Khmer Robam Chuon Por

1. Lectured by:
Mut Somoeun, M.Ed
KHM 140: Khmer Culture

2.  This dance is performed at the official opening ceremony
offering wishes to the audience. It is also the dance of
greetings and good wishes.
 In this classical piece the lyrics and gestures describe the
wishes of happiness. Flower petals are tossed gently from
small golden trays as a way of blessing the audience and
the event.

4. We join together in solidarity
All for the benefit of our nation for prosperity
and glory
As family all over the world shiningly
The flowers Tossing Dance offers best wishes,
prosperity
And happiness accordingly
All the time and everlastingly.

5.  Men and women of Angkor adorned themselves with heavily
ornamented jewelry such as gold and precious gems.
 The royal women wore long skirts made of silk embroidered with
gold flowers.
 The skirts were designed to look like the beautiful flower (Phkar
Chan), a four petal flower, which was widely used for worship and
offerings.
 The skirts represent the closed petal or buds of Phkar Chan. The sash
that falls from the waist are the vines and leaves. The headdresses are
the flowers in full bloom.
 Phkar Chan symbolizes the female reproductive organ- the uterus,
which represents fertility- a belief in the divine power of the feminine
energy associated with the Brahmanism and the God Shiva.

6.  The royal ballet was originally performed at the offering
ceremonies and other palace celebrations during the
Angkorian Era.
 In the 1950’s Cambodian Queen Sisowath Kossomak
Nearyrath, King Sihanouk’s mother, was the inspiration
behind the genesis of the Apsara dance.
 Based on the legendary battles and mythical sagas including
the churning of the Sea of Milk, the great battle between
gods and demons for the Holy Water came the beautiful
Apsara, half-woman half-goddess.
 They are heavenly dancers who keep happiness and
prosperity for the people. The significance of this dance is
the meaning behind every movement.

9.  Each gesture symbolizes something meaningful, such as
love or peace. Arms crossed over the chest means very
happy. The left arm stretches out behind while the right
hand raises up at the chest with three fingers up and the
index finger touching the thumb to depict the Naga, the
great serpent that symbolizes the spirit of the
Cambodian people.
 The dance portrays Princess Mera, white Apsara,
dancing in her garden. Her maidens, also Apsaras, who
made flower garlands and flower sashes, join her. Their
circular movements, poised motions, and lightness of
their gestures, all symbolize their hovering between the
heaven and earth.

10.  Today my heart is delighted
I see the flowers growing in the garden
I am making garlands of many kinds of flowers
These I lay down on the ground beside me
If you love flowers, I will make and give you
garlands
I will begin to make a sash with the flowers
She threads the Tkol flowers to make pendants
For the garlands she also uses the Rumduol
flowers.

11. This dance is a Khmer Classical dance
describing the beauty of young ladies in their
elegant costumes performing beautiful Khmer
dance.
This dance reminds the Khmer people of the
rich culture that has been kept and nourished
through generations, and it is a well known
among the neighboring countries.

13.  This royal classical dance is a prayer dance. It is usually performed
when praying for the Goddess of the rain to donate water to a nation
in drought.
 Moni Mekala is known to be that Goddess of the rain. She uses her
Crystal ball as a powerful weapon to defeat Ream-Ea-So, the giant,
who has been trying to kill her for that weapon.
 This dance depicts the story of three students, Moni Mekala, Ream-
Ea-So and prince Vora-chhun, who received lessons from one
teacher, Moni-Ey-Sey. The teacher had given each of them
specialized weapons before their departure. Ream-Ea-So was a bad
giant who seeks to steal the other’s weapons to be top in his class.
He kills prince Vora-chhun for his Sword, and is trying to kill Moni
Mekala for her Crystal ball.

15.  Moni Mekala is not only beautiful, but is also
powerful. She fights her battle bravely with
Ream-Ea-So.
 While attempting to take possession of the Crystal
ball from Moni Mekala, Ream-Ea-So throws his
Arch in an attempt to kill her. To prevent this, she
throws her Crystal ball up to make the thunder’s
flame, blinding Ream-Ea-So and defeats him at
the scene.
 The dance illustrates the movements of the two
characters fighting with each other to gain
possession of the crystal ball.

16.  10 modern Khmer ensembles (Clothing from
Darany Fashions, Davy, Dara)
10 Modern spring Dresses (QC designs in SF)
 Flower of the World Dance
Robam Bopha-Lokei
This dance is one of the classical dances
performed strictly by children. It was created to
inspire young children to love Cambodian
tradition. This dance cheerfully expresses the joy
of children and their appreciation toward the
flowers and nature of Earth.

18.  This folk dance represents the happy time of
Cambodian peasants after the harvest season. It is
a tradition that right after harvest time peasants
typically celebrate to thank the heaven for giving
them their crops.
 The celebration is also to have fun after the hard
work. Wood pestles are used to manually extract
rice. For this dance, two long wood pestles are
clapped together as the dance instruments. They
first begin with the folk song describing the
happiness of being born as Cambodian peasants.

20.  This is a Folk dance which was originated in the
Svay Rieng province.
 This dance demonstrates the richness of the
coconut plants in Cambodia and how it
contributes to human life. It is often performed
during a wedding procession, engagement
ceremony and other national Festivities.
 Well-polished coconut shells are used as musical
instruments by dancers, bringing live animation
and flirtatious move to enhance the festivity. This
dance also represents the wealth and health in the
new relationship.