The Angkor Dance Troupe was formed in 1986 by Cambodian refugees of the Khmer Rouge holocaust. Lowell's Cambodian American community, estimated at more than 25,000 people, is the second largest in the country. When we resettled here, we brought a passion to carry on our cherished cultural traditions -- to practice and perform, to teach our children, and to see our art preserved for future generations of all cultures. As a community struggling to put down roots in a new homeland, Cambodian dance provides a poignant reminder of the beauty and spirituality of our culture and helps us build a more stable foundation for our children.

We take our name from the great Angkor civilization, between 802 and 1432 AD when Cambodia was a dominant empire in Southeast Asia. Dance and music have always been prominent in Khmer society, but these ancient traditions were nearly eliminated when the Khmer Rouge controlled Cambodia in the 1970s. Artists were among those deliberately targeted for execution. More than 90% of the country's tradition bearers perished. Today, as Cambodians around the world struggle to emerge from decades of war and poverty, our people look to the rebirth and re-creation of dance as testimony to the endurance of our culture.

The Angkor Dance Troupe is nationally recognized as one of the most accomplished and experienced of the U.S.-based Cambodian traditional arts ensembles. We are directed by world-renowned master teachers and perform a body of work developed by the Royal University of Fine Arts in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, considered the premier standard bearer for traditional Cambodian arts. The Angkor Dance Troupe is listed on the New England States Touring Roster and has performed at venues including the White House, First Night Boston, the National and Lowell Folk Festivals, the Boston Dragon Boat Festival, Yale University, Penn State University, and Jacob's Pillow.

A central component of our mission is to provide positive cultural, recreational, and educational opportunities for inner-city youth. Since 1986, Angkor has served youth who rigorously rehearse and participate in public performances and other events. The major of the dancers currently enrolled in the troupe are young people. Youth typically stay involved for five years or longer. In fact, some of our very best, most seasoned performers are teenagers and young adults who have grown up performing Cambodian dance. In 1999, the Angkor Dance Troupe was selected for the prestigious Coming Up Taller award from the President's Committee on Arts and Humanities and the National Endowment for the Arts.

We address one of the most pressing social problems facing Lowell today by giving youth alternatives to violence and other negative behavior and by helping them develop the skills necessary to make positive, productive choices in their lives. We provide a place of refuge, an avenue into the Cambodian culture and a safe environment where students can express themselves through dance and be immersed in the culture of their forefathers.

Explore for yourself how our programs have impacted Cambodian youth by listening to our students express in their own words what they have gained by joining the Angkor Dance Troupe.

The Angkor Dance Troupe, a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit, is a unique organization that provides an essential service to the community. The Troupe is the only nonprofit cultural group in Lowell, MA, whose sole mission is to preserve the traditions of Cambodian performing arts. The Angkor Dance Troupe develops and teaches Cambodian dance, promotes an understanding and appreciation of Cambodian culture, and provides a positive social and educational outlet for Cambodian youth.