𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥: 𝐓𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐨 𝐙𝐞𝐧 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩 𝐢𝐧 𝐊𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐥, 𝐆𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐲
𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐤
𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟎𝟓 - 𝟎𝟔, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒
What is Tango Zen ?
Tango Zen is a unique approach to tango developed by Chan Park, inspired by a transformative experience from over 25 years ago in his hometown of Washington, DC.
While observing couples dancing in close embrace on a bustling dance floor, Chan noticed their expressions were akin to those of people deep in meditation—calm, relaxed, and fully focused. This moment of insight led to the creation of Tango Zen.
From 2008 to 2012, he spent four years immersing himself in the tango culture. His goal was to align his concept with traditional tango, which transcends elaborate steps and focuses on the essence of the dance: the embrace, music, rhythm, and the connection between partners on the dance floor. Through his time in Buenos Aires, Chan rediscovered the Zen philosophy within traditional tango. This philosophy emphasizes awareness of every movement, a deep connection with your partner, and being fully present with the music, rather than simply focusing on performing elaborate steps or figures.
Chan Park’s journey included communication with notable tango figures such as Ricardo Vidort, Alicia Pons, Jorge Firpo, Ruben Terbalca, Myriam Pincen, Susana Miller, Pedro Sanchez, Nestor La Vitola, Rodolfo Diperna, and Roberto Serraga, among others.
He has conducted the Tango Zen Workshop in 24 countries across Europe, the USA, and Asia. Now, he is proudly offering the workshop regularly in Buenos Aires, the very heart of tango dance.
I invite Chan Park, because in his workshops I made important experiences of deep connection with my partner, of being in the moment rather than just performing steps, especially as a leader.
Chan’s method captures die essence of Tango, as you can feel in the close embrace (heart to heart), on a crowded dancefloor and in the ronda. This way to dance tango was developed in the mid-20th century in Buenos Aires and was introduced to Europe in the 1990s, as ‚TangoMilonguero‘. (Cacho Dante, Susana Miller, Rubén Terbalca, Ricardo Vidort, Tete Rusconi & Silvia). A way to dance tango which is rooted on decades of dance and music experience, which omits what one doesn’t need, to focus on the essence of 'sentimiento' or feeling.
In Tango Zen, awareness of your partner and each step is paramount. Chan integrates exercises from Tai Chi, Qi Gong, and Zen practices to help workshop participants uncover and experience this profound awareness. Chan Park’s concept helps preserve the knowledge and experience of this deep and meaningful way of dancing.
Tango Zen is not:
The Tango Zen workshop is a tango-oriented event and does not serve as an introduction to Zen meditation. However, Zen philosophy is integrated into every exercise, and its principles are meant to be experienced and explored through the practice during the workshop.
Susanne Helalat, https://www.tango-querido.de
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