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Khmer Aspara Dance
Summary
Aqua Mekong guests will witness the Khmer Apsara dance on our Mekong river boat cruise, a Cambodian tradition which used to be reserved for royalty.
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Two Columns
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Wide 16:9
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Originating from Hinduism, the word "Apsara" means "water nymph" or "fairies". A legend tells of a story where such otherworldly beings descended from the heavens to charm royalty and deities with their graceful dances. Over time, the dance evolved to be more Khmer-styled, rather than Hindu-inspired, detailed in the sculptures in Angkor Wat. Knowledge of this ancient dance eventually faded from memory, until Queen Sisowath took on the passion project of reviving the lost art.
Often referenced to as "Cambodian Ballet", it takes many years of training and strengthening to become adept at this dance. Consisting of 1500 hand gestures, each movement carries a meaning to tell an elaborate story of the Cambodian people.