Full Version: Khmer Classical Dance
Khmer's dance
Its not a world heritage site. Its called "Royal Ballet of Cambodia" Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. (something worth protecting and restoring)
http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=...ECTION=201.html
http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=...ECTION=201.html
QUOTE
Phnom Penh, 7 November 2003 - Today, Mr Koïchiro Matsuura, Director General of UNESCO, has proclaimed the Royal Ballet of Cambodia a masterpiece of oral and intangible heritage. Following the inscription of the Historic Site of Angkor, as a World Heritage Site, Khmer classical dance is now also part of the heritage of humanity.
This international distinction honours the most remarkable examples of oral traditions and forms of cultural expression in all regions of the world. Through this definitive and prompt action, the programme underlines the importance of safeguarding and protecting oral and intangible heritage.
During the First Proclamation in 2001, 19 Masterpieces were given recognition; among them were the Nôgaku theatre from Japan and the Sanskrit theatre, Kutiyattam from India. Today for the Second Proclamation, 28 Masterpieces, including the Cambodian Royal Ballet, have received this distinction, out of the 56 applications submitted.
The decision to submit the application for Khmer classical dance dates from 2001. In 2002, a group of experts and artists worked, under the authority of H.R.H. Princess Norodom Buppha Devi, Minister of Culture and Fine Arts and former first dancer of the Royal Ballet. Documents were produced to prove the outstanding value of Khmer classical dance and to formulate a detailed action plan for the future.
After submission to UNESCO, various international experts of intangible heritage evaluated the applications. Following their recommendations, the Director General of UNESCO has proclaimed Khmer classical dance a Masterpiece of oral and intangible heritage of humanity.
This international recognition is, first of all, great encouragement for the future. It will open new possibilities for national and international cooperation and cultural exchanges. This inscription is also homage to the work accomplished by the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, the various dancers, musicians and all the artists.
This event is a milestone in the action to safeguard and promote Khmer classical dance and Cambodian intangible heritage. To celebrate this, the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts will organise towards the end of November a special ceremony including a performance of Khmer classical dance and other activities.
Furthermore, in the future, the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts plans to submit other applications, including one for masked theatre or lakhaon khol, big shadow puppet or sbeque thom, the work of the silversmith's or cheang prak, Khmer traditional silk and the traditional story tellers chapei.
For further information on the Proclamation of Masterpieces of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity, please see:
- UNESCO's website: http://www.unesco.org
- H.E. Prof. Hang Soth, Director General of Techniques for Culture, Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, mobile: 016 856259
This international distinction honours the most remarkable examples of oral traditions and forms of cultural expression in all regions of the world. Through this definitive and prompt action, the programme underlines the importance of safeguarding and protecting oral and intangible heritage.
During the First Proclamation in 2001, 19 Masterpieces were given recognition; among them were the Nôgaku theatre from Japan and the Sanskrit theatre, Kutiyattam from India. Today for the Second Proclamation, 28 Masterpieces, including the Cambodian Royal Ballet, have received this distinction, out of the 56 applications submitted.
The decision to submit the application for Khmer classical dance dates from 2001. In 2002, a group of experts and artists worked, under the authority of H.R.H. Princess Norodom Buppha Devi, Minister of Culture and Fine Arts and former first dancer of the Royal Ballet. Documents were produced to prove the outstanding value of Khmer classical dance and to formulate a detailed action plan for the future.
After submission to UNESCO, various international experts of intangible heritage evaluated the applications. Following their recommendations, the Director General of UNESCO has proclaimed Khmer classical dance a Masterpiece of oral and intangible heritage of humanity.
This international recognition is, first of all, great encouragement for the future. It will open new possibilities for national and international cooperation and cultural exchanges. This inscription is also homage to the work accomplished by the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, the various dancers, musicians and all the artists.
This event is a milestone in the action to safeguard and promote Khmer classical dance and Cambodian intangible heritage. To celebrate this, the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts will organise towards the end of November a special ceremony including a performance of Khmer classical dance and other activities.
Furthermore, in the future, the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts plans to submit other applications, including one for masked theatre or lakhaon khol, big shadow puppet or sbeque thom, the work of the silversmith's or cheang prak, Khmer traditional silk and the traditional story tellers chapei.
For further information on the Proclamation of Masterpieces of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity, please see:
- UNESCO's website: http://www.unesco.org
- H.E. Prof. Hang Soth, Director General of Techniques for Culture, Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, mobile: 016 856259
QUOTE(Goombaking209 @ Aug 11 2008, 11:15 PM) 
Its not a world heritage site. Its called "Royal Ballet of Cambodia" Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. (something worth protecting and restoring)
http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=...ECTION=201.html
http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=...ECTION=201.html
thank buddy for correcting me
Yeah Apsara is one of the first things that Cambodians had to restore post-war. It was an absolute must to the people. Even though Apsara is exposed to the general public of less than 100 years, its kinda amazing how much of an attachment Khmer people have towards it in one form or another, sorta like its ingrained in us to see Apsara as the epitome of "Khmer" and beauty of Cambodia.
I am so glad that we now have a huge canvas of Apsara, my house is now officially "Khmer". I even have an Apsara keychain my mom got for me from Cambodia.
I am so glad that we now have a huge canvas of Apsara, my house is now officially "Khmer". I even have an Apsara keychain my mom got for me from Cambodia.
