Laos In The House x Lao Heritage Foundation Philly Summer Camp 2019
This year from July 28 - August 4, Lao Heritage Foundation will be hosting another Summer Camp in Philly - this time a full week schedule! For 8 days, students will learn to sing, dance and play classic Lao songs taught by master musicians from Laos. Available traditional instruments include khaen, lannat, kim, kong wong, saw, xing, and that phon. Final day of camp will end with a public performance recital!
We accept students starting at the age of 5 years old. Students will be grouped by age and assigned a teacher to guide them throughout each activity. In addition to practicing together as a group, students will work together on team-building exercises and explore activities in the visual and performing arts. The structure of our programs will give students the chance to develop creative skills for self-expression and problem-solving by thinking outside the box, all while maintaining a high level of interest and fun. We encourage new campers and families to visit together on the first day of camp!
Interested in signing up for LITH x LHF Philly Mini Summer Camp 2019? Here's what's happening:
group and one-on-one sessions with classically trained musicians from Laos
traditional dance choreography
proper Lao phrases and cultural etiquette
cooking class with a local MaeBa using veggies & herbs from our shared garden with VietLead
field trip to Fleisher Art Memorial for a print-making workshop
a visual history lesson on Laos by Legacies of War
breakfast, lunch and snacks included
Classes will take place at LITH’s office space at Bok Building and at Asian Arts Initiative (room location & instructions will be emailed to registered students closer to camp dates). We will also be taking field trips to visit partnering organizations and creatives spaces for creative activities. Please check back for more updates.
Teachers
Xai Xuophom is Musical Director of Lao Heritage Foundation and will be overseeing all musical lesson plans for all camps. He has studied under Kaen master Bounxeung Synanonh and has played all of the instruments that will be available this year.
Sinthavong Sengmounthong is a tenured teacher at the Lao National School of Music and Dance. He is well versed in lannat ake, lannat toom, khaen, koui, kong wong, and saw.
Sengdeuan “Noh” Phengkeo is a professional musician in Luang Prabang where he performs almost daily, and also teaches private music lessons. His specialty is kim, but is also well-versed in lannat ake, lannat toom, kong wong, saw, and that phon. Furthermore, Sengdeuan has extensive knowledge of many of the oldest classical songs that are rarely played these days; he has begun to notate some of them for archival and teaching purposes.
Kelly Phommachanh is a traditional dance teacher from Amarillo, Texas. She started dancing as a baby with her mother, Savan Phommachanh, along with her two aunts whom were all dance students learning from masters in Vientiane, Laos. After settling in Texas, Kelly's mother taught traditional Lao dance to youth in the community, and would go on to continue teaching for the next 30 years. Kelly's favorite dances are Ouay Pon Pi Mai, Lao Huam Pao, and Fon Souriya. Kelly hopes to connect and build relationships with not only her students, but also fellow Lao American trailblazers paving the way for Lao visibility and advocacy in their respective communities. She is 21 years old, and currently a graduate student of Adult and Higher Education at the University of Oklahoma.
Here’s a video recap of what we did last year at 2018 Summer Camp:
Registration
Since this is the first year we’re offering a full week of summer camp learning we have multiple options including half-week & registration for adults!
Parents and students interested in full week registration can choose from:
Full Week: 8 days 8:30AM-3:30PM $125
Full Week + After Care: 8 days 8:30AM-3:30PM on Saturday & Sunday, 8:30AM-5:30PM on Weekdays $175
Half Week: 3-4 Days (must include dates 7/28, 8/3 & 8/4) $75
Adults who want to take advantage of summer camp can sign up for a 3-4 day registration within the July 28-August 4 schedule for $75 and choose from the following options:
3 Days: Sun/Sat/Sun
3 Days: Fri/Sat/Sun
4 Days: Sun/Fri/Sat/Sun
Sponsor a Student!
It’s back! After last year’s request from kind individuals who wanted to help out with summer camp but not physically available to attend, we opened up student sponsorships. These registrations help a student in financial need who might otherwise miss out on fun camp learning. If you’re feeling generous, why not sponsor a student (or 2 or 3 even!) and make dreams come true this summer. Families who are interested in registering students in the sponsored slots, please email info@laosinthehouse.com for availability.
Bok Building
1901 S. 9th Street Philadelphia, PA 19148
Asian Arts Initiative
1219 Vine Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107