• Guest House

  • Retreat and Conference Center

  • 318 West Main Street
    Chester, Connecticut 06412
    (860) 322-5770

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  • For a copy of our brochure, click here.

  • Tango as a Door to Presence

  • With Jeanne Hay and Gawain Bantle

  • September 20 – 23, 2012

  • Program Description:

    The origins of tango are mysterious, though its present form is believed to have arisen in the Rio de la Plata area of Uruguay and Argentina in the mid-19th century. It is an intensely sensual, stylized dance that can be experienced, at least in terms of its discipline and its concentration on postures, as fast-paced movement work like tai chi set to hypnotic music.

    This retreat will explore the essence of tango as it manifests in relationship with another and yourself. To dance the improvised, very complex tango, one must be completely present. This need to pay absolute attention to your partner and yourself facilitates the development of presence and awareness and can expose barriers to these qualities. When you are fully present with your partner, it is possible to experience many qualities of your essential nature, including intimacy, openness, flow, love, strength and joy—to name just a few.


    This is what makes tango so exhilarating. In this workshop Jeanne Hay and Gawain Bantle will use inquiry, meditation and, of course, lots of tango to create a field of awareness and presence. No prior dance experience is required and you need not come with a partner.

    About the Teachers:

    Jeanne Hay is a senior teacher of the Ridhwan school, she has been teaching the Diamond Approach since 1986. She is a member of the seminary program, which trains and supervises new teachers. She has taught meditation retreats and leads ongoing Diamond Approach groups throughout Europe and the United States. She lives and runs a private practice in Marin County, California.

    Gawain Bantle has pursued his passion of dancing and inner work for a great portion of his life. Having performed professionally as a ballet dancer in Cologne, Amsterdam and New York City, he has studied and continues to study Argentine Tango with some of the best tango teachers in the world. Besides being deeply involved in tango, Gawain also teaches inner work, and has been a student of Diamond Heart for 14 years.

    Retreat Schedule:

    Thursday, September 20:
    Check-in begins from 3-6 pm, followed by dinner and an evening meeting.

    Friday & Saturday, September 21-22:
    Short talks, periods of meditation and discussion, as well as plenty of dance and experiential exercises. Full breakfast, lunch and dinner served between meetings.

    Sunday, September 23:
    Breakfast and a morning meeting, followed by a farewell lunch.

    Retreat Costs:

    Pricing is all-inclusive, and covers program tuition, accommodations, and all meals during the retreat.

    Single room:
    $850 per person
    Please inquire about availability of single rooms

    Double room:
    $650 per person

    Triple room:
    $600 per person

    Commuter Rate:
    $550 per person

    Payment in full must accompany registration in order to reserve a space in the program.

    Scholarships:

    Some scholarship assistance will be available for this retreat. Click here for more information.

    For more information, and to register:

    o Contact Michael Levien, 860-322-5770, extension 157, or
    Michael@GuestHouseCenter.org.

  • For a copy of our brochure, click here.