Test Your Knowledge of Tango Codigós

An encuentro refers to an event (usually a weekend retreat) that milongueros gather to enjoy dancing tango based on milonguero style codes of etiquettes and floor navigational concepts.

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More specifically, the seating arrangement at an encuentro separates the leads and follows , usually on opposite side to each other. This is to allow dance invitations to be made using mirada and cabeceo at a comfortable distance. Entrance into the dance floor is also based on cabeceo.  However, this time the lead dancer who wants to enter the dance floor cabeceos the lead dancer on the floor to get permission to enter ahead of him.

Once on the dance floor, the dancers stay in their own line of dance (ronda) and don't zig zag from one ronda to another.  The movements led and followed are usually compact, musical, and safe for the couple and the dancers around them. Giving or asking for instructions at milongas is not usually acceptable.

There are a couple of more features to encuentros: 1) They are usually role-balanced so that everyone will have a good chance of dancing; and 2) the music played at encuentros is classical tango (versus nuevo or alternative) and mostly from the golden age era.

One thing is for sure: If you respect and follow the tango etiquettes, you will be welcomed by other dancers (even if you are new to encuentros) and will have an amazing experience. Otherwise, encuentros can be challenging.

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We encourage you to learn more about tango etiquettes here. Once ready please take a few minutes and take our quiz on tango etiquettes below. We will send you a certificate of completion which will make it easier to enter other encuentros. 

To learn more about tango etiquettes, please click here.