Classical Dance
Cambodia is a country with a long history. Its rich cultures portray itself in many different forms including dance. Dance in Cambodia consists of Khmer Classical Dance (Royal Ballet of Cambodia or Robam Preah Reach Trop), Folk dance, and Popular dance (Social dance). Moreover, each Khmer Classical Dance has deep meaning and is performed in a soft but strong manner.
According to the Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Cambodia (A joint publication of the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts and UNESCO) in 2004, the Royal Ballet of Cambodia consists of two repertory categories: Classical Dramas (or Royal Drama or Dance Drama) and Classical Dances (or Royal Ballet or Dance)
There are 35 Classical Dramas or Royal dramas (Dance-dramas). 22 repertories of dance drama have been re-instituted from 1979-2002 and 13 repertories of them have been listed as Lost Classical Drama or Royal Drama.
Classical Dances or Royal Ballet, on the other hand, consist of 83 repertory dances, of which 55 repertories of them have been re-institute from 1979-2002, and 28 repertories of them have been listed as Lost Classical Dances or Royal Ballet.
Apsara Dance
There are many classical dance forms in Cambodia, of which a highly stylized art form was once confined mainly to the courts of the royal palace and performed mainly by females. Known formally in Khmer as Robam Apsara, the dancers of this classical form are often referred to as Apsara dancers. Apsara Dance is one of many dances in the Khmer Classical Dance. This dance invented in the mid-20th Century by the Royal Ballet of Cambodia, under the patronage of Queen Sisowat Kosamak. This dance form was first introduced to foreign countries and best known during the 1960s as the Khmer Royal Ballet. The first royal ballerina was Princess Norodom Sihanuk.
Moni Mekhala Dance
Cambodia is a country full of culture and rich in civilization in Southeast Asia. Besides the cultural heritage, ancient temples, and traditional arts, there are intangible cultural heritages everywhere in Cambodia. There are also many different traditional intangible cultural heritage of their Khmer ancestors. The traditional Khmer dance has various styles. One of them is Robam Moni Mekhala Dance, a traditional dance popular among Cambodian people.
Robam Jun Por (Blessing Dance)
Cambodia, the Pearl of Asia, always dazzles you with its brilliant sceneries and indigenous Khmer culture that has been conserved and exalted for centuries. Robam Jun Por (Blessing Dance) is traditionally performed at the beginning of a ceremony to greet, bless, and offer good wishes to the audience. Khmer, as a nation, present their identity with pleasant, politeness, and honesty and prefer to develop friendships and build peace. The Blessing Dance is a masterpiece of Her Majesty the Queen Sisowath Kosamak Nearyrath who created this dance to reflect the pleasant character of the Khmer nation.
