Apsara Theatre Show — Angkor Village Siem Reap
Apsara Theatre Show — Angkor Village Siem Reap
The Apsara Theatre at Angkor Village Hotel is one of the most respected classical dance venues in Siem Reap — a proper sit-down performance in a dedicated theatre space, not a hotel lobby sideshow. The show runs three nights a week and presents a programme of classical Khmer dance alongside village dance forms, performed by trained dancers accompanied by a live traditional orchestra.
The evening begins at 7:30pm with dinner — choose from classic Khmer dishes, Cambodian tapas, or a vegetarian menu. The performance itself runs from 8:30 to 9:30pm and typically includes three classical pieces and two village dances. The pace is measured and ceremonial, which is exactly the point: this is Cambodian court dance as it was performed for royalty, not entertainment staged for a tour group.
Apsara dance is a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage form that nearly disappeared during the Khmer Rouge period. The revival has taken decades of patient reconstruction from surviving masters and archival sources. Watching it here — in a setting that takes the form seriously — is a very different experience from the brief dance interludes you’ll find at larger tourist restaurants.
The theatre is inside Angkor Village Hotel on Route Charles de Gaulle, a short tuk-tuk ride from Pub Street. Performances run Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday evenings from April through September. Tickets include dinner; check the Apsara Theatre website for current pricing and the October–March schedule, which extends to additional evenings.
Arrive by 7:30pm if you’re dining. If dinner isn’t your plan, tickets for the show alone are also available. Dress is smart-casual — this is a proper theatre.
