Wednesday, February 18, 2009

The Royal Lao Classical Dancers of Tennessee

One of the great treasures of the Laotian community in Tennessee and arguably, for the Laotian community living abroad, are the Royal Lao Classical Dancers, a troupe founded by the former Royal Lao Dancers Khamdy and Bangthong Chindavanh in 1997.

With their love of the cultural heritage and a goal to preserve the beauty of Lao culture, the Chindavanhs along with Mr. Sonnikhom Vanachitt, Ms. Vilayphone Kounlavong, and Ms. Thongchanh Sounthonevichit formed the Royal Lao Classical Dancers. Initially, the dancers were the children and relatives of these founders, but over time the RLCD grew bigger and better every day and continues to be in great demand across the country and around the world.



They practice every Sunday from 1 to 4PM at the Lao Buddhist Temple of Nashville in Antioch at 14131 Old Hickory Boulevard. You can e-mail them at info@rlcd.org or call 615-962-4926 for more information.

Here's a brief interview with several of the senior members of the dance troupe:

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