Community Engagement

Khmer classical dance plays a crucial role for the cultural identity in the Cambodian diaspora. Wherever there is a Cambodian community, there is dance. Neak Kru Charya has traveled to many dance communities across California and beyond conducting dance workshops and providing resources. Below is a list of those Cambodian dance communities:

Khmer Arts Academy (Long Beach, CA)

Khmer Arts Academy (KAA) is a nonprofit performing arts school based in Long Beach, California where Charya has been a frequent guest artist and artist-in-residence. As part of her 2017-18 residency, Charya partnered with KAA to mount her full-length world premiere of Silenced in 2018. Classes are held three days a week; every Thursday and Friday from 5:00pm – 7:00pm and every Saturday from 10:00am-2:00pm at their studio in Long Beach. For more info: www.khmerarts.orghttp://www.khmerarts.org

Cambodian Cultural Dance Troupe of San Jose (San Jose, CA)

This group, under the direction of Savary Dean, has Charya’s former apprentice, Ryan Boun, as lead teacher. Charya has been a dance consultant for this group for many years and has also previously been artist-in-residence. Their weekly class is Sunday, 2:00pm-4:00pm usually at Olinder Community Center in San Jose.        https://www.facebook.com/cambodianculturaldancetroupe/

Proleung Seilaphak (Stockton, CA)

Proleung Seilaphak, established in 2025 is under the direction of Sokevin Tuy. The group practices every Sunday from 10:00am – 1:00pm at Central United Methodist Church in Stockton, CA. Neak Kru Charya conducted a workshop with the group in October of 2025. She hopes to continue to work with them in the future. https://www.facebook.com/people/Proleung-Seilaphak/61580255035940/

Tep Nimmit Dance Group (Chicago, IL)

Tep Nimmit Dance Group is under direction of Anneth Huy. They practice every Saturday 10:00am – 2:30pm at the National Cambodian Heritage Museum and Killing Fields Memorial, Chicago, Illinois. Neak Kru Charya has mentored Anneth individually and has completed multiple residencies with the group including October of 2025 when she integrated their dancers to performed with her as part of The Rebirth of Apsara: Beyond Genocide at Northeastern Illinois University Auditorium. https://www.cambodianmuseum.org/class-schedule

Indras Artistic Creations (Lowell, MA)

Indras Artistic Creations is under the direction of Kennis Chanvesna Yin-Mor. They practice every Sunday from 10:00am – 4:00pm at Vatt Khmer Lowell, MA. Neak Kru Charya has conducted  workshops there in 2025 and 2026. Two of their dancers were selected to perform in The Rebirth of Apsara: Beyond Genocide at Middlesex Community College Academic Arts Center in Lowell, MA. https://www.indrasarts.org

Khmer Performing Arts and Culture (Philadelphia, PA)

Khmer Performing Arts and Culture (KPAC) is under direction of Sopheap Hoy with classes taught by their lead dancers. They practice every Saturday from 12:30pm – 3:30pm and every Sunday from 9:00am – 12:00pm at Wat Preah Buddha Rangsey Temple, Philadelphia, PA. In 2025 Neak Kru Charya conducted a workshop for them. https://phillykpac.weebly.com

Wattanak Dance Troupe (Minneapolis, MN)

Wattanak Dance Troupe, founded in 2008 by Master Yousedy Peov, practice every Sunday from 1:00pm – 5:00pm in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Neak Kru Charya conducted a workshop with the group in 2024 and visited the group again in 2025 to attend their annual recital.     https://www.facebook.com/wattanakdancetroupe/

Reaksmey Sareypheap Khmer Dance (Camden, NJ)

Reaksmey Sareypheap Dance Group is under the direction of Jenny Meas. They practice every Sunday 10:00am – 12:00pm at Samaki Dhararam Buddhist Temple in Camden, New Jersey. In 2025 Neak Kru Charya conducted a workshop with their senior dancers at the temple. https://www.facebook.com/p/Reaksmey-Sareypheap-Khmer-Dance-100080500188941/

Khmer Morodok Performing Arts (Stockton, CA)

Khmer Morodok Performing Arts (KMPA) is a newly established community dance group run by Charya’s former student, Sophany V. Inn Bodine. Based in Stockton, she and her passionate team practice together every Saturday from 1:00pm-5:00pm. Charya is mentor to KMPA and has conducted workshops on and off since January of 2019 at Wat Dhammaranram Buddhist Temple in Stockton. https://www.facebook.com/morodokkhmerperformingarts/

United Khmer Cultural Preservation (Fresno, CA)

United Khmer Cultural Preservation (UKCP) is a community dance troupe based in Fresno run by wonderful young dancers who are deeply passionate about Khmer dance. Charya has conducted a master class for them and hopes to work more with them in the future. Their scheduled practice is every Sunday from 1:00pm-4:00pm at Holistic Cultural and Education Wellness Center 4867 E Kings Canyon Road, Fresno. https://www.ukcpfresno.org

KEEN Khmer Ballet of Stockton (Stockton, CA)

Khmer Ballet of Stockton (KBS) is a dance community organization run by Chanra Hai and is based in Stockton. The group is composed mostly of young dancers and has excellent parental support. Charya is a frequent guest teacher. Their dance class is offered every Saturday from 11:00am-1:00pam at 42 N Sutter St. Suite 406, Stockton. https://www.facebook.com/khmerballetofstockton/

Khmer Youth of Modesto (Modesto, CA)

Khmer Youth of Modesto (KYOM) is dance group based in Modesto that, up until his unfortunate passing in early 2019, was under the direction of Kenny Suthera Chhong. Pholy Meas and a committed group of parents have kept the group going strong. Their class is offered every Friday 4:00pm-5:30pm at Maddux Youth Center, Modesto.

Wat Khmer Modesto Dance Group (Modesto, CA)

Wat Khmer Modesto Dance Group consists of energetic young Cambodian-American dancers connecting to their cultural roots. Just weeks prior California’s Covid lockdown, Charya was able to conduct a very successful workshop with over 30 of their dancers.

Charya looks forward to working with more communities including the Khmer Angkor Dance Troupe in Oakland, the dance group at the Cambodian Buddhist Temple of Sacramento, and many more…