Archaeological Evidence SYMBOL KHMER CIVILIZATION OF ANGKOR

Archaeological Evidence SYMBOL KHMER CIVILIZATION OF ANGKOR *HAND GESTURE* CAMBODIA OR KHMER CLASSICAL DANCE IS OVER A THOUSAND YEARS OLD(World Heritage since 2003)៚ *Khmer Classical Dance or The Royal Ballet of Cambodia Known in Khmer as Robam Preah Reach Trop (literally ‘dances of royal wealth’), traditional Khmer dancing is an integral part of the national culture. The curvy-waisted dancers winding across bas-reliefs in Angkor Wat solidify its importance in the national psyche, showing that this traditional dance form has been around for over a thousand years. There are over 3,000 different gestures. The dances often tell the stories of ancient myths involving celestial wars, giants and beautiful peacemaking goddesses. *Along with the glittering headdresses and slow, graceful movements, the expressive hand gestures are the most iconic part of Khmer classical dance. The hand shapes, in combination with feet and arm gestures, are crucial in expressing the story of the largely silent dances – a kind of artistic sign language. credit World-Societies & Culture