Lowell – Lowell Community Charter Public School will host a FREE screening of the documentary Monkey Dance, a film by Julie Malozzi, which follows three Cambodian American teenagers growing up in Lowell, Massachusetts.

A panel discussion with the subjects of the film — Linda, Sochenda, and Samnang — will take place immediately after the screening to discuss the film and to talk about how their lives have changed since the film’s 2004 release.

Monkey Dance tells the coming-of-age stories of three Lowell teenagers, Linda, Samnang, and Sochenda, members of the Angkor Dance troupe and the children of Cambodian refugees who resettled in Lowell, Massachusetts.

The film shows how studying traditional Cambodian dance with the Angkor Dance Troupe connected them to their parents’ culture while modern distractions — fast cars, consumer trends, and social pressures — pulled them in different directions.

Through the Angkor Dance Troupe, Linda, Samnang, and Sochenda discovered cultural grounding and a means of self‑expression that helped them navigate adolescence and pursue the hopes their parents brought to America.

Lowell Community Charter Public School provides a diverse, student‑centered education that values cultural heritage and community engagement. The screening of Monkey Dance aligns with the school’s commitment to celebrate students’ stories and foster dialogue around identity, resilience, and the immigrant experience.

Event details:

Date: May 12, 2026
Time: 6:30 p.m. (panel discussion to follow screening)
Location: The Luna Theatre at Lowell Community Charter Public School, 250 Jackson Street, Lowell
Admission: FREE but must register using QR code and check-in at the door