Teaching / Performances / Demonstrations
Karen offers workshops, group and private lessons. 2005-2015 she taught, dj’d & hosted a weekly event. Karen often works alone, and has had the great pleasure to work with a variety of highly skilled partners. Currently partnered with Tate Di Chiazza, a native of Buenos Aires. US tour details soon!
Karen’s teaching style can be described as relaxed and fun, technique based, with comfort, clarity, connection and communication taking a high priority, with the music creating the platform within which we dance. Understanding Argentine Tango as a language, Karen works to help dancers build a strong foundation at entry level, to prepare to build upon with further education. We learn the “alphabet”, then words, then sentences, etc…. focusing on the natural flow of the energy from lead to follow, relative position and timing for any given movement, subtly communicating through each step. Her perception of the dance is that the base is “one step”, moving from a very quiet place, where “less is more”, seeing “how littles does it take?” With both roles being active; leader “invites” and follower “answers”, we create the dialog of this dance ….all with a healthy dose of playfulness!
Once the mechanics of a given movement are grasped, the focus will come back to “how” we move; refining and clarifying the quality of the connection and communication. In the end this is a social dance, and we want to experience a good feeling with our partner, no matter what movement we are creating together.
With this philosophy , comes the understanding that there really are no mistakes, only awareness, and adaptation in every moment. Even the best dancers cannot possibly anticipate exactly what the partner may actually “say”.
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Sept- Nov 2023 Tour with Tate Di Chiazza, teaching, performing, DJ
May -July 2023– Tour with Tate Di Chiazza, teaching, performing, DJ
Feb 2023 Workshops and DJ in Charlotte, NC, Teaching at Westie Fest
Jan 2023 Workshops and DJ in Charlotte, NC
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Dec 2022 Workshops and DJ in Charlotte, NC
Nov 2022 Workshops and DJ in Charlotte, NC
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March 2020 – June 2021 COVID break
Jan -Mar 2020 US Tour with Tate Di Chiazza
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Aug- Dec 2019 US tour with Tate Di Chiazza- multiple cities
April 2019 Fundamentals for Arg Tango Asheville
March 2019 Deep Followers Technique – Asheville
Feb 2019 Valentines Weekend- Cincinnati, OH
Jan 2019 Workshops at Asheville School
Jan 2019 DJ and presentation at Queen City tango Marathon- Charlotte NC
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Jan 2018-Aug 2018 Teaching/Performing on 25 city US TOUR
with Tate Di Chiazza
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Oct 2017 Workshop & performance at LEAF Tate
August 2017 – Aug 2018 US tour teaching and performing with Tate Di Chiazza
April 2017 Pivot and Dynamic Turns- Asheville
April 2017 Teaching/performing w/Tomas Howlin Asheville, Knoxville
March 2017 Birmingham AL workshop weekend
March 2017 Path to Tango and Close Embrace Workshop, Asheville
March 2017 Isa’s Bistro- downtown Asheville, Argentine Night
Feb- May 2017 Converse College Spartanburg, SC Lawson academy of the Arts Intro course
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Aug 2016 On Your Path to Tango- Asheville, NC
July 2016 DJ and History presentation Columbia Marathon, SC
July 2016 Path to Tango- Asheville, NC
July 2016 w/Daniel Arredondo at Isis Los Obrojitos performance
June 2016 w/ Rick Harris at Isis Los Obrojitos performance
April 2016 w/ Tomas Howlin, workshops and performances-Asheville, NC Knoxville, TN
Feb 2016 Diana Wortham Theatre- Asheville, NC “3 David’s” performance with Harby Gonzalez
Feb 2016 Lecture/presentation at Warren Wilson College
Feb 2016 Christiansburg VA Weekend of workshops and VA tech workshop, Knoxville, TN KATS workshop weekend and UT workshop
Jan 2016 Los Obrojitos performance w/ Julian Ingram
Dec 2015 Djing Charlotte Candlelight Alternative Milonga
Sept 2015 with Tomas Howlin, Durham, workshops and performance; Christiansburg VA workshop weekend
Aug 2015 Knoxville workshops
June 2015 with Marcelo Gutierrez AVL and Knoxville, workshops and performance
April 2015 Lecture at Warren Wilson College
April 2015 Knoxville, TN- Tango concepts, 2 systems of walk, ochos workshops
Feb 2015 Knoxville, TN- Path to Tango and Next Step workshops, DJ
Dec 2014 Asheville, NC- Vals Intensive
Nov 2014 Columbia, SC Regional- DJ, Navigation class and performance to live music A. Zigler orq w Daniel Arredondo. DJ Milonga Maleva- CLT, NC. Weekend of teaching in Christiansburg, VA.
