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Mailing Address

P.O. Box 1553, Lowell, MA 01853

Office & Rehearsal Studio

40 French St. 3rd Floor, Lowell, MA 01852

inside the Patrick J. Mogan Cultural Center

at Lowell National Historical Park

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Hours will vary. Please contact us if you would like to schedule a meeting or visit.

Our Vision

Our vision is for Lowell, Massachusetts, to be a center for Cambodian performing arts, culture, and history, with the Angkor Dance Troupe at its core. Through its classes and the high-quality performances by its dancers, Angkor Dance Troupe maintains the integrity of Cambodian performing arts and traditions while adapting to societal changes, and developing the next generation of dancers, teachers, mentors, and leaders.

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Your support allows us to train and develop students of all ages through three different programs - traditional classical and folk dance, traditional Cambodian music instruments, and Khmer language class.

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As the students progress, they are taught to understand the history and background of each performing art area which will allow them opportunities to take part in a Global Cultural Exchange with Cambodian communities who share the same mission. The knowledge they've developed during the Cultural Exchange will prepare the students to become Master Teachers for Angkor Dance Troupe - in which they will continue training the next generation to perform during our Annual Residency Fundraisers for our community.

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My Dance Children

Directed & Produced By Chummeng Soun • Supported by MassHumanities with funding from the Barr Foundation and made possible by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

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In early 20th century Cambodia, Chea Samy was the star of the Royal Dance Troupe and was famously known for portraying the role of Moni Mekhala. After teaching generations of dancers, the beloved teacher Chea Samy passed away in 1994. In archival photos and videos preserved by Dr. Toni Shapiro Phim and others, Chea Samy can be seen teaching dancers, including our Artistic Director, Phousita Huy. Our goal is to document and create a facilitated discussion that focuses primarily on how Chea Samy’s legacy shaped Master Phousita Huy and her students, continuing to influence a new generation of artists today.

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Angkor Dance Troupe was formed in 1986 by Cambodian refugees of the Khmer Rouge. Lowell’s Cambodian American community, estimated at more than 35,000 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.

 

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 recreation of dance as a testimony to the endurance of our culture.

 

As the heart of the Cambodian Community, the Angkor Dance Troupe is nationally recognized as one of the most accomplished and experienced U.S.-based Cambodian traditional arts organizations.

Connecting communities through the preservation, education, and innovation of Cambodian performing arts.

Angkor Dance Troupe, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. ​​© Copyright 2024 Angkor Dance Troupe, Inc.

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