Classical dance costumes are highly ornate and heavily embroidered, sometimes including sequins and even semi-precious gems. Various pieces of the costume (such as shirts) have to be sewn onto the dancers for a tight fit.
A typical female, or néang, costume consists of a silk garment called a sâmpót sarâbăp; it is a type of sarong intricately woven with gold and silver threads. The sâmpót is wrapped around the lower body, pleated in the front and secured with a gold belt. Worn over the left shoulder is a shawl-like garment called a sbai (also known as the rôbăng khnâng, literally 'back cover'), it is the most decorative part of the costume, embroidered extensively with tiny beads and sequins; the usual embroidery pattern for the sbai these days is a diamond pattern, but in the past there were floral patterns too. Under the sbai is a silk undershirt called an av păk with only a short sleeve on the left arm. Around the neck is an embroidered collar called a srâng kâr.
Jewelry of the female role includes a large filigreed, square pendant, various types of ankle and wrists bracelets and bangles, an armlet on the right arm, and body chains of various styles. These body chains, in ancient Cambodia, were worn over the left shoulder as a means of displaying wealth. In dance costumes, more amounts of body chains indicate a role of higher rank.
The female role, traditionally, wears a rose inserted above the right ear and a phuŏng (a flower tassel made from jasmine and Michelia blossoms) on the left side of the crown. Although, in modern times, these three flowers (the rose, jasmine, and Michelia) have become non essential due to lack of availability, in which case, other flowers are used instead. The rose is sometimes replaced by other flowers such as plumerias. Apsara characters often wear plumeria flowers tied along the back of their hair.
Male characters wear costumes that are more intricate than the females, as it requires pieces, like sleeves, to be sewn together while being put on. They are dressed in a sâmpót sarâbăp, like their female counterpart, however it is worn differently. For the male, or néay rông, the sâmpót is worn in the châng kben style, where the front is pleated and pulled under, between the legs, then tucked in the back and the remaining length of the pleat is stitched to the sâmpót itself to form a draping 'fan' in the back. Knee-length pants are worn underneath displaying a wide, embroidered hem around the knees. For the top, they wear long sleeved shirts with rich embroidering, with a collar, or srâng kâr, around their neck. On the end of their shoulders are a sort of epaulette that is arching upwards like Indra's bow (known as inthanu). Another component of the male costumes are three richly embroidered cloths worn around the front waist, that look like tassets. The center piece is known as a robang muk while the two side pieces are known as a cheay kraeng, while for monkeys and yaksha characters, they wear another piece in the back called a robang kraoy.
Male characters also wear an x-like strap around the body called a sângvar, often it is made of gold-colored silk and sometimes it is made from chains of gold with square ornaments, in which case it is reserved for more important characters. The males also wear the same ankle and wrist jewelry as the female, but with the addition of an extra set of bangles on the wrist and no armlets. They also wear a kite-shaped ornament called a slœ̆k pô (named after the Bo tree leaf) which serves as center point for their sângvar. As opposed to the female character, the male character wears a rose over the left ear and a flower tassel hung on the right side of the crown. Both male and female characters were played by women.
Dancers wear either one of several different types of crowns which denote the ranks of the character they are performing. Divinities and royal characters wear a tall single-spired crown, called a mokot. Human characters of lesser importance wear various types of headdresses resembling circlets, diadems and tiaras. Characters such as ogres and monkeys wear masks and crowns attached to their masks according to their rank.
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Robam Kinar Part 1by KoneAngkor5,044 views
It would be so cool and nice!! If we had Apsara schools in the United States
Aseanpride 2 years ago
proud to be khmer!!:)
davinpenh 2 years ago 2
l-or nah look aey
chayavat 3 years ago 2
Great art! I want to learn more! Thanks
kentarocam 3 years ago