About Us

Get to Know Us

Get to Know Us

Get to Know Us

The World Is Our Stage
(and Sometimes, Our Classroom).

The World Is Our Stage (and Sometimes,
Our Classroom).

Since 1987, the troupe has performed at countless cultural and diplomatic events across Ontario, Quebec, the USA, Italy, Trinidad & Tobago, Jamaica, Indonesia, India, Myanmar, and Korea, sharing the grace and rhythm of Thailand with audiences everywhere.

Under the direction of Kai Whitcomb, Thai Dance Ottawa has reached milestones that speak to both artistry and honour — including a private audience with Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand. Kai is a proud graduate of the Faculty of Arts, Chulalongkorn University, the same alma mater as the Princess herself. They share a devotion to the preservation and growth of Thai culture through the arts.

Thai classical dance is admired for its graceful precision and richly detailed costumes. Folk dances, on the other hand, reflect the warmth of Thai life — each region of Thailand tells its own story through distinct rhythms and styles: the central, northern, northeastern, and southern traditions.

Beyond the stage, TDO is committed to passing on this heritage. The troupe regularly offers free classes and workshops for both members and the public, continuing its mission to make Thai performing arts accessible and joyful in Canada.

Thai classical dance is admired for its graceful precision and richly detailed costumes. Folk dances, on the other hand, reflect the warmth of Thai life — each region of Thailand tells its own story through distinct rhythms and styles: the central, northern, northeastern, and southern traditions.

Beyond the stage, TDO is committed to passing on this heritage. The troupe regularly offers free classes and workshops for both members and the public, continuing its mission to make Thai performing arts accessible and joyful in Canada.

Our Cultural Foundation: Council for Thai Culture of Canada (CTCC).

Our Cultural Foundation: Council for Thai Culture of Canada (CTCC).

The Council for Thai Culture of Canada (CTCC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting Thai culture across Canada. Through arts, dance, music, and community engagement, CTCC connects generations of Thai-Canadians and builds cultural understanding within the broader Canadian society.

CTCC serves as the cultural foundation behind Thai Dance Ottawa (TDO), providing guidance, support, and collaboration in showcasing authentic Thai performing arts on Canadian stages.

CTCC and TDO work hand in hand to nurture young talent, organize cultural festivals, and represent Thailand’s vibrant traditions with pride and professionalism. Together, they have become key partners in bridging Thai heritage with Canada’s multicultural identity, making each performance not only an art form but a celebration of cultural unity.

The Council for Thai Culture of Canada (CTCC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting Thai culture across Canada. Through arts, dance, music, and community engagement, CTCC connects generations of Thai-Canadians and builds cultural understanding within the broader Canadian society.

CTCC serves as the cultural foundation behind Thai Dance Ottawa (TDO), providing guidance, support, and collaboration in showcasing authentic Thai performing arts on Canadian stages.

CTCC and TDO work hand in hand to nurture young talent, organize cultural festivals, and represent Thailand’s vibrant traditions with pride and professionalism. Together, they have become key partners in bridging Thai heritage with Canada’s multicultural identity, making each performance not only an art form but a celebration of cultural unity.

From Sea to Sea: The Whitcomb Family Band.

From Sea to Sea:
The Whitcomb Family Band.

Music has always been at the heart of the Whitcomb family. Ed and Kai Whitcomb met in 1985 in Bangkok, where Ed was playing Celtic fiddle tunes in a British pub. Within a month, he was teaching Kai how to chord on the piano — the beginning of a lifelong musical partnership.

Together with their daughters Denise and Diana, the family has been performing for audiences since the girls were old enough to sing. Over the years, they’ve played everywhere from Yugoslavia to Jakarta, Delhi, and Ottawa, sharing the joy of music wherever life has taken them. Their band, From Sea to Sea (C2C), celebrates the spirit of Canadian folk and Celtic music. Their repertoire spans sing-alongs, jigs, and reels from across Canada, as well as timeless tunes from the Forties through the Sixties. Each performance is both entertaining and educational, with Ed often introducing the stories and rhythms behind each song. For the Whitcombs, music is a part of their everyday life.