Love Cake

Cambodian Royal Treat

Every year on Cambodian New Year, Cambodian Apsara (meaning goddess) dancers mesmerize us with their graceful Royal Ballet. Khmer classical dancers use stylized movements and gestures to tell a story much like a mime. Dancers do not speak or sing; they dance with a slight smile and are never supposed to open their mouths (though a few dramas have brief speaking parts).

Khmer classical dance can be compared to French ballet in that it requires years of practice and stretching at a young age so the limbs become very flexible. In the Western society, dancing is synonym of movements explosion, intensity and full intentions in each movements, body expression and covering the dance floor as much as possible.

While we are all conditioned to appreciate the sensational dance movements, Cambodian ballet is showcasing the complete opposite. Rather than exploding, the dancers are somewhat imploding. Their movements are precise, but restrained. Their enigmatic face along with their very flexible hands and feet, trained since their young ages, the Cambodian Apsaras master the Art of self control and balance, wrapped in such a poise and intriguing package. Their movements and gestures are precise and subtle, yet very complex. Commonly performed at public events is Robam Jun Por, a dance where dancers scatter flower petals as a gesture of offering best wishes.