Khmer Folk Dance in the Southern Region
A Brief Overview of Traditional Khmer Folk Dance in the Southern Region. Read more about All Mekong delta Craft Villages here | Unique Hair style of Flower HMong here 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…