Romvong

Romvong (Khmer: រាំវង់, also romanized as Rom Vong or Roam Vong), Lamvong (Lao: ລຳວົງ - pronounced [lám.wóŋ]) or Ramwong (Thai: รำวง; RTGS: ram wong; Tai Lue: ᩃ᪁ ᩴᩅ ᩫ ᩬ; Tai Khun: ᨽ᩠ᨿᨦᨴᩱ᩠ᨿᩃᩨᩢ; pronounced [rām.wōŋ]; Shan: လမ်းဝူင်), Rambung (Malay: رمبوڠ), Vietnamese: lăm-vông) is a type of Southeast Asian dance where both females and males dance in a circle.

It is a slow round dance continuously moving in a circular manner, and incorporates graceful hand movements and simple footwork.

In addition to the dominant Khmer, Lao, Malay and Thai cultures, romvong is also common among many other groups indigenous to Southeast Asia.

[4] Romvong is the most popular folk dance perform by both men and women across Cambodia especially in the New Year Eve, national and religious celebrations, and occasional events.

The beautiful arm and hand gestures are combined harmoniously with rhythmic musical instruments, such as khene, a Lao bamboo flute.

In order to help people to forget their penury, the military dictator encouraged Thai women and men to enjoy themselves by dancing ramvong.

Also, as part of the policy of Thaification during his tenure, Phibunsongkhram aimed to stem the popularity of non-Thai dances such as the foxtrot or waltz through the promotion of ramvong.

After the end of World War II ramvong was largely replaced by luk thung and cha-cha-cha although its influence survived in Thai society.