April 2014 Follower’s technique, Asheville, NC; Sacadas and musicality workshops w/ Harby Gonzalas, and DJ, Columbia, SC,
March 2014 Workshop with Tomas Howlin- Asheville, NC
Jan 2014 Follower’ technique- Asheville, NC
Nov 2013 Teaching, performing and Djing at Columbia, SC Regional tango Weekend
Aug 2013 Teaching and performing with Tomas Howlin- Durham ,NC
June 2013 “Summer Soiree Contra Weekend” INTRO – Asheville
Apr 2013 Argentine Wine Tasting- Whole Foods w Michael Jaffe- Asheville
Apr 2013 Workshops-Columbia SC
Feb 2013 Perform w Michael Jaffe- RMCS “SHINE” Fundraiser- Asheville
Feb 2013 Path to Tango and INT classes with Harby Gonzalez- Asheville
Feb 2013 Boleos Intensive- Asheville
December 2012 DJ at Candlelight Milonga- Charlotte, NC
October 2012 Performance (reversed roles) for Western NC Aids Project
August 2012 Teaching with Tomas Howlin in Asheville and Charlotte, NC; performing with the Asheville Tango Orchestra with Tomas.
May 2012 Teaching and performing with Jay Abling- Asheville
April 2012 Change of Directions Intensive- Asheville
Feb 2012 Assisting in classes w/ Tomas Howlin – Durham , NC
Feb 2012 Teaching and performing with Brigitta Winkler- Asheville
Jan 2012 Performing with the North Carolina Symphony, dancing with Daniel Arredondo- Raleigh/Chapel Hill, NC
Jan 2012 Ochos Intensive- Asheville
Dec 2011 DJ for Charlotte Candlelight Weekend
Sept 2011 Sacadas Intensive -downtown Asheville
Aug 2011 Musicality Intensive- downtown Asheville
Aug 2011 Workshops in Charleston , SC, performing with Michael Jaffe
May 2011 Regional Tango Weekend- Asheville, NC teaching and performing w/ Daniel Arredondo- Fundamentals track
Feb 2011 Follower’s technique workshop- Asheville, NC, Charlotte, NC
Jan 2011 Teaching and performing with Tomas Howlin- Asheville,
Dec 2010 DJ for Charlotte Candlelight Weekend- featuring Pablo and Flavia Fontana
Sept 2010 Teach and perform w/ Daniel Arredondo- Charlotte , NC
July 2010 Teaching and performing with Robin Thomas (NYC)- in Asheville, NC
May 2010 Regional Tango Weekend- Asheville, NC teaching and performing w/ Daniel Arredondo- Fundamentals track
April 2010 Teaching and performing with Daniel Arredondo – Blango Nuevo Weekend – Charlotte
Jan 2010 Assisting and Performing with Tomas Howlin – Asheville
Dec 2009 More to Milonga Workshop, Performance at Salseros 828 event w/ Daniel – Asheville
Oct 2009 Intro Weekend w/ Daniel Arredondo- Asheville
Sept- Dec 2009 UNCA classes
Sept 2009 demo with Homer Ladas, Labor Day event- Asheville
Aug 2009- Special-Followers technique class- Asheville
July 2009 Taught 1 week Intro course- SUUSI, Radford , VA
June 2009 Assisted and performed with Daniel Trenner – Asheville
May 2009 Assisted and performed with Tomas Howlin- 5th Regional Tango Weekend Asheville
April 2009 Performed with Harby Gonzalez- Piano , Passion and the World of Tango- Bishopville, SC
April 2009 “Milonga “ Workshop with Daniel Arredondo- Asheville
April 2009 Supervised Tango Asheville Practica
March 2009 “Followers Technique” Workshop- solo in Asheville
