The Apsara Dance or RobamTep Apsara as the Khmer call it is Cambodia's special national treasure. Apsaras, the woodland spirits that were a part of the Khmer primitive animistic beliefs, were the origins of this now famous Cambodian Royal Ballet. The Apsaras you can see adorning the Angkor temples became the permanent choreographers, avoiding Balanchine creativity for perfect imitation of the most intricate of gestural movement, each hand and head, body, leg and foot manifestation expresses depth and meaning. The resulting movements are captivating and engaging as they re-enact the mythical and legendary Churning of the Milk, the battle of the gods and demons for the elixir of immortality or scenes from the Indian epic, Ramayana.
The web's original travel blog
