Tango Pulse is thrilled to present Workshops with Chan Park on Tango Zen March 11th and 12th Friday and Saturday. Free overnight accommodations are available.
Asked what Zen is, one Zen master replied, "Zen is chopping woods and carrying water." Learning from this Zen master, my interpretation of Tango is "hugging one's partner, walking together, and listening to music". Simple enough. As we all know however, it is not so easy as it sounds to do these simple things to appreciate Tango. The above are words from Chan Park who has just published a book called Tango Zen: Walking Dance Meditation. He has given workshops in France, Buenos Aires, the Netherlands, San Francisco, Singapore and Korea. Whether you dance Argentine Tango or meditate regularly, this workshop is perfect for those who are tired of learning steps and combinations and, instead, want to learn more about how to dance with another person.. How to have balance, relaxation, and connection. Friday March 11th 8 - 9pm Introduction to Tango Zen 9pm - 2am Milonga 7 Hills Inn Plunkett St Lenox, Ma Saturday March 12th 1 - 4pm 7 Hills Inn Plunkett St Lenox, Ma Class 1: Body Moves, Mind Flows Introduce to the basic concept of Zen meditation, breathing and posture, and exercises for establishing mindfulness, and connection with one's partner and music. Class 2: Tango Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind A focus on the convergence of mind and body by practicing simple moves with mindfulness, gradually increasing the complexity to full tango movements. The Tango Zen Workshop will expose the participants to a number of exercises that may lead them to mindfulness, a state of full awareness of oneself, ones partner, and surroundings. The exercises, adapted from other martial arts, meditation techniques, and sports, involve not only physical discipline but also ones whole attention. As a result, through the exercises repeated over time, tango dancers may acquire and/or increase sensitivity of balance, connection, centering, groundedness, weight shifting, all of which are known to be critical for tango dancing. Focus will be placed on centering, weight-shifting, and walking in close embrace. The workshop will continue on with an approach to converge mind and body by practicing well-known tango movements with mindfulness, eventually adding complexity to the tango movements. "Thank you Chan and Eugenia for a relaxing and enlightening workshop. I left feeling limp as a wet noodle and very content. A most interesting experience--the people who were there for the meditation--who did not know tango--they were so focused on the connection--I found dancing with them to be far more pleasant than dancing with partners who know a lot of moves but seem to forget that they are holding another person. They seemed to enjoy the process of experimenting--rather than get caught up in the perfection of a move-a far more delightful way to learn." Chris, Baltimore, MD "I enjoyed the workshop very much. I think that it is great to approach or reapproach tango with a zen perspective. For true beginners, it gives them a solid foundation and direction and for those with some experience, relearning or learning in a different way is a wonderful experience. --Iris, Washington, DC" Friday night workshop is $15 9 - 2am $10 Milonga Saturday Individuals - $20 per workshop - $35 for the day Couples - $35 per workshop - $60 for the day Call Jackie Wong at 413 281 0722 to register or email her at [email protected] Free lodgings are available with local tangueros/ras. www.tangopulse.net
