Apsara Dance

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Depiction of apsaras dancing, Temple Bayon, 12th century, in the city of Angkor Thom.

This article contains Khmer text. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols instead of Khmer script.

A pose from a modern Apsara Dance.

Apsara Dance, or Robam Tep Apsara (Khmer: របាំអប្សរា), is a Khmer Classical Dance which forms an integral part of the culture of Cambodia, as well as neighboring countries such as Thailand and Laos. In its modern form, the dance is heavily influenced by the depiction of dancing apsaras at the Angkor Wat temple complex.
The apsara, a woodland spirit, is played by a woman, sewn into tight-fitting traditional dress,^[1] whose graceful, sinuous gestures are codified to narrate classical myths or religious stories.^[2] The tradition of dance, honed for over a millennium, was almost lost in the Cambodian genocide, when the Khmer Rouge targeted those involved in the dance and "imposed a massive cultural forgetting".^[2] In 2003, UNESCO declared the dance a "Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Culture", and laid plans for a regeneration of the art form.^[2]
The performance was first introduced to foreign countries during the 1960s, when it became known in the English language as the Khmer Royal Ballet, or alternatively the Cambodian Royal Ballet. The first royal ballerina ever was Norodom Bopha Devi, a daughter of Norodom Sihanouk.

Contents [hide] 1 History 1.1 Origin 1.2 The New Wave 2 Movements and gesture: Kbach 3 Costume 3.1 Crown (Mekot) 3.2 Blouse, skirt, belt 3.3 Decorative flowers 3.4 Collar (Sarong Kor) 3.5 Jewelry 4 Apsara training 4.1 Apsara training at Royal University of Fine Arts 5 Main Apsara Ballerinas 6 See also 7 References 8 External links

[edit] History

[edit] Origin

A bas relief at the 12th century temple of Angkor Wat in Cambodia.

Apsara Dance is one of two major forms of Khmer dance and incorporates parts of the other, much older, traditional or popular dance, which has its roots in animism and primitive magic, with Hindu forms introduced during the time of Indian influence beginning in the 1st century; the dance in turn drew its inspiration from the mythological court of the gods and from its celestial dancers, the Apsaras. The dance took on its own unique form adding movements and meaning, during the reigns of Jayavarman II and Jayavarman VII as well as in the Angkor era. By the 13th century, the dance received a Khmer identity rather than Indian, unlike any other dance form in the world. It melded soft movement with loud, traditional Khmer music during its performance. In that era, Apsara dance was performed solely for the benefit of the upper class, and particularly for the king.
Estimates suggest that there were 3,000 apsara dancers in the 12th Century court of King Jayavarman VII. Between the 12th and the 15th centuries, Apsara dance flourished, until the Thais sacked Angkor in the 15th century; the invaders, not immune to the allure of the dance tradition, are reputed to have taken a troupe of aspara dancers back home with them. While this was a setback to the tradition of Khmer Classical Dance, the Apsara tradition was nonetheless set in stone, as represented in the bas-reliefs of the Angkorian temples in Cambodia.
For centuries the dance was seemingly never performed again in public, yet it seems to have been maintained as an unbroken tradition in the courts of the Angkorian monarchs. Dance nonetheless remained culturally important in the Angkor era such as Siem Reap, Surin Province (now in Thailand) but with different styles due to uncertain knowledge for the original dance which Surin people performs apsara dance in a little fast movement and sustain with Thai-Laos musical.

[edit] The New Wave

Artists in Khmer Classical Dance perform in January 2007 in Siem Reap.

In 1940s, Queen Sisowath Kosamak Naryrath, 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 Bopha 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: Gongs, drums, xylophones, horns and stringed instruments. Selected by her grandmother, Queen Sisowath Monivong Kossomak Neary Rath Vattana, to become a dancer when she was only a baby. She toured the world as the "white Apsara" or principal dancer of the classical Cambodian ballet – a stunningly graceful, 2000-year-old blend of sinuous hand gestures and sinuous body movements, all deep with meaning. Responsible for its rebirth, she became the symbol of classical Khmer dancing, dormant since the 15th century, when the glory of Angkor faded and with it the Khmer cultural dominance of Southeast Asia. In reviving the classical dance, Queen Kossomak and Princess Buppha Devi brought the dance not only to the world but also–for the first time-to the Cambodian people. In the past, the classical dance was the Royal dance, performed only before Royalty to commemorate their dynastic ancestors and to honor the gods. This is the new wave for Apsara dance but the new traditional dance took a quiet different style from Apsara of Angkor Wat included Clothes, Crown, style etc and developed a new style again and again until now. Especially, the new Apsara Dance is exactly performed all in public and everywhere not only for king like before.
Only in 1995, 16 years after the fall of the Khmer Rouge, did Cambodia have another public exposition of the Apsara Dance.^[3] Cambodia revived its Ramayana tradition after 25 years with a performance of the epic at Angkor Wat. Dancers came from six countries as part of a Southeast Asia cultural exchange. The dances are full of meaning, with each gesture symbolizing something, from great concepts such as love and peace to small. A finger to the sky means "today" arms crossed over the chest "very happy," and the left arm stretched out behind the dancer’s right hand held up before the chest with three fingers up and index finger touching the thumb depict the Naga, the great many-headed snake that symbolizes the spirit of the Cambodian people. It was not until 1995, a full sixteen years after the fall of the Khmer Rouge, that Cambodians once again witnessed a public performance of apsara dance, at Angkor Wat. During the mid-20th century, it was introduce to the public where it now remains an celebrated icon of Khmer culture often being performed during public events, holidays and for tourists in Cambodia.
A number of specialized schools continue to teach the dance to young people, in order to maintain the storied cultural heritage.

