TAPATO Teacher Training

TAPATO Teacher Training

Three people in black dresses and formal shoes standing close together in a room with a sloped ceiling and a skylight, smiling and looking at each other.

Teaching Argentine Tango for People with Parkinson’s

The TAPATO Teacher Training is a specialized professional program designed for dance teachers and tango dancers who wish to work with people living with Parkinson’s. This training is based on the TAPATO method, developed through years of practical experience, therapeutic knowledge, and neurological research.

The program equips participants with the artistic, therapeutic, and didactic tools needed to safely and effectively teach Argentine tango to people with Parkinson’s and their dance partners.

  • This program is designed for:
    ✧ Tango teachers
    ✧ Dance professionals
    ✧ Experienced tango dancers

    Participants will learn how to apply the TAPATO method and, after completion, will be able to make Argentine tango accessible to a wider group of people with Parkinson’s and their partners.

  • Dance programs for people with Parkinson’s already exist, but Argentine tango has unique characteristics that make it especially effective:
    ✧ Improvisation
    ✧ Rhythm and musical structure
    ✧ Partner connection
    ✧ Balance and coordination challenges

    With the rising number of people diagnosed with Parkinson’s and growing interest among tango teachers to serve this community, there is a strong need for specialized knowledge. Many teachers feel motivated but lack the medical, therapeutic, and pedagogical tools to work safely and responsibly. The TAPATO training fills this gap by offering a unique method that allows teachers to create meaningful, effective, and safe tango programs for people with Parkinson’s and their partners.

  • The TAPATO training is developed and taught by the core partners and founders of Tango para Todos:

    ✧ Kathinka Poismans – Professional musician, certified music therapist (PhD), and tango teacher

    ✧ Marika Meoli – Professional dancer, tango dancer, and certified dance movement therapist

    ✧ Patrick Arellano – Professional tango dancer and teacher, with many years of experience teaching tango to people with Parkinson’s in France

    Together, they have led multiple tango programs for people with Parkinson’s in Roermond and Maastricht and combine artistic, therapeutic, and clinical perspectives.

  • The training consists of 6 days:
    ✧ 5 days on location
    ✧ 1 day online

    Participants will receive a complete introduction to the TAPATO method, enabling them to begin teaching tango to people with Parkinson.

    You will learn:
    ✧ Basic Argentine tango adapted to the motor challenges of people with Parkinson’s
    ✧ What Parkinson’s disease is and how it influences movements, mental states, and social behavior
    ✧ How to structure safe, inclusive tango lessons
    ✧ How to teach with clarity and sensitivity
    ✧ How to create and promote your own Parkinson’s tango group

    Each day includes both experiential learning (dancing the method yourself) and practical application (teaching exercises to each other).

  • There will be a maximum of 12 participants (6 couples) to ensure personal guidance, safety, and depth of learning.

  • On-site in Maastricht:
    ✧ November 13, 14, 15, 2026
    ✧ January 30 & 31, 2027

    Online session:
    ✧ April 3 & 10, 2027

    (Exact location in Maastricht will be announced.)

  • The teacher training is subsidized by Parkinson.nl, and therefore, it can be offered for a reduced price of 170 euros per participant for the full training.