LADP PERFORMS: CITY OF DANCE | TONGVA PARK, SANTA MONICA
Tongva Park
in Santa Monica
1615 Ocean Ave.
Santa Monica, CA 90401
Sunday, June 7 | 4:00 PM
Free and Open to all. RSVP for event details and updates.
At Tongva Park, City of Dance meets one of Southern California’s most distinctive contemporary landscapes. Designed by James Corner Field Operations, the firm behind New York’s High Line, the park transforms a former parking lot into a sculpted terrain of gardens, overlooks, and winding paths.
City of Dance brings movement into this flowing environment, inviting audiences to experience choreography shaped by ocean light, shifting elevations, and the park’s immersive design.
Information on arrival and parking in Santa Monica.
A Contemporary Landscape for the Coast
Tongva Park opened in 2013 as part of Santa Monica’s effort to create a welcoming public space steps from the Pacific Ocean. The park was named in honor of the Tongva people, the Indigenous stewards of the Los Angeles Basin and Southern Channel Islands.
The six‑acre site is organized into a series of sculpted “rooms,” each with its own character and plant palette. Its purpose: a landscape that reconnects the city to the coast and offers room for gathering, rest, and exploration.
Designed by James Corner Field Operations
The park was created by James Corner Field Operations, internationally known for transforming urban land into places for people. At Tongva Park, the design is defined by:
- Curving pathways and elevated overlooks
- Native and drought‑tolerant plantings
- Shaded seating areas and open lawns
- A landmark fountain that anchors the central plaza
The result is a landscape that feels both intimate and expansive, shaped by the coastal climate and the rhythms of daily life.
A Park Rooted in Indigenous History
The park’s name honors the Tongva, the Indigenous people whose ancestral lands include present‑day Santa Monica. The naming acknowledges a history that predates the city and affirms the importance of Indigenous presence in this place.
This connection to land and history aligns with City of Dance’s commitment to engaging the stories held within the places where performances unfold.
A Coastal Stage for Movement
Tongva Park has become a gathering place for residents and visitors, offering views of the ocean, access to the Santa Monica Pier, and a landscape designed for wandering.
Presented by L.A. Dance Project and Paris Dance Project.
