Preserving Khmer Robam Dance

(VOVworld)- Robam dance is a genre of Khmer traditional theatre. To preserve and promote this folk art, the Ba Sac Bung Chong Dance Troupe in Tai Van commune, Tran De district, Soc Trang province, is teaching young people this traditional dance.

Robam classic dance-drama was performed on the royal stage of the Khmer people. Robam dance features flexible movements of the dancer’s hands and body. In a Robam play, there are two types of characters: kings, princes, and princesses, who never wear masks, and other, mostly cruel characters called Yeak, who wear masks.

In Soc Trang province, this type of dance-drama is still preserved and performed by a number of artists including the Ba Sac Bung Chong Robam Troupe. Founded more than 200 years ago, the troupe was the first Robam dance troupe in Soc Trang. Early this year, young artists of the troupe performed in the Ship Worshipping Festival of Day Om Pou pagoda in My Xuyen district. Lam Thi Huong, Head of the Troupe says today’s young people are not as interested in Robam dance as their predecessors. She and other artists and the local authorities had to persuade parents to encourage their children to learn the dance. According to Ms Huong, it’s easier for children to learn Robam dance at the age of 11 and 12. Most of the students in Huong’s class are very interested in Robam. Thach Thi Chanh Tha is one of the young dancers: “I like Robam since I was small. I asked my parents for permission to attend the class after school”.

Comprising 25 artists, the Ba Sac Chung Bong Robam Troupe performs in hamlets and pagodas throughout the Khmer region. The Khmer believe Robam dancing creates prosperity. Ms Huong said:“The Robam troupe has included multiple generations of artists, our grandparents, our parents and us. The troupe was founded long ago. After rehearsing and preparing costumes, we are off to perform elsewhere. Wherever we come to, we receive loud applause from our audience because Robam dances always bring about excitement and happiness”.

At 13, Huong played the lead role in the drama. She is loved by the audience for her beautiful dancing gestures and voice. The provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism invited her to be the trainer of Robam dance for the Soc Trang art troupe. In 2007, she was among the 4 representatives of Vietnam to attend the Cultural Program called “Mekong rivers connect cultures” in the US. The revival of Robam dance among Khmer people motivates her and other artists. Huong told VOV:“Because my great-grandparents, grandparents and parents participated in the troupe, I want to preserve the dance. I really hope that the State will support us in developing the Robam dance troupe”.

Son Del, a member of the troupe, says that he is determined to preserve Robam dance: “Robam dance was created by our ancestors so I want to preserve it. We will perform Robam dance for our fellow Khmers to encourage them to help us preserve it. We also perform Robam dance at the Robe Offering Ceremony“.

Robam dance is the pride of the Khmer and is now performed on post-harvest fields and at traditional festivals. The authorities and the public are getting more involved in efforts to preserve and promote this unique dance of Vietnam’s southern people.

Thach Hong- Vinh Phong

Preserving Khmer Robam Dance Related image(s)