Khmer's dance and Thai's are similar. However, I notice that our dance is smoother than Thai's. right?
^ That's just an opinion, it can be both right and wrong.
The way I see it is the people who are more serious about the art will most likely look and be more refined in the arts. Cambodians take Apsara VERY seriously as training starts from a young age and not just any girl can be trained, only the most beautiful and graceful girls are chosen. Apsara is one of the few remaining art that we still have from the days of Angkor. Its our duty to protect and instill the same sentiments onto our generation so they could see the beauty in their heritage.
The way I see it is the people who are more serious about the art will most likely look and be more refined in the arts. Cambodians take Apsara VERY seriously as training starts from a young age and not just any girl can be trained, only the most beautiful and graceful girls are chosen. Apsara is one of the few remaining art that we still have from the days of Angkor. Its our duty to protect and instill the same sentiments onto our generation so they could see the beauty in their heritage.
QUOTE(IamKhmer @ Aug 11 2008, 09:58 PM)
Khmer's dance
I noticed a big difference between Khmers and thai dance. its really amazing how khmers can bend their fingers way back and making it graceful at the same time. whereas thais are off course and looks more like an imitation of khmers. anyone else notice it besides me??
looking at lots of khmer & siam dance. i definitely zink that khmer dance is better. thai dance look just like a bad version of khmer dance. funny thing is thai people think their dance is the shizzle. but i say take a closer look between khmer & thai dance. u don't need to be an expert to tell that rabum khmer is better to watch than that of thailand. foreigners who seen both khmer & thai dance say that khmer dancing is a lot better than their counter part in thailand.
U CAN DU-PLICATE, BUT U CAN'T RE-CREATE!!!!.
U CAN DU-PLICATE, BUT U CAN'T RE-CREATE!!!!.
QUOTE(masterchief @ Aug 12 2008, 02:33 AM)
looking at lots of khmer & siam dance. i definitely zink that khmer dance is better. thai dance look just like a bad version of khmer dance. funny thing is thai people think their dance is the shizzle. but i say take a closer look between khmer & thai dance. u don't need to be an expert to tell that rabum khmer is better to watch than that of thailand. foreigners who seen both khmer & thai dance say that khmer dancing is a lot better than their counter part in thailand.
U CAN DU-PLICATE, BUT U CAN'T RE-CREATE!!!!.
U CAN DU-PLICATE, BUT U CAN'T RE-CREATE!!!!.
Well, what do you know about dance? What merit does the words of foreigners who barely understand the dances have in this? Where have you ever seen a Thai say their dance is better than Khmers and ridicule it for being "unauthentic?" I see Cambodians all the time saying Thai dances suck without constructive criticism. Simply if you don't like it because you aren't use to it doesn't mean it sucks.
Have you actually taken the time to understand not only Thai, but also Khmer dance also? Personally, I think you really don't understand either dances, you just see Khmer dance as a source of national pride and don't actually appreciate dance for it's deep and artistic qualities.
For me, I've watched both a lot. And there is good and bad from both countries. There are things that Khmers are really good at that Thais suck at, and there are some things Thais are good at that Khmers suck at. I could give you a few examples. But what would you care if you don't understand, because you are turning this into something nationalistic, when this is an art form that both have their good and bad qualities.
QUOTE(KhmerLove @ Aug 12 2008, 02:19 AM)
Khmer's dance and Thai's are similar. However, I notice that our dance is smoother than Thai's. right?
I am not a professional on khmer's dance but one thing i can assure you, Khmer's dance is way much better. Khmer's dance only share few similarity with thai and laos (ONLY FEW SIMILARITY). Khmer classical dance is now also part of the heritage of humanity. it means that we are masterpeice and no one can compare. I saw couple thai's dance and i dont like it at all, they move too fast and not graceful. wat bother me the most, their fingres and movement.
like i say i watch alot of khmer dance & i've seen thai dance. this is my PERSONAL opinion. khmer dance is much, much better than that of thailand. the music is better, costumes better & it's more graceful. nothing nationalistic. it's just about the actual dance. i mean alot of those thai dances is khmer influence, but i don't think they do as good as a job as rabum khmer. i like break dancing, hip hop dancing & i say it's better than say ballroom dancing or ballet. but that my PERSONAL opinion. other people mite feel the same way or they don't. it's all about PERSONAL preferences. nothing nationalistic or anti thai about it. just about the actual dancing.
QUOTE(masterchief @ Aug 13 2008, 02:48 AM)
like i say i watch alot of khmer dance & i've seen thai dance. this is my PERSONAL opinion. khmer dance is much, much better than that of thailand. the music is better, costumes better & it's more graceful. nothing nationalistic. it's just about the actual dance. i mean alot of those thai dances is khmer influence, but i don't think they do as good as a job as rabum khmer. i like break dancing, hip hop dancing & i say it's better than say ballroom dancing or ballet. but that my PERSONAL opinion. other people mite feel the same way or they don't. it's all about PERSONAL preferences. nothing nationalistic or anti thai about it. just about the actual dancing.
I got my eyes on you two since it's something to do with Khmer and Thai again.
Not that I'm any dance expert or anything. But comming from a westerner's perspective, I'd have to definately go with the Cambodian dances as being better. I got a chance to see one of them live at Siem Reip a few weeks ago and it was definately amazing. Trying to digg up some more Youtube vids on that Apasra thing....
beautiful ballet, hard practice goes a long way
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