Khmer Apsara – The Magic of Cambodian Art
No one can talk about the Cambodian culture without mentioning the exciting Khmer Apsara. Khmer Apsara is the traditional and classical Cambodian dance, which is performed by a group of female Cambodian dancers dressed as Apsaras. The dance is performed in the form of a ballet, which is known for the smooth and gentle movements of the dancers, and the characteristic relaxing tunes associated with it. The dance is most popularly known in English as Khmer Royal Ballet or the Cambodian Court Dance. But of course these names miss out the mythological and cultural significance that is entwined with the dance.
The Apsara dance is also peculiar because of the colorful and elaborate costumes worn by the Apsara dancers. The most noticeable part of their costume is the traditional Crown or Mekot, which complements the three-pointed decorative crowns as depicted in the
bas-relief dancers as recorded on the walls of the Angkor Wat. The silk skirt or the Charabob is as important in its symbolism, and the dancer wearing the white Charabob would be leading the group, while the supporting dancers appear in colors like red and green. Apart from that, the dancers are also donned by various adornments in the shape of flowers and jewelry.
The origins of the dance are deep-rooted in the culture and religion of the Cambodian people. In the Hindu and Buddhist mythology, Apsara is the feminine spirit of the water and the clouds, which is more equivalent to the Western concept of a nymph. In short, an Apsaras are manifested and expressed in art as beautiful girls, who are skilled in dancing and dance to the tunes played by their husbands. In fact, the history of the Apsara dance can be traced back right to the time of the Royal Angkor Courts, when Angkor Wat used to be active in its full glory.
Even today, you can track the trail that Apsara Dance has covered over the centuries to the present day, as you can find the depictions of the Apsara dance on the walls of the Angkor Wat itself The modern day Khmer Apsara dance is performed to commemorate and revere the same traditions that hold a central place in the local culture and legend, and is so deep-rooted and inspirational, that its echoes are also found in the classical dance of Laos and Thailand.
The dance was probably first introduced to the masses in the West in the 1960s. The Princess Bhopa Devi was probably the first ever Apsara ballet dancer known to the rest of the world outside Cambodia, and this beautiful art form made its mark on the global audiences worldwide, now even having its presence in the United States. The dance is very pleasant to the eye and can offer the right tone to your mood as you set out to explore the oriental cultures.
On your next visit to Cambodia, don’t forget to miss the Apsara Dance, which is the living representation of the Cambodian culture in its purest and most ancient form. You can catch the shows in local hotels, if not the Apsara theaters, especially in the city of Siem Reap, which lies right next to the Angkor Wat.
