Chhayam
| Chhayam | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Chhay-dăm; Sa dăm |
| Practice type | Performing art |
| Usual occasion | Khmer New Year and Buddhist festivals |
| Subjects | Music & Sound; Dance & Theatre |
Chhayam is a performing-art tradition practised in Cambodia and Khmer communities. (Hslb)
Practice
Chhayam is an animated Khmer drum dance and ceremonial procession combining long drums, wooden clackers, hand cymbals, singing, call and response, comic movement, improvisation, and audience participation. Drummers usually form a line behind male dancers, while performers use their hands, elbows, and knees to build from steady rhythms to fast climaxes with spins, leaps, and shouts. Performances may portray characters from the Reamker, including righteous figures, demons, and Hanuman, through distinctive movements, costumes, and drum patterns. (Hslb; Vietnamnews)
History
Chhayam is described as a traditional Khmer dance form found in cities and villages throughout Cambodia, with roots in community celebrations and temple processions. Among the Khmer people of An Giang, Chhay-dăm drumming was officially recognised as national intangible cultural heritage in May 2025. Pagodas continue to function as informal places where younger performers learn the art from experienced practitioners. (Hslb; Vietnamnews)
Variations
Performances vary by community and setting. Accounts describe decorated long drums in Cambodia, while An Giang performances use single-headed, elephant-leg-shaped drums and may feature five to seven dancers with four to six drums, gongs, cymbals, and wooden beaters. (Hslb; Vietnamnews)
Communities and practitioners
The practice is maintained by Khmer communities, including performers in Cambodian villages and cities and Khmer communities in southern An Giang. In An Giang, young men and women practise at pagodas under the guidance of older artisans. (Hslb; Vietnamnews)