One of the earliest records of dance in Cambodia is from the 7th century, where performances were used as a funeral rite for kings. During the Angkor period, dance was ritually performed at temples.[citation needed]
The repertoire of the female dance that was famously known in the West as Royal Ballet of Cambodia is composed of about 60 dance (pure dance pieces) and among them Robam Sovann Maccha, extracted from Reamker is an episode of great popularity among Cambodian audience.