Folk dance is a common form of dance among various ethnic communities in Vietnam, widely used in community cultural activities. Each ethnic group has its own distinctive folk dances.
The traditional Apsara dance of the Khmer people is known for its unique and impressive courtly movements.
For the Khmer people in the southern region, dance is an essential form of cultural art during festivals, celebrations, or rituals such as housewarming parties and weddings, creating a lively atmosphere of interaction and unity within the community.
There are three main genres of dance:
Classical dance for the royal court; Folk dance depicting traditional cultural heritage; Social dance performed during social gatherings. Robam Preah Reach Trop is a highly stylized performing art form originating from the royal court, often showcased on special occasions such as festivals, public events, and to cater to tourists at major tourist centers. These dances commemorate or invoke prayers and recreate traditional stories and epic poems like the Ramayana.
Robam Choun Por in Khmer tradition is typically presented at the beginning of ceremonies or special events, performed by a group of Khmer young women in odd numbers (3 – 5 or 7 people) to wish for health, happiness, prosperity, and success. With graceful and elegant movements, the dancers hold golden cups, pick flowers, and delicately throw them towards the audience as a sign of honor and blessing.
Trot dance is performed to ward off evil spirits and bad luck from the previous year and welcome the Khmer New Year. Chhayam – a famous entertainment dance known for its charm, involving comedic roles and beautiful girls. This dance is performed during festivals and celebrations.
Kngaok Pailin – a dance depicting the movements and beauty of a peacock.
The Khmer artisan performs a traditional dance in Bạc Liêu. Image captured by DUY KHÔI.
The typical folk dances of the Khmer people in the southern region feature simple movements that are easy for everyone to imitate and integrate into. During traditional ethnic festivals and holidays, when the drums or traditional music resonate, pairs of men and women, old and young, gracefully engage in collective folk dances that are soft and charming. From a young age, every Khmer person is immersed in traditional folk dances such as Răm Vông, Lăm Leo, Saravan, which are taught by their elders.
Creating the depiction of a goddess in the dance form of Apsara.
One of the first traditional dances that many people are familiar with is Răm Vông, also known as Lâm Thôn, meaning circle dance, where couples dance in circles, gazing affectionately at each other, symbolizing closeness. The movements involve the women’s arms sweeping forward across the chest, while the men’s arms spread wide as if protecting their dance partners. The coordination between the arms and legs is crucial, with the arm corresponding to the forward leg being lower, and vice versa.
The girl dancing is depicted in the bas-relief.
Another lively traditional dance is Lăm Leo, also known as Lào. This dance is dynamic and fast-paced, with movements similar to Răm Vông. Each hand has specific gestures – the Chíp hand, representing capturing, and the Rồn hand, representing covering. These gestures change harmoniously between the hands in each step, demonstrating the performers’ seamless coordination.
One other dynamic dance is Saravan, characterized by wrist movements following the music’s rhythm, often performed in circles, lines, pairs, or facing each other in horizontal formations, with movements ranging from raise and lower arms to crossing hands in front of the abdomen, all while syncopating like flapping birds’ wings.
In addition to the aforementioned folk dances, traditional Khmer dance includes other dances like the xúc tép dance using the Chniêng instrument, the gáo dừa dance, the gặt lúa dance, the Sadăm drum dance, the Yặk dance, and the mở rào dance in Khmer wedding ceremonies.
Traditional folk dances are accessible to everyone, allowing tourists to easily engage in the festive atmosphere of Khmer cultural performances. However, participants must adhere to certain principles, such as younger and lower-status individuals leading the dance before inviting guests and elders to join. The larger the dance formation, the faster the dance movements following the drumbeat. When the drum stops, everyone stops dancing, clasps hands in greet, and returns to their positions.
Over time, Khmer communities have cherished, nurtured, and preserved traditional dances as a priceless spiritual heritage passed down by their ancestors. Despite the emergence of modern entertainment forms, many people still admire Khmer dances. Khmer people can hold dance performances anywhere, from vibrant stages, temple grounds to home courtyards during festive occasions.
Master artisan Lâm Thị Hương and her family showcased a theatrical performance of Rô – băm đánh chằn tinh at the Cultural Village of Ethnic Minorities in Vietnam Tourism (November 2021). Photo credit: TTH.
Detailed information about the artist:
Renowned artist Lâm Thị Hương is now 60 years old. She was born into a Khmer ethnic family with 6 siblings, all of whom are skilled in the art of Rô băm. Due to her exceptional talent, she was entrusted with the responsibility of leading the Rô băm troupe of her clan.
As the 5th generation inheritor of her ancestral heritage, artist Lâm Thị Hương plays a crucial role in preserving the traditional art form of Rô băm during key cultural events such as ceremonies, the Sen festival, and the Chôl Chnăm Thmây festival in Khmer communities. For her, living and breathing the art of Rô băm is not just a passion, but a duty to safeguard the cultural legacy of her people. This is why, for decades, she has dedicated herself to fulfilling the wishes of her lineage by teaching and passing down the art form to younger performers, ensuring the continuity and enhancement of this ancient cultural expression.
Address: Residing in Bưng Chông hamlet, Tài Văn commune, Trần Đề district (Sóc Trăng)
Most traditional dances are characterized by a fun-loving spirit, displayed through the rhythmic and lively coordination of hand and foot movements to the music. Khmer folk dances can be performed in circular or linear formations, accommodating any number of participants.
In addition to Khmer folk dances in the Mekong Delta region, the Don Ca Tai Tu – The Southern Folk Song in Vietnam – is another renowned cultural treasure worth exploring. Stay tuned for more insights into this unique cultural heritage in the following article.
