Glossary of dance & theater
The Angkorian epigraphy reveals certain terms directly linked or related to dance, in Old Khmer and Sanskrit. We compile them below. They are extracted from “An Old Khmer - French - English dictionary” by Saveros Pou and “Héritage du sanskrit - Dictionnaire sanskrit-français” by Gérard Huet (Version 2.80 - February 10, 2014).
Abbreviations
Camb. / Cambodia
Kh.11th / Old Khmer of the eleventh century
Md / Khmer Modern
Mi / Middle Khmer
p.a. / Pre-angkorian Khmer
Sk. / Sanskrit
A
Actor (male or female) - nātaka नाटक Sk
Acrobat, dancer, actor, mime - bharatá भरत Sk
B
Ballet, group of dancers: rapam, rapaṃ p.a.; peṭaka (multitude, company, group); pedānātaka rpam, pedānātta rpam p.a.
D
Dance (n.) - rnaṃ Kh.11th
Dance (v.): raṃ p.a ; rāṃ Kh.10-12th; roam រាំ Md
Dance hall: kralā rāṃ Kh.12th
Dancers
Dancer, actor: kārakan kārika, kārin Sk. (actor); kāri Kh.10-11th; anak roam អ្នករាំ Md
Sacred dancer (male or female) - nāṭikāḥ नाटिका Sk ; rmāṃ, ramaṃ p.a. ; rmāṃ, rmmāṃ Kh.Xe
Dances
Coconut dance - robam kuos traloak របាំគោះត្រលោក Md
Cosmic dance of Śiva - aticaṇḍataṇḍavayutam Sk
Fishing dance - robam nesat របាំនេសាទ Md
Pailin Peacock dance - robam kngork Pailin របាំក្ងោកប៉ៃលិន Md
Trot dance - robam trot របាំទ្រុត Md
Weaver's dance - robam chie chue របាំជៀជឿ Md
G
Gesture (hand gesture): mudrā sk. / litt. “seal”
S
Stick (of dancer): raṇamardana Sk.; raṇamarddaṇa ta rmmāṃ (dancer stick) Kh.11th; raṇamardda Kh.10th