This award-winning company began life in 1975 as the Bông Sen Song and Dance Company following the merger of the Southern Song and Dance Company (Đoàn Ca múa Miền Nam) and the Liberation Song and Dance Company (Đoàn Múa hát Giải phóng), both of which had played an important role in the war effort against the United States. It was upgraded to become Bông Sen (Lotus) Song and Dance Theatre in 2001. Since its inception Bông Sen has become one of Hồ Chí Minh City’s leading song and dance troupes, performing widely throughout the country and also touring overseas on several occasions. The 100-member troupe incorporates several People’s Artists (Nghệ sĩ Nhân dân, NSND) and Excellent Artists (Nghệ sĩ Ưu tú, NSƯT) and has received numerous national and international awards for its work, including most recently third prize in the International Traditional Dance Festival held in Malaysia. In 1996 the company established a small teenage dance troupe known as Little Stars (Những người Sao nhỏ) which has since performed every weekend at theatres throughout Hồ Chí Minh City. The company includes in its repertoire performance styles of numerous southern-region ethnic minority groups, including the Chăm, the Khmer and the Hoa (Chinese).