Organization
Cambodian Traditional Dance Association
The Cambodian Traditional Dance Association (CTDA) is an organization in Rochester, Minnesota, that preserves and teaches classical Khmer dance.
The dance tradition
The association's work belongs to the tradition of Cambodian classical dance. In Cambodia, dance is part of spiritual observances, life-cycle ceremonies and public entertainment.[1] The classical form is tied to the celestial dancers carved on temples of the Angkor era and to earlier stone inscriptions, and it has long been linked with religion and with the Cambodian monarchy. During the New Year period in mid-April, dancers in the court style perform sacred legends as offerings, to bring blessings to Cambodia and its people.[1]
The stories feature royal figures, deities, giants and monkeys, and some works are pure movement with no story. The relationships between characters can also show how people are expected to behave toward one another. The costumes recall celestial beings and give classical performances their formal, elevated feel. For Khmer people, the dance is a way of expressing identity and of keeping a link to shared history.[1]
Training
Classical dance takes years of training, with long periods of stretching and exact control of the hands, feet and back. At Cambodia's Royal University of Fine Arts, dance students traditionally start as children and study general subjects alongside dance. Beginners learn a large vocabulary of positions and movements by repeating them to drum rhythms while teachers correct their bodies by hand. The most advanced students move from supporting parts to principal roles in particular dance dramas.[1]
Folk dance has its own vocabulary of movement but keeps elements of the classical style. In many villages, dance is passed down locally from one generation to the next and remains tied to ritual occasions.[1]