[edit] Movements and gesture: Kbach

apsara dance

Architecture and housing

Bayon, Angkor

Main article: Architecture of Cambodia

The Angkorian architects and sculptors created temples that mapped the cosmic world in stone. Khmer decorations drew inspiration from religion, and mythical creatures from Hinduism and Buddhism were carved on walls. Temples were built in accordance to the rule of ancient Khmer architecture that dictated that a basic temple layout include a central shrine, a courtyard, an enclosing wall, and a moat. Khmer motifs use many creatures from Buddhist and Hindu mythology, like the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, use motifs such as the garuda, a mythical bird in Hinduism. The architecture of Cambodia developed in stages under the Khmer empire from the 9th to the 15th century, preserved in many buildings of the Angkor temple. The remains of secular architecture from this time are rare, as only religious buildings were made of stone. The architecture of the Angkor period used specific structural features and styles, which are one of the main methods used to date the temples, along with inscriptions.

Angkor Wat, The most Cambodian famous heritage.

In modern rural Cambodia, the nuclear family typically lives in a rectangular house that may vary in size from four by six meters to six by ten meters. It is constructed of a wooden frame with gabled thatch roof and walls of woven bamboo. Khmer houses are typically raised as much as three meters on stilts for protection from annual floods. Two ladders or wooden staircases provide access to the house. The steep thatch roof overhanging the house walls protects the interior from rain. Typically a house contains three rooms separated by partitions of woven bamboo. The front room serves as a living room used to receive visitors, the next room is the parents' bedroom, and the third is for unmarried daughters. Sons sleep anywhere they can find space. Family members and neighbors work together to build the house, and a house-raising ceremony is held upon its completion. The houses of poorer persons may contain only a single large room. Food is prepared in a separate kitchen located near the house but usually behind it. Toilet facilities consist of simple pits in the ground, located away from the house, that are covered up when filled. Any livestock is kept below the house. Chinese and Vietnamese houses in Cambodian towns and villages are typically built directly on the ground and have earthen, cement, or tile floors, depending upon the economic status of the owner. Urban housing and commercial buildings may be of brick, masonry, or wood.^[2]

khmer culture

Brief History & Geography Comprising an area of 181,035 square kilometres, the Kingdom of Cambodia was part of the ancient kingdom of Funan. Being the oldest Indianised state in Southeast Asia, its religion was Hinduism. Today, Theravada Buddhism is the dominant religion. The Mekong river wich flows through the country and Tonle Sap (Great Lake) are the lifeline of the people who live along the waterways. Tonle Sap is one of the richest sources of freshwater fish in the world. There are three main mountain ranges: the Cardamon mountains in the south-west, The Dangkrek mountains in the north and the Eastern mountains in the north-east.

Climate Cambodia's tropical climate is affected by the monsoon. The cool, dry north-east monsoon which brings little rain, is from November to October, the south-west monsoon brings heavy rain and hight humidity. The average temperature is 32°C.

Population and People Of the 10 million people, about 90 per cent of them are ethnic Khmers. There are several minorities such as the Chams (Khmer Islam), Vietnamese and Chinese. Hill tribes as the Phnuong, Styieng and Kuy dominate the country's mountain region.

Religion The official religion is Theravada Buddhism and olmost 90 per cent of the population are of this faith. The rest are Muslims an Christians.

Economy About 70 per cent of the population work on their rice fields. Cambodia is rich in hardwood (teak and mahogany) and gems which are found in the north-west. The economy operates on free market principles. Cambodia has adopted one of the most liberal laws for foreign investors.

Language The official language is Khmer while the second language (spoken by the educated older Cambodians) is French. However, in recent years English has gained popularity.

Time Cambodia has one time zone and is seven hours ahead of GMT.

Clothing Most Cambodians are casual in their dressing except when they are attending formal events or business meetings. It's not unsual to see both men and women wearing the krama, a long, narrow checked cotton cloth round their neck. The krama is a versatile piece of cloth.