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Historical Society of Long Beach

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Dancer in Kamput Refugee Camp


Young woman dressed in Cambodian dance attire, poses on a stage in front of a blue screen.
In the refugee camps, obtaining the materials necessary for creating traditional dance costumes was challenging. However, Cambodians managed to resourcefully piece together what they needed to revive their cultural traditions within the camps. In this photo, Jennifer Diep proudly poses in the dress for the Robam Tep Monorom Dance or Happiness Dance of the Gods/Goddesses. This dance is considered one of the most beautiful in the classical repertoire. The picture was taken at Kamput Refugee Camp between January and February 1981, just before the family’s departure for the Philippine processing center, their final stop before resettlement.

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