Royal Ballet of Cambodia

The Royal Ballet of Cambodia is a classical Cambodian dance form that originated during the 3rd century CE, probably during the simultaneous presence of the Pinapaedya music ensemble during the Nokor Phnom Kingdom. The name Royal Dance, which means Dance of Royal Wealth, which the Khmer Dynasty created as a special treasure to show the high dignity of Khmer dancers, is the work of Queen "Sisowath Kosamak Neyrath Sereyvathana" which was created from the ancient Khmer dance during the reign of King Norodom. Royal Dance, which is a dance of the Kingdom of Cambodia, is famous for the luxury of clothing, body decoration, gold and silver ornaments, accompanied by dance moves that are gentle and beautiful to behold, which looks like the dance of gods or deities (Devata) which leads to the high level of dance that we can assume is the "King of Dance" which has been internationally recognized in the registration of Cambodia's works on the World Heritage List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by the Organization (UNESCO) on November 7, 2003.

History of Royal Dance Royal Dance is the name of the dance that represents all the ancient dances of Cambodia, which originated in the 3rd century of the Nokor Phnom Kingdom, when Cambodia received civilization from India. Many sacred buildings have flourished throughout the country, built for the worship of gods or deities. The influx of Indian civilization has not only penetrated the language, religion, statues, buildings and architecture, but also the art of dance. The evidence that suggests that ancient Khmer dance originated in the 3rd century is the discovery of a statue of a dancing girl made of burnt clay in the compound of Wat Muang located at Angkor Borei Station, Angkor Borei District, Takeo Province. According to the Angkor Borei inscriptions K.557, K.600, dated 611 AD and 7th century AD, during the reign of King Mahendravarman, it is described about the offering of seven dancers to dance to the deity or Deva and the discovery of the statue of the dancing goddess Isa decorated on the door frame of the Sambor Prey Kuhar style during the reign of King Isavarman I (615 - 635). This is consistent with the conclusion of historians Martin Banham and James R. Brandon, who describe that Cambodian classical dance probably dates back to the 7th century or even before the Angkor period, which he wrote in his book "The Cambridge Guide to Theatre" published by Cambridge University in 1995. According to the inscriptions of Prasat Preah Khan, during the reign of King Jayavarman VII, dated 1191 CE, he also built a royal dance hall in Angkor Thom at the temple of Sour Prat, which is estimated to have had about 1,600 dancers, indicating that the Angkor Empire was very advanced in the field of dance. In addition, there are more than 1,500 Apsara sculptures, all carved in different styles, which show Apsara singing and dancing in detail on the walls of the magnificent Angkor Wat temple of King Jayavarman VII, where it is believed that the Apsara dance troupe in his reign may have performed. Approximately 3,000 Apsara dancers.