Sydfyn Embrace is an "encuentro," and an encuentro is a series of milongas, typically held over a weekend, where dancers from across Europe and, to some extent, the world gather to dance tango. Unlike an Argentine tradition, where the focus is primarily on the social aspect and then the dancing, encuentros represent a more European culture developed over the past 20 years. Here, dancers mainly come together to dance and then socialize.

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Characteristics of encuentros include:

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• Dancing is done in close embrace to classical tango music.

• Dancers adhere to the rules of social dancing (rules for social dancing).

• Dancers are free to dance musically without being restricted by set figures (about dancing tango).

• Organizers select participants from those who register.

• There are never shows or live orchestras at an encuentro.

• Non-tango music, nuevo tango, or new recordings of tango are never played.

 

Registration

Registration for encuentros typically begins on a specific date from where you can register. However, registering does not guarantee participation. Instead, it signifies a desire to be considered when the organizers select participants. After registering, it may take several weeks to receive confirmation about whether you are accepted, or placed on the waiting list.

 

Learning to dance at an encuentro

Transitioning from a traditional, figure-based style of tango to dancing at an encuentro can take time. Dancing in close embrace, musically, and on a crowded floor while staying attuned to your partner requires practice. Additionally, it’s not enough to know that there are social rules on a milonga; these rules must become a natural part of your behavior on the dance floor.

 

How we select participants for Sydfyn Embrace

For Sydfyn Embrace, here’s a general overview of our selection process:

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• If we haven’t seen you at a milonga or danced with you, we do our best to assess how well you follow the rules of social dancing. We may check your Facebook profile for mutual friends who can provide insight about you.

• We strive for a balanced gender ratio. The idea of "dual-role" dancers, from a social dance perspective, only works if dual-role dancers lead when there are many followers sitting out. We have yet to see this work effectively at milongas, so for now, we aim for as balanced a gender ratio as possible.

• Registering as a couple makes you more attractive to us due to our goal of gender balance. However, we evaluate both the leader and follower regarding their ability to handle social dancing.

• For this event, which is an encuentro, it is important to us that you are proficient in close embrace.

• When organizing this encuentro, we look for participants who embody the qualities of social dancers. This especially means dancing with others besides your partner and with those you don’t already know. We appreciate dancers who invite others who may be sitting out and strive to ensure participants meet a certain level of skill.