Tai Dang’s dance-theater performance debuts in Financial District

NEW YORK—The Elevated Acre, a park hovering 30 feet above the East River, will play host to TANGLE on September 14 and 15. The original dance-theater work, conceived and directed by Tai Dang, was planned specifically for the elevated getaway hidden behind the skyscrapers of 55 Water Street, in the heart of the Financial District. The free performances depict the daily commute, overheard restaurant conversations and the ghostly passage of time with a mélange of live music, dance, poetry, and theater.

A native of Vietnam, Dang was inspired by the immigrant history at the tip of the island, as well as downtown’s density. “There are so many social and psychological barriers that exist in an urban environment teeming with people. People constantly interact when navigating the city or even retreating to a green space. Under what conditions does this unavoidable proximity allow contact between strangers, poetically or literally?” Through loose narratives and dramatic sound and light design, TANGLE evokes a dreamlike vision of reality with suspense and beauty. Dang, based in New York since 1988, favors site-specific productions for the challenge it presents, the more active experience for the audience, and the attention it draws to little-known urban spaces.

Defying easy categorization, his prior multimedia performances have transformed unusual venues such as a Lower East Side synagogue (Angel Orensanz Foundation) and Columbus Park in Chinatown (sponsored by Dancing in the Streets), for which a neglected, fenced off historic pavilion became the evening’s centerpiece. The three-night performance of "Have Red Ever Green" drew over 900 people. Ten years later, the NYC Parks & Recreation Department has restored the pavilion for performances this summer.

A lunchtime dance series and film festival are just some of the events that took place at The Elevated Acre this summer. The park was redesigned by Roger Marvel Architects and Ken Smith Landscape Architecture, who won a competition sponsored by the Municipal Art Society of New York. Some of the elements of surprise they’ve brought to the urban jungle: a garden of native plants, a river-view boardwalk, a 50-foot LED glass beacon, and an artificial “lawn” bordered by a modern amphitheater.

TANGLE is made possible through the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, with the generous support of The September 11th Fund. Speaking about TANGLE, Tom Healy, President of Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, said, “Tai Dang has developed a piece that is not only artistically compelling, but also interacts with the rich history of Lower Manhattan.”

TANGLE, a Tai Dang dance-theater performance.
September 14 and 15, 2006 at 8pm. FREE.
The Elevated Acre at 55 Water St., between Coenties and Old Slip
R,W to Whitehall; 2,3 to Wall St.; 4,5 to Bowling Green or Wall St.; JMZ to Broad St. Buses M9 and M15 stop directly across from 55 Water St.
Inquiries and images, contact: Christina Knight, Production Manager. knight.ck@gmail.com. 718/622-9313. Cell. 212/991-8200. Website www.taidang.com