From one of the pioneers of Turkish dance history, Maestro Çetin Cengiz, the founder of Tangoneon Dance Studio, and his wife Deniz Cengiz, along with Gürhan Çınar, brought together the art, artists, tango, and dance enthusiasts at the New Year’s Dance and Celebrations Event organized by the Tango Neon team on December 30, 2023.

During the event, the general flow of the milonga featured tango song selections in tandas by TDJ Cem Çınar. The honored guest for the event between 4-9 pm was the composer, lyricist, performer, and master musician Attila Atasoy. Known in Turkey for his second place in the 1975 Eurovision Turkey qualifiers with the song “Dilenci” and winning the Promising Singer award from HEY magazine in the same year, Atasoy continued to be recognized with songs like “Haberler / Kurtulamazsın” (1975), “Sitem” (1976), and “Bir Gün Beni Ararsan” (1977). Atasoy gained prominence in 1978 with the albums “Bir Gün Beni Ararsan” and “Avare,” maintaining his distinctive vocal style.

The event at Göztepe Soyak Sports Hall highlighted the significant value of Turkish tango music with a tribute to Necdet Koyutürk’s tangos. Dancing tandas accompanied by Atasoy’s interpretation of the composition by Necdet’s son, Erdener Koyutürk, were showcased during the event. In the Latin dance mini workshop, Rumba and Bachata, Erdal Güngör and Pesent Karaoğuz took the stage. Ergun Sözen, assistant director and actor in the classic Turkish film series Hababam Sınıfı, and his partner, former ballerina Bahar Özmert, also presented original choreographies and danced with rose accessories.

The Circassian dance was also part of the event’s cultural diversity. Zeynep Durul interpreted “Ağlatan Kafe,” depicting an impossible love in the Caucasus, while Dilek Tuğrul performed a solo dance in flamenco, both receiving acclaim. In the final segment, Maestro Çetin Cengiz and his dance partner Gizem Kotil took the stage, receiving applause from the audience. Another honorary guest during the event was Seval Uğur Mutlu, known as ‘Carmen,’ a model, presenter, cinema actress, and ballroom dance artist, along with her husband Muzaffer Mutlu. They performed a graceful bolero dance to the accompaniment of Attila Atasoy’s rendition.

Previously, in 2020, before the global pandemic, Çiğdem Yorgancıoğlu, a Contemporary Improvisational and Ethnic Drama Dance Performance Artist, organized and curated the Tango event at the Harbiye Istanbul Congress Center ICC, the largest congress center in Istanbul. In the New Year event, Çetin Cengiz and Gizem Kotil from Tango Neon, along with Bahar Özmert and Ergun Sözen, participated in the Milonga Brotherhood project at Adile Sultan Palace and in a joint project at the ICC Fair event. The New Year Milonga also reunited two old friends, the wanderer and Marmaris enthusiast, Çiğdem Yorgancıoğlu, and the significant figure in Turkish music, Attila Atasoy, who share the common experience of having traveled to over a hundred countries each.

Regarding the event, Çiğdem Yorgancıoğlu, who left a profound message, said, “Coming together and sharing in art, friendships, unity, and multiculturalism is beautiful. Wishing everyone a healthy, beautiful, productive, artistic, and dance-filled year. Thanks to everyone who contributed.”