Encuentros.. Please explain. thx

itwillhappen said:
You're mixing up the roles of organizer and instructor. You can simply approach teachers and ask if they'd be interested in giving a workshop for you and your friends. The details can then be freely negotiated.
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Oh, that sort of thing. Yes, I can see the utility of something like that. But it's not exactly exclusive since other small groups of friends could also organize such a workshop.
 
ArbeeNYC said:
Private workshops? Tell us more. I'm curious as to why an instructor would keep them private. And are they different than simple private sessions one pays for with an instructor (alone or with a partner)? It would seem counterproductive for an instructor not to publicize such a workshop.
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mainly to keep the level of skill consistent so they can actually teach the topic they want. It's for couples but if you don't have a partner they'll try to match you with someone if they think it's a good fit.
 
ArbeeNYC said:
Oh, that sort of thing. Yes, I can see the utility of something like that. But it's not exactly exclusive since other small groups of friends could also organize such a workshop.
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From this perspective, everyone is free to organize their own encuentro.

In practice, however, it's quite a lot of work to put together such a group of six couples and keep it together over a longer period. Sometimes a couple splits up, sometimes someone is out for an extended period due to injury, sometimes a partner wants to switch to double-role, and so on. Furthermore, there might be differing opinions about suitable teachers, content, and scheduling.

And let's not kid ourselves, a group is defined by its internal cohesion. Also at a milonga, I can't simply ignore group members.
 
itwillhappen said:
From this perspective, everyone is free to organize their own encuentro.

In practice, however, it's quite a lot of work to put together such a group of six couples and keep it together over a longer period. Sometimes a couple splits up, sometimes someone is out for an extended period due to injury, sometimes a partner wants to switch to double-role, and so on. Furthermore, there might be differing opinions about suitable teachers, content, and scheduling.

And let's not kid ourselves, a group is defined by its internal cohesion. Also at a milonga, I can't simply ignore group members.
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I was thinking more along the lines of a one-time workshop with four to six people.
 
ArbeeNYC said:
I was thinking more along the lines of a one-time workshop with four to six people.
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Yeah that’s what i’m talking about, some teachers here host private workshops once a month or so with 5-8 couples, all at least lower advanced level (or potential to be it soon). And my rough guidelines for followers for that is: knowing how to use their back, are comfortable with followers sacadas, and I can decently feel the weight of their steps. If they can do those things their other fundamentals are usually pretty good too.
 
itwillhappen said:
From this perspective, everyone is free to organize their own encuentro.

In practice, however, it's quite a lot of work to put together such a group of six couples and keep it together over a longer period. Sometimes a couple splits up, sometimes someone is out for an extended period due to injury, sometimes a partner wants to switch to double-role, and so on. Furthermore, there might be differing opinions about suitable teachers, content, and scheduling.

And let's not kid ourselves, a group is defined by its internal cohesion. Also at a milonga, I can't simply ignore group members.
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I agree except the number :). You think 6 couples (or 12 people) small enough. I might think 10 or 15 couples (or 20 to 30) dancers make small enough private event.

Also restricting it only to “couples” can be your preference. But it could be 20 or 30 dancers without being couples among them. What I mean is couplehood is your preference but doesn’t have to be for forming a group that has similar internal cohesion and common preferences.
 
Bailango said:
I agree except the number :). You think 6 couples (or 12 people) small enough. I might think 10 or 15 couples (or 20 to 30) dancers make small enough private event.

Also restricting it only to “couples” can be your preference. But it could be 20 or 30 dancers without being couples among them. What I mean is couplehood is your preference but doesn’t have to be for forming a group that has similar internal cohesion and common preferences.
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So let me break down the numbers.

We have six couples in the private workshop group, which seems us to be a