Traditional Arts Program

Recognizing the rich cultural traditions that abound in South Philadelphia’s ethnically diverse community, CPA’s Traditional Arts Program is helping to sustain these important traditions and ancient art forms by making them available to new generations of young people.

Working with native artists from Cambodia, the Program has offered classes in mask making and weaving, and classical Cambodian dance to students at Fleisher Art Memorial and at other sites throughout the community. Not only do these classes help to sustain the cultural heritage of the area’s newest immigrant communities, they also foster a broader appreciation among young people of the many traditions and cultures that make up their community.

Cambodian Classical Dance at Fleisher Art Memorial
Currently, Chamreoun Yin teaches Cambodian Classical dance classes at Fleisher on Saturday mornings during the fall, winter, and spring semesters. Chamreoun Yin teaches both advanced students as well as beginning students of all ages. Once practiced exclusively for the royal court of Phnom Penh, Cambodian court dance teaches the ancient stories of gods, demons and heroes, and the symbolic meaning of gestures, costumes and masks.