Temple Dance at Angkor Wat Causeway, 1945 [?]

This rare document was posted online by the ​“The Association of the Real Colour of the Cambodian Culture, A.R.C.C.C” with the time-honored comment:
វប្បធម៌រលត់ ជាតិរលាយ វប្បធម៌ពណ្ណារាយ ជាតិបានថ្កើនថ្កាន សូមពលរដ្ឋខ្មែរទាំងអស់ចូលរួម ថែររក្សាការពារឲ្យបាន ដើម្បីលើកស្ទួយវប្បធម៌ ព្រោះវប្បធម៌ជាព្រលឹងរបស់ជាតិខ្មែរ ។ [When culture withers, the country is melting; when culture flourishes„ the country thrives.]

So far, we do not know the circumstances of this beautifully executed dance involving female and male characters, all women. If the authors of the post are right in giving the date 1945, it could hardly be a performance for tourists, as they were few at this time of WII coming to an end — we do see a Western character filming or taking photographs in the background, but the attendance seem to be mostly local people.

The richly embroidered costumes glitter in the sun, the dancers are stunningly graceful and skillful, yet it is hard to conclude that they are from the Royal Ballet of Cambodia, if only because the musicians, however talented they might be, are bare-chested. We tend to think that these dancers were from the Khmer classical dance school set in Siem Reap during the reign of King Sisowath Monivong. Ravynn Karet Coxenn, founder of Sacred Dancers of Angkor perpetuating the most ancient forms of Khmer dancing (see below), is also in opinion this was a local dance group, probably funded by the governor or local dignitaries.

In these short excerpts, the choreography itself draws our attention as it seems to combine all the requirements of classical royal dance with more joyful, almost village-like elements. If the date is really 1945, it predates Queen Kossamak​’s historic drive to adapt the ancient Khmer court dance as Apsara dance.

Seeing the poise and spring of the dancers in this choreography, a remark made by Royal Ballet dance mistress Von Savay in another exceptional documentary, Celestial dancers of Cambodia by Jacques Brunet and Jean-Louis Berdot, (1994, 48 minutes, Khmer version with French subtitle), screened at Bophana Center in Feb. 2025. Interviewed in the film in the early 1990s, when the country was still recovering from civil war and destruction, she remarked: ​“We have to remember that Khmer dance, since its very origin, is first and foremost about celebrating victory.”

Screenshots from the film.

Screenshots from the film.

Screenshots from the film.

Screenshots from the film.

Screenshots from the film.

Screenshots from the film.

Screenshots from the film.