Events in 2018

Lao New Year Performances (April 2018)

LHF performs at the local temple and at the Lao Embassy each year to celebrate Lao New Year. The students participate in the ceremonies of Lao New Year and enjoy themselves at the festival along with all the parents and volunteers each year. Thank you to all those that came out and supported LHF and bought some food at our booth. We were able to raise enough funds to cover summer camp for this year!!

LHF Celebrates AA/PI at the DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) (May 2, 2018)

LHF was invited as a guest to help the DEA celebrate Asian American/Pacific Islander Heritage. The students performed and were wowed by the sargent in arms and the whole event. What a great experience.

Boon Hoot Pa (Coronation of the Head Monk) at Wat Lao Buddhavong (June 2018)

LHF was honored to take part in the coronation of the Venerable Phra Achan Bounmy Kittiphanhat, head monk, of Wat Lao Buddhavong. He was honored with the highest rank in monkhood by the Association of Monks in America. He is the only monk in America to have recieved this title. The students played music as the monk as paraded around the temple for the ceremony. The students were excited to be on a float.

2nd Annual Lao Art and Culture Summer Camp, Luang Prabang, Laos (June 25- July 6, 2018)

LHF returns to Luang Prabang, Laos for another awesome year. With a year of experience under our belt, we hired more music teachers to teach the students in smaller group and raised the age limits to 7 years of age. This helped to reduce the number of students from 350 in 2017 to 250 students. We were very excited to see the increase participation of students from the Orphanage School of Luang Prabang as well.

7th Annual Lao Art and Culture Summer Camp, Virginia (July 28 – August 4, 2018)

Another fun year at camp. This year, LHF tie dye our shirts, made bath bomes, and learned one of the mask dances from Luang Prabang. Koo Lily also revived a long forgotten dance taught by her mom more than 20 years ago, the Peacock Dance or Fan Noke Yoong. Koo Chy Her created a song based on Koo Lily’s memory to go with the dance. The music for the Monkey Dance for the boys was very challenging, but the girls rose to the challenge and performed for the boys to dance. For the first time this year, the parents decided that they wanted to learn along with their children. They were able to learn a song and performed with the kids. Go parents!!

Pilot Programs in Dallas/Forth Worth, Texas and Charlotte, North Carolina, and Philadelphia, PA

LHF, in collaboration with local community members and organizations to launch three pilot programs this year. In Texas LHF worked with DFW Lao Heritage. In Charlotte, LHF collaborated with School of Jai. In Philadelphia, LHF worked with Laos in the House. The three day pilot program introduced the community to LHF’s music and dance program. The pilot program allowed students and families to try out instruments, ask questions, and participate in the camp activities to see if they would like to have a program in their community. LHF provided the pilot programs with teachers, instruments, and music.

LHF Annual Gala: Fabric of Lao Culture (September 29, 2018)

This year’s theme is Fabric of Lao Culture, celebrating Lao culture through clothing. We featured two artists: Malirin Bounnaphol Armstrong and Sompasueth Chounlamany. We started off with Sompasueth who showed us the historical side of Lao fabric from the classical era of Luang Prabang while Malirin showed off the more contemporary style of Lao clothing. The students and parents served as the model for the show and they rocked the house.

Dragon Boat Race (September 30, 2018)

LHF’s mom are the strongest group of women that I know. After our annual gala, they got up early to come out and compete in the Dragon Boat Race. 4 of the 5 women on our team did not even know how to swim!!! We did not only compete for our own team, but helped row for other teams who were short handed. We rowed for 3 teams in all!! All in all we got 3rd place. Not bad for no experience and up all night crew. Gotta love the LHF moms!!!

LHF Joins the Mosiac International Showcase at Pentagon Mall (October 27, 2018)

Each year Pentagon Mall in Washington D.C. hosts a Mosiac International Showcase. LHF has been participating for the last 3 years to represent Laos. This year, we had a team of boys who played music for the audiance.