Roim Vung, literally means dancing in a circle, is one of the most well-known Khmer popular dances. Whenever there are national celebrations and festivals that involve dancing, Roim Vung is always there. It is very easy to learn and dance, and people can dance this Khmer popular dance pretty much anywhere. Even if you are not a local or you are not used to dancing, you can learn it in just a few minutes. Let’s find out more about this popular dance below and see if you can dance this one.
Origin
According to the research, this dance has its origin in Laos. This claim was due to the fact that Cambodian people who lived close to the Laos border were the first to know this dance. That was because they had communication and interactions with Laotians, and they learned that from Laotians. Some might say that the dance has its origin from Thailand but that dance only existed from Thailand in 1946-1947. However, there are beliefs that the origin of this dance is actually from Cambodia. Khmer ethnic minorities have been dancing this dance for hundreds of years, usually at night around the fire. Some also danced Roim Vung in religious rituals, and it became a popular dance among villagers later on.
Now, it is the must-have dance during Khmer New Year and other festive celebrations in the country. People can also dance Roim Vung during parties, family gatherings, and even after harvesting, and more. Roim Vung is a part of our identity and tradition, and people of all ages can enjoy this dance.
How To Dance
Traditionally, the dance begins with a man going to the dance floor, and he dances as he circles the table. Then he nods at the other men to join him around the table. After another round of circling and dancing around the table, they stop in front of the ladies. Each man either nods or sampeah a lady to ask her to dance with him. The lady will nod or sampeah him back to agree and move to the dance floor to dance wit him. Every pair will dance together around the table until the song finishes.
Roim Vung is a simple dance where people dance in a circle or around a table, counter-clockwise. Sometimes a man dances behind a woman (if they are couples or dance partners) but some other times there are no rules. If there are a lot of people, a man will dance right next to the woman instead of dancing behind her. When dancing, you will have to put your forefinger and thumb together at your waist height and bring the hand up. As for the other hand, you open it normally. And you will have to switch the order of each hand as you move. If you step forward with your right foot, bring your left hand up; and vice versa. Usually, there are cheeky men who dance faster, rather out of sync but still look great. The rhythm is neither fast nor slow, just at the right pace for everyone to enjoy. However, sometimes when the song is almost at the end, it can get faster and faster.
Conclusion
Roim Vung is one of the oldest Khmer popular dances in Cambodia, and almost everyone knows about it. I was also taught this dance when I was young back in primary school as well. If you notice, a Cambodian’s girl hand is normally very curvy upwards due to the way that we dance. It is a part of our pride, and something that we cherish as a part of our culture. And if you want to learn how to dance Khmer popular dance, Roim Vung should be the first.