“Apsara” is a female spirit of the clouds and waters in Hindu and Buddhist mythology. Apsaras are also known as Vidhya Dhari or Tep Apsar in Khmer, beautiful, supernatural female beings. They are youthful and elegant, and superb in the art of dancing. Apsaras are often wives of the Gandharvas, the court musicians of Indra. They dance to the music made by the Gandharvas, usually in the palaces of the gods, entertain and sometimes seduce gods and men.
Nowasday, Apsara dance performance is the title of a Khmer classical dance created by the Royal Ballet of Cambodia in the mid-20th century under the patronage of Queen Sisowath Kossamak. The Apsara is played by a woman, sewn into tight-fitting traditional dress, whose graceful, sinuous gestures are codified to narrate classical myths or religious stories. Apsara dance was only performed for the Khmer kings during the Angkor time. Now Apsara dance performance can be widely visited at some of local restaurants and hotels in Cambodia, especially in Siem Reap. The performance generally takes an hour with 5 courses of the different dances. The most remarkable course is the “Wishing Performance” which blessing all visitors with good luck and happiness.