Megan Lowe Dances: Tangram

An evening of dynamic partnering featuring Megan Lowe and Brenton Cheng that uses physical puzzles to explore relationship, geometry, and their shared Chinese heritage.

Thurs-Sun, Dec 9-12, Various Times

Megan Lowe Dances presents “Tangram”, an evening of dynamic partnering featuring Megan Lowe and Brenton Cheng that uses physical puzzles to explore relationship, geometry, and their shared Chinese heritage. Propelled by momentum, Brenton and Megan lift and are lifted by each other in ever-changing roles of mover and moved, pushing the boundaries of what is possible. “Tangram” performances have grown from the seeds of “Finger Trap” and “Maw Jaw” and continue the mission of deepening roots to heritage, deconstructing familiar tropes, and offering the fruits of those efforts back as thought-provoking dance performance.

To start off the evening, MLD will be sharing our film “Maw Jaw” created in partnership with Asian Pacific Islander Cultural Center, which was presented as part of the 24th annual United States of Asian America Festival in free outdoor events at Portsmouth Square and Kapwa Gardens, May/June, 2021. “Maw Jaw” rehearsals occurred outside in public spaces—activating benches, railings, poles, stairs, and play structures around San Francisco Chinatown—inviting passersby to witness and be a part of the creative process, enhancing cross-generational community engagement, and inspiring interest in dance as a tool to engage with the environment/people around us.

In a time with particularly strong anti-Chinese sentiment due to the COVID-19 pandemic, making work that contributes to the visibility of Chinese American artists feels especially urgent.

Megan Lowe Dances is fiscally sponsored by Dancers’ Group, and the “Tangram” project is honored to be supported by Kenneth Rainin Foundation NEW Program, Dancers’ Group’s CA$H Dance, FACT/SF Co-Production Grant, and generous individual donors.