Cambadia
Ramayana in Cambodia is an epic poem known as Reamker. It is portrayed in the form of khmer classical dance.
Characters
The Khmer dance includes four characters namely neay rong-the males, neang-the females, yeak-the rakshasa, and sva-the monkeys. Each one of them possesses a different dancing style, the females being the majority dancers. Some of the males also play the role of animals such as horses and lions.
Khmer Classical Dance
A scene from the Reamker; a battle between Rama and Ravana performed in the courtyard of the Silver Pagoda, c. 1900s~1920s
Music
The music used during the Khmer dance includes a mix of xylophones, drums and gongs. Several singers sing the poem in chorus. There are certain musical pieces that are fixed for the different parts of the performance. For example, “Sathukar” is used when the performance commences, “Smaeu” is used when the characters mark their entry, and “Lea” is used when a character leaves the stage.
Stage
The music used during the Khmer dance includes a mix of xylophones, drums and gongs. Several singers sing the poem in chorus. There are certain musical pieces that are fixed for the different parts of the performance. For example, “Sathukar” is used when the performance commences, “Smaeu” is used when the characters mark their entry, and “Lea” is used when a character leaves the stage.
Dance
The entire dance performance includes a variety of hand movements known as the “Kbach”. These hand movements combine with the leg and feet movements to result in a graceful portrayal of the poem. Different postures have different significance.
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Costumes
The female costumes are woven with gold and silver threads. The fabric is then warped around the lower body and tightened with a brass belt. While this “sampot” covers the lower half, the upper half of the body is first covered with a short sleeve shirt and then wrapped in a decorative shawl detailed with embroidery. The costumes of males are a contrast to what females wear. Instead of short sleeves they wear full sleeve embroidered shirts and a “sampot” at the bottom. They usually wear heavy X-like straps at their backs shimmered with gold color. The rakshasas and the monkeys in addition to these wear masks.
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Female Khmer Performers
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