March 2009 “Close Embrace” Workshops with Daniel Arredondo- Asheville
Feb 2009 Performed with Harby Gonzalez- “El Dia Del Amor”- Asheville
Feb 2009 “A Few Seductive Moves” class w/ Harby Gonzalez
Jan 2009 Performed with Joe Leonardo – FILO
Jan 2009 Asheville-“ Navigating Close Embrace” and “Ocho Cortado” with Joe Leonardo ( Portland)
Jan 2009 “Jumpstart Intro Weekend”- with Daniel Arredondo- Asheville
Dec 2008 Performed with Daniel Arredondo- Tango Asheville Holiday Milonga
Dec 2008 Classes with Daniel – “Free leg”, “Deepening Connection”
Nov 2008 Performed with Olivier Poudou- FILO and Salseros828
Oct 2008 River Sculpture- Performed with Michael Jaffe – Asheville
Oct 2008 Fiesta Latina- Performed with Daniel Arredondo -Asheville“Increasing Sensativ
Oct 2008 -Sept 2008– Beyond Beginner series- Asheville
August 2008 Charleston, SC – Classes and DJ’d at Mistral, demo with Michael Jaffe
July 2008 Radford , VA- “Intro to Argentine Tango” at SUUSI
July 2008 “Milonga Intensive Seminar” in Asheville with Daniel Arredondo- demo at Filo
May 2008 “Regional Tango Weekend” in Asheville- Demo with Michael Jaffe, Daniel Arredondo
April 2008 Durham, NC- DJ’d for Luis Bianchi and Daniela Pucci Weekend
March 2008 Greenville, SC- Classes with Harby Gonzalez
March 2008 Washington DC Tango Marathon- Taught Beginner Intensive Weekend with Josh- Demo with Instructors
Dec 2007 Tango Asheville Holiday Milonga at FILO- Demo w/ Michael Jaffe
Dec 2007 Charlotte Candlelight Milonga- Taught class w/ Harby Gonzalez, demo w/ Tito Restucha (Raliegh)- tango, and w/ Daniel Arredondo (milonga)
Nov 2007 Demo with 3 Amigos in Asheville,NC
Nov 2007 Bravo Series- Pre-concert lecture on history, music and regional Tango activities, demo with Michael Jaffe- for “Tango Buenos Aires”
Oct 2007 Teaching and Demo at Atlanta Regional Tango Exchange w/Daniel Arredondo
Oct 2007 Fiesta Latina- Asheville- Demo w/ Daniel Arredondo
Oct 2007 “Caravanserai”-Asheville- Performance w/Daniel Arredondo
Sept 2007 “Caravanserai” Sculpture and Dance- Asheville- performance w/Harby Gonzalez
Sept 2007 Demo with Homer Ladas at the Joli Rouge, Asheville- “Labor Day Weekend”
May 2007 “Piccolo Spoleto Festival”- Charleston, SC- Demo w/ Daniel Arredondo
and the “3 Amigos”
May 2007 “Regional Tango Weekend” in Asheville- Performance with Tony Lucido (Atlanta)- vals
Taught classes for weekend.
February 2007 “Tango by the Lake” Columbia, SC. “An Evening in Buenos Aires” show. Live music w/ “Tango to Tango” Osvaldo Barrios & Ruben Stefano, performance with Michael Jaffe and cast. Taught classes for the weekend with regional instructors .
December 2006 Tango Asheville Holiday Milonga- performance w/Harby Gonzalaz, Ronda & Manuel Patino (Tango Rio, Atlanta)
December 2006 Charlotte Candlelight Milonga- “An Evening in Argentina” at Masquerade Ball, Columbia ,SC w/ live music by “Tango to Tango”Osvaldo Barrios & Ruben Stefano, performance w/ Michael Jaffe and cast. Taught classes for the weekend with regional instructors .
November 2006 “Caravanesai 2”- Where sculpture meets dance for an afternoon-performance w/ Daniel Arredondo
October 2006 “An Evening in Argentina” at Masquerade Ball, Columbia ,SC w/ live music by “Tango to Tango”Osvaldo Barrios & Ruben Stefano, performance w/ Michael Jaffe, and cast.
Sept 2006 Columbia, SC. Milonga- demo and class w/ Daniel Arredondo.
Sept 2006 Hosted Homer Ladas (San Fransisco) and Anne Sophie Ville (Wash DC) for an Intermediate and advanced Tango weekend in Asheville
Sept 2006 “Caravanesai”- Where sculpture meets dance for an afternoon- performance w/ Michael Jaffe, Daniel Arredondo
July 2006 “Fred’s Speakeasy” performance w/ Daniel Arredondo , also featuring Agralolla and The South French Broads
May 2006 “Lake Eden Arts Festival”-Black Mtn, NC- Teaching and Demos w/ Daniel Arredondo
May 2006 Mount Pisgah Academy Jr/Sr Banquet performance, performance -w/Michael Jaffe
May 2006 Co hosted with Tangophilia (Durham), Regional Tango Weekend in Asheville. Taught classes solo and with regional instructors. Demo with Michael Jaffe.
March 2006 “El Alma Desnuda” Asheville, NC- performance w/ Michael Jaffe and : Matacaballo con Miriam Allen; August Hoerr; Miguel Flamini, Natasha; Kima Moore; Juan Luis Merced; Scott Gornick, Marcela Ashburn
February 2006 “Tango by the Lake” Show, Columbia, SC- Performance with Michael Jaffe, also featuring Harby Gonzalaz/ Emily Tobias, Daniel Arredondo/Alexandra. Taught classes for the weekend with regional instructors.
December 2005 Charlotte “Candlelight” Milonga- Demo with Michael Jaffe
November 2005 Rainbow Mountain Benefit- performance with Michael Jaffe
November 2005 Asheville Arts Center- performance with Jon Berbaum, featuring Craig Einhorn, Harby Gonzalez and Brandy Rosier.
August 2005 Co hosted with Tangophilia (Durham), Regional Tango Weekend in Asheville. Taught classes with Jon Berbaum and with regional instructors. Demo with Jon Berbaum.
July 2005 Cabaret at SUUSI- Blacksburg, VA- performance with Michael Jaffe.
May 2005 Co hosted with Tangophilia (Durham), Regional Tango Weekend in Asheville. Taught classes with Jon Berbaum and with regional instructors. Demo with Jon Berbaum.
April 2005 “The Red Night Cabaret”- Asheville, NC- performance with Jon Berbaum, accompanied by Mirium Allen, August Hoerr
Nov 2004 Fourth Regional Milonga- Parizade Café- Durham, NC- demo with Jon Berbaum, featuring Edwardo Tami y Mariano Castro
October 2004 “Lake Eden Arts Festival”- demo with Jon Berbaum, also featuring Maria G. of salseros 828
Sept 2004 Tangophilia- Durham- demo with Jon Berbaum
August 2004 “Old Farmers Ball”-demo with Jon Berbaum
August 2004 Third Regional Milonga – Durham, demo with Ernest Williams – Milonga
July 2004 Orange Peel Asheville- demo with Jon Berbaum, featuring “Eta Carina”
June 2004 Second Regional Milonga- Durham, NC- Talullas Rest- demo with Jon – also featuring Jak Karako
May 2004 Montas Salsa Club- demo with Jon Berbaum, also featuring Fabian Salas and Carolina Del Rivero
April 2004 Tangophilia- Durham , NC – demo with Jon Berbaum, Jason Laughlin/ Gulden
2003- Various group and private classes w/ Jon Berbaum
as well as others….