Apsara: Khmer cultural jewel that enchanted the whole world

Beautiful Cambodian women gracefully dancing to the rhythm of traditional music are among the treasures of Cambodia's heritage from the ancient Khmer civilization. The so-called apsaras, or heavenly nymphs or water spirits, in their costumes full of gold and colors entertained the ancient rulers residing in temples such as Angkor Wat. Although the Apsara dance is becoming increasingly popular, its roots date back a thousand years before our era.

Something like sign language?

The dance of the Kingdom of Cambodia is based on Hindu and Buddhist mythology and is meant to evoke the gently floating clouds of water vapor. Women twist their hips, stretch their arms above their heads with unnaturally twisted fingers. The individual choreographies are very complex, and girls learn them from a tender age for a long nine years. By the way – there are two thousand hand gestures alone! It therefore takes years to master it to absolute perfection, and even a slightly different hand movement can change the entire performance's meaning completely.

According to tradition, however, the mission of the nymphs was not only dance. Over time, these women were deified, and their task became caring for the souls of warriors fallen in battle. At the same time, they became life partners of divine artists, primarily singers and musicians.

The spiritual legacy of the Kingdom of Cambodia confused many a king

Although this charming dance is a mythological symbol, it mainly confused mortals. Even kings themselves were no exception. Therefore, dancers also performed at the courts of noble rulers, where they also served as companions. According to some sources, King Jayavarman VII had about 2,000 of these divine companions.

However, the heavenly nymphs fulfilled this role in times when medieval castles were being built here, and from the 14th century onward, their role was again only the heavenly dance, whose form has been preserved to this day. So if you ever visit Cambodia, be sure to attend a festival where women and girls traditionally dance the Apsara. You will witness an almost identical spectacle as the Khmer rulers did hundreds of years ago.

The Apsara dance was also performed for us by girls from our sister school in Siem Reap

The fact that the tradition really continues and girls learn the Apsara in Cambodia from an early age is also proven by a visit to a primary school near Siem Reap, supported by .pepper..field. During the visit, we brought the children sports equipment and school supplies as a gift, and the local schoolgirls performed the Apsara dance for us ceremoniously. Follow on Facebook or Instagram, where we regularly add experiences from Cambodia! :-)