The Indian mythology of Rama (Ramayana) has been showed in various aspects of Southeast Asia’s literature and arts. In Cambodia, this can be seen in many of the sculptures and bas relief in Angkor Wat and other temple ruins. In performing arts, this Hindu epic is played out in Cambodia’s classical dance. The dance is believed to exist in the Khmer Empire over 1,200 years ago. It is estimated that there were 3,000 dancers in the royal court of King Jayavarman VII in the 12th century.

However, most traditional dances seen in Cambodia nowadays were developed between the 18th century and 20th centuries. In Siem Reap, the dance performances have a combination of classical and theatrical folk dances. The classical dance, called Apsara Dance, involves the performers following the movements of Apsaras, heavenly female nymphs who were born to dance for the gods – carvings of Apsaras can be seen at Banteay Srey and the wall at the gates of Angkor Wat. The dancers are dressed in brightly colored costumes with elaborate gold headdresses and silk tunics. The dance revolves around some episodes of the Ramayana epic. It is accompanied by a percussive ensemble known as Pinpeat orchestras, which includes drums, cymbals, horizontal gongs and bamboo xylophones. For the theatrical folk dance, the shows are adaptations of rural life and practices such as the Good Harvest Dance and the romantic Fishing Dance.

Nightly theatre dances are performed at several hotels and restaurants. Angkor Village Hotel and Grand Hotel D’Angkor have good reviews for their elegant stage and excellent performance. The shows at Angkor Mondial restaurant are also popular with its new stage. The ticket usually includes a dinner and lasts about an hour. Some venues feature folk dances such as the light-hearted coconut dance and the flirtatious and romantic fishing dance.