sanctuary complex at Angkor Wat, only outside of Siem Reap, Cambodia, is world acclaimed for its multifaceted lotus-bloom towers, its cryptic grinning Buddha pictures and dazzling moving young ladies (Apsara), and its geometrically consummate channels and supplies.

WONDERFUL AND SECRET OF ANGKOR WAT

Part of an ancient Cambodian capital, Angkor Wat was the spiritual epicentre of the Khmer Empire.

WHAT IS HIDING OF ANGKOR WAT

The stones, as smooth as cleaned marble, were laid without mortar with tight joints that are once in a while elusive. The pieces were held together by mortise and tenon joints at times, while in others they utilized dovetails and gravity.