Venue

Built in 1958 as Gangneung’s first church, this historic structure now serves as Small Theater Dan, a vibrant venue for music, theater, and performance. Acquired and remodeled by the city in the 2010s, the building still holds its original cornerstone, preserving its value as a piece of modern cultural heritage. Today, it serves the local community with a variety of art events, while preserving its historical significance.|

The theater features a compact stage with up to 100 seats. For the Gangneung International Art Festival 2025 (GIAF25), the theater was temporarily transformed with a new stage structure designed to bring performers and audience closer together. The redesigned structure allowed experimental works and popular appeal to naturally intersect throughout the festival. During the restoration process, a new dance floor was installed and donated to the theater by the foundation.

At GIAF25, choreographer Yanghee Lee occupied Small Theater Dan with a new performance format that wove together dance, video, and workshops. Her practice expanded the stage into a comprehensive artistic experience—one that invited active engagement from the audience and fostered reciprocal relationship between the participants. Through dance as its medium, Lee’s work redefined the boundaries of performance art, opening up new ways for people and space to interact with one another.
 
Yanghee Lee