Chummeng Soun began to dance at age 11 with the Angkor Dance Troupe in Lowell, MA unaware that it would shape their future. A pivotal moment came when Neakru Phen Yom, a Khmer Rouge survivor, passed on foundational movement knowledge—knowledge not taught at the School of Fine Arts. This experience profoundly shaped Soun’s practice and connection to Cambodian Classical Dance. Born and raised in Cambodia, Soun navigates the intersection of multiple cultures, languages, and worldviews. As a pioneering Cambodian American dance practitioner, their focus is on creating arts programs for the Cambodian diaspora. Having grown up amidst cycles of fear, poverty, suffering, and generational trauma, Soun is deeply committed to cultural preservation and innovation for social change. As Program Director at Angkor Dance Troupe, Soun works to sustain practices that intertwine Cambodian Classical and Contemporary dance, renewing appreciation for the art form. Soun is the co-founder of Urban Khmer Ballet (UBK), one of Lowell’s most vertical dance troupes. Their work celebrates Reclaiming Imagination, embodies the evolving Cambodian identity and has been featured at music and art festivals and conferences. As a cross-disciplinary creator, Soun draws from interconnected understandings of humanity, history, nature, and folklore. Their holistic approach to developing new work in the performing arts has inspired many creative Khmae Americans to embrace social change.