Apsara khmer

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Apsara Dancer

Shot Notes

Apsara dancing is a major part of Cambodian culture.  I took this in Siem Reap in the summer of 2008 while taking a short-term team to see Angkor Wat.  In Hindu and Buddhist mythology, apsaras are a female spirit of the clouds and water.  There are more than 1,860 unique apsaras carved into the stone of Angkor Wat.  When Angkor Wat was the capital of the Khmer empire, it is said that thousands of these apsara dancers entertained the king, taking their inspiration from the mythological court of the gods where celestial apsaras were said to dance.
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Apsara Dance

Classical Cambodian ballet is a stunningly graceful, 2,000-year-old blend of sinuous hand gestures and sensuous body movements, all deep with meaning. The graceful movements of the Apsara dancers, adorned with brilliant gold headdresses and colorful, silk tunics and skirts, are carved on the walls of many of the temples at Angkor. Estimates are that there were 3,000 Apsara dancers in the 12th century court of King Jayavarman VII.

Dancing holds great significance for the Khmer people, and the government considers the Royal Ballet in particular to be a national treasure. In the past, the classical dance was the Royal dance, performed only before kings to commemorate their dynastic ancestors and to honor the gods.

The Apsara tradition was devastated by the Pol Pot years. Dancers were killed in large numbers as symbols of bourgeoise excess, and only a few instructors survived to keep the ancient tradition alive.

Until I can embed it, you can watch one of my videos of the dance here.

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