An Ode to Tao Sundance, Where Hollywood Spent Decades Raging

At Sundance, it’s a story of two festivals. There are the movies and the events. And then there may be Tao.

A pop-up version of the Hollywood-beloved nightclub has been ruling Sundance after darkish for over twenty years. While rich locals relish in drunken nights at ski resorts and cinephiles cram into Main Street’s dive bars, Tao has given coastal trade gamers a spot to name dwelling after countless days selling motion pictures.

Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Paris Hilton, Jon Hamm, Jason Momoa, Ryan Gosling, C-suite brokers from WME and CAA and numerous others have danced on those tables and thrown up palms for performances by the likes of Jennifer Lopez, 50 Cent and Diplo.

Properly opened in 2005, Tao Sundance welcomes armies of stars, brokers, publicists and media each yr. As a non-public event teeming with liquor sponsors, the booze is free and flows by the early morning. Presently held at Park City’s Utah Film Studios, the cavernous house creates a downtown warehouse vibe decked out in après ski accents. The pop-up is microcosm of Sundance itself: At first an under-the-radar jewel box, soon reworked right into a mass business endeavor populated by nice artists and highly effective insiders.

“Our premise was to do something really great for the town, for brands, and something to strengthen relationships with key people that support and frequent our places all year round,” said Noah Tepperberg, co-CEO of Tao Hospitality group, reflecting on a 25-year run that will go away Park City this yr for good as the competition heads to Colorado.

Tepperberg recalled the first ever Tao Sundance, which kicked off with a celebration for the band Good Charlotte’s live performance movie “Fast Future Generation.” Founders Joel and Benji Madden served as opening evening DJs.

“The second night was a party for Diego Luna, Gael Garcia Bernal and Pablo Cruz, who were up-and-coming producers at the time. Our final night was a part for Ryan Gosling’s ‘Half Nelson,’ which was a huge film and huge for us,” he said.

As a younger reporter masking celeb and occasions, Tao was the most important invite to land after I began attending Sundance years in the past. It was and still is a mixture of high and low tradition; a spot the place the Hungarian cinematographer of a warfare documentary may pound tequila while Lil Jon sang his banner hit “Shots!”  

It’s also been the web site of occasional dangerous habits. In 2015, actor Emile Hirsch attacked a feminine govt from Paramount Pictures, an incident that led to expenses of aggravated assault and intoxication. He was later sentenced to 15 days of jail time and community service, and has since mirrored on the second as the worst of his life (outlined by a sample of binge ingesting).

Over the years, Tao grew in dimension and sponsorships from company manufacturers and manufacturing labels. There are a staggering seven companions for this final Park City yr, including Casamigos, Evian, Moet Hennessy, Jack Daniels, Hendricks, Red Bull and Q Mixers.

“We’ve been able to create a nightclub in the mountains of Park City, throwing late night parties in parking garages and film studios that people and brands want to be a part of. But our event has always been about delivering the same level of hospitality our guests are accustomed to any of our venues around the world,” said Gabby Fernando, Tao’s vice preident of particular initiatives. “That approach allowed Tao Park City to grow alongside Sundance and continue to be one of the most sought after events of the festival every year, and years to come.”

On Saturday — or “the last dance,” as organizers have been calling it — snug-jeans-wearing pop star Benson Boone set off the occasion with a backflip and a performance of his track “Beautiful Things.” Patrick Schwarzenegger and Maude Apatow cheered him on, as solid members of “The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” and “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” circulated. Even revelers chugging cocktails and Whispering Angel rosé obtained sentimental as a whole bunch streamed out round 3:30 a.m.

But the dance will go on. Tepperberg said he and his team will jet to Colorado next week to scout potential venues for Tao Boulder.

“It’ll be a different experience because Boulder’s a college town with different energy and a different culture,” said Tepperberg. “But somehow, every year, we get the biggest names and our year-round guests to show up.”

See you there.