PhotoStory 0003: Khmer Traditional Dancing in Siem Reap

Khmer Traditional Dancing in Siem ReapPhoto taken 2006-10-29, (oct 29th) at at a hotel in Siem Reap, Siem Reap Province, Cambodia

While in Cambodia, there is several things I belive is "Must Do/See's", and one of this was traditional Khmer Dancing. With fantastic costumes and gentle movements it is truely something to include in your trip to Cambodia.

I went to Siem Reap from Phnom Penh, and decided to stay in Earthwalkers GueastHouse while in Siem Reap. Earthwalkers GueastHouse is an excellent Guesthouse started be norwegian enthusiasts, and gives it profits to help out children without family and other local projects helping unfortunate cambodians in this vey poor province of Cambodia. Earthwalkers is mentioned in the Lonely Planet Guides, and is located about 1-2 km outside the centre of Siem Reap.

I was hoping to be as lucky to see a Khmer Dance Group concisting of children from the childrens centres run by Earthwalkers, but the actual night these was been hied by a very exclusive hotel , and it would cost me 100 usd to see the show, - and since this money would only go to the hotelowners profit, I decided to see other dancers to get this Khmer Dancing experience. The Earthwalkers personell was vey helpful, and found me another place/hotel to se a show with adult dancers.

And the dancing and costumes/outfits were truely amazing, and the gentle movements and dancing showing the stories was really captivating. It was hard to keep the eyes away from the girls doing the show at the stage, so I almost missed totally out on the buffee beeing served. I guess different dances from this part of the world looks a lot similar for us in the western, - I mean Thai dancing, minority dancing in China, Laos dancing and others has many of the similar feachers. But I must say the beautiful girls on this stage doing this fantastic Khmer Dancing in their amazing outfits, - was the most memorable danceshow on my trip in Asia...

So if you ever have the chance of experiencing the traditional Khmer Dancing, - do it :-) its a magic sight for sore eyes... both the dance itself, and the girls performing it...



Some links of Khmer Dancing: Khmer classical dance, Dance of Cambodia , Cambodian Classical Dance


ps please comment the photo if you like, and grad it from 0 to 10(best) after your liking

egil viking . . . www.meihack.org