10/31/2024
In a few weeks, “Denver Close Encounters" will be sending out invitations to the third Memorial Day Encuentro. We’re calling it the Denver Close Encounter of the Third Time”.
One question we wish to respond to is “What is an Encuentro?”
We’ve all had that experience of a magical transcendent tango dance; a “Zen” experience, that ephemeral dance moment that appears unexpectedly, and then it’s gone.
A Tango Encuentro is a curated tango weekend of social dancing designed to create a weekend of magical and transcendent dances. Within each couple but also across the entire room has a shared energy as if it is one large, multi-person tango creature. The magic is carried over from partner to partner and tanda to tanda.
The short answer: Encuentros are a weekend dedicated to traditional social tango dancing.
Several things differentiate Encuentros from other big tango events, like tango Festivals.
(1) The music is foremost, and the DJs are selected for their deep knowledge of and artistry for playing tango music across the arc of the evening.
(2) We share multiple hours of dancing so you can get into the “zone”.
(3) No interruptions to disrupt the zen flow: no performances, no classes and no show tango.
(4) The shared embrace is more valued than athletic moves. Attendees are invited because they very good at musicality, navigation and close-embrace dancing; many have 20 or 30 years of tango experience.
(5) Traditional tango codes are maintained: Seating, Cabeceo, Floorcraft,
(6) The weekend is sold out so there are no drop-in milongas. Since everyone has a single ticket for the whole event you get to know everyone in the community.
These expectations might seem restrictive to some, but for many long-term tango dancers, Encuentros have developed a fanatical fan base and a shared international community. Many travel to multiple Encuentros per year. The most popular Encuentros across the US and Europe sell-out six months or a year ahead of time.
Here are a couple videos showing the "encuentro style"
49 seconds:
https://youtu.be/KKN78FKYda0
2:24 minutes:
https://youtu.be/-Bjf-hYEknw
Between songs at an Encuentro Style event in Denver, CO
