Dance in CambodiaAn ancient Khmer legend, carved into the stones of Angkor during the tenth century, tells us that Cambodians are the descendants of a mythic couple: a sage and a celestial dancer. For over a thousand years, Cambodian dance has been a compelling means of artistic and spiritual expression. It is indeed the mother of an entire people, at the very heart of Khmer cultural identity. Dance in Cambodia is an introduction of the universe of Cambodian dance as it is practised today, offering a view of diverse performance traditions in which dance plays a major role, and of the powerful creative force dance has maintained in Cambodia over the centuries. Chapters on show theatre, masked dance-drama, and classical dance, as well as theatrical and ceremonial folk dance, explain the movement styles and performance frameworks of these genres while placing them in their rich cultural and historical contexts. |
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ancient Ang Duong Angkor Vat Angkorian Apsara artists Ashley Thompson associated audience bamboo Battambang Brahmanic Buddha Buddhist Buffalo Horn Dance Cambodia century characters classical dance Colour Plate costumes court dance cultural dance troupes dancers perform deer Department of Performing divinities dramatic drums epic tale episode ethnic female formance gestures goblet drum Kambu kancha Kandal Province Khmer dance Khmer language Khmer Rouge king KOMPONG lakhon khol leather Maha Eysei male masks master Moni Mekhala monkeys movement narrator Neang Seda Norodom Sihanouk offerings ogre panels Performing Arts Phnom Penh players poles postures Preah Leak Preah Ream princes Punyakay puppets Ramayana Reab Ream Eyso Ream's Reamker repertoire rhythm ritual robam role Roneat Royal University sampeah kru ceremony Sampho sbaek thom scene screen shadow theatre Siem Reap Province spectators Sralai stage Tang Tok teachers temple tevoda Theatrical Folk Dance Toni Samantha Phim tradition Trot performance village Wild Buffalo Horn women