Crown
- 'Mekot'
The Cambodian Apsara
crown is more sophisticated than that of many other dances, designed to
simulate ancient bas-relief depictions of Angkor Wat and other Khmer temples,
the leading Apsara crown commonly has five points/tips with two rows of
spherical decorations. Crowns worn by the subordinate dancers commonly
have three points and only one row of sphere decoration. These crowns
often include garlands of artificial hair with ornate adornments.
The Apsara crown is both highly intricate and
beautiful, embellished with rich gold's and impressive artistic designs that
enhance the Dancer's Facial
Features it's beauty is captured by even distant audience eyes. Both Metal
(copper) & Paper Mache crowns are used.
Apsara Blouse & Skirt
The shirt adorn in the Apsara dance differs from that of other
dances, being form-fitting, the cloth is usually a white or skin colored without
any beads, jewelry or distracting features. This shirt is worn by each
type of Apsara dancer (Two types of dancers Leading and Subordinate).
The exquisite silk skirt worn by the performing Apsara dancers is
called a 'charabob', traditionally, white is reserved for the leading
dancer, while the remaining subordinate dancers conventionally wear red, light
green and blue skirts. Charabob's are an exquisite silk and/or
cotton blended material, which display elaborate geometric patterns and
designs. Often, these skirts are worn in a front pleated fashion, a
pleated fringe in the front and occasionally the left of the skirt is also
pleated (picture right).
The Charabob emulates glistening gold's with refined
diamond-like patterns that compliment a skillfully woven backdrop. Used traditionally as a
skirt-like garment worn around the waist and fastened behind, this material is
also commonly tailored for other customary occasions.
Decorative Papaya Flowers - 'Lbak Pka Somyong'
Located on the right of the crown, hangs a beautiful white flower
with an inclined stem and a cluster of petals located at the it's end. Ten
centimeters of cotton thread is sewn into the flowers to create the affect of a
falling stem?. These flowers are male papaya flowers, which should
have buds. If the male papaya flower is not available, the 'reak'
flower can be substituted.
Flowers Worn on Ears
Frangipani flowers that are already open are worn on the dancer's
ear, used to complement and enhance the beauty of each dancer's face.
Dangling Earrings
Dangling earrings, which are bound in bunches, traditionally
stretch almost to the shoulder. These dangling earrings are mainly
duplicated from the design of 'krorsang' flower (large spiny tree w/ sour
fruit) and are preferred to the believe less beautiful 'mete' (chili)
flower.
Collar - 'Sarong Kor'
This gorgeous round decorative collar (red colored) is highly
visible, found just below the neck the collar is embellished with detailed gold
colored copper ornaments and beaded designs. The elaborate decorations is
usually found gracefully decorated on two separate rows. Additional copper
ornaments are found hanging below these rows, in the shape of
difficult-to-describe warped spear tips. The largest of which is
centralized (see photo)
Belt
The striking red clothed belt is comparable to the Sarong Kor
(collar) described above. While similarly decorated with warped spear-like
tips draped on a red cloth, the straight cloth differs as it is a flat red cloth
while contrarily the Sarong Kor (collar) is patched on a round cloth.
Jewelry
(see our jewelry
page)
The arm pads are gold flat jeweled ornaments. The central
part is thicker than the edges which are worn on both forearms.
Wrist Jewelry - 'Gong Dai'
There are a total of four types of wrist jewelry's. 1)KORNG
RAK 2 & 3) KANTROM 4)KORNG GNOR 5)SANLEK
The first is a truly beautiful diamond-like studded bracelet a
fine and elegantly wrist jewel decorated in a tree branch-like fashion,
the second is more of a spring-like coiled gold colored thick copper
while the third type of bracelet (two sets are worn) are small round beaded
orb/sphere bunches delicately connected to one another, the last bracelet is a
intricate and well decorated thickly rounded jewel. Additionally an Apsara
dancer may be found wearing a garland of jasmine.
Ankle Jewelry - 'Gong Cheung'
Two types of gold ankle jewelry are usually worn by the Apsara
dancer, the first being 'KORNG TORNG CHHUK' the second 'KORNG GNOR/KRAVEL.
Notice 'KORNG GNOR' is also one of the mentioned Wrist Jewels.
Sangva
Sangva is a loosely decorated band of beads worn crosswise, it's
similar to a number of beads connected to one another.
Golden Flower
The golden flower is considered a body-decorating element, either
worn on the waist or carried during the performance. It too is a gold
colored thin flexible copper.
Apsara
Facial Features
Additional Apsara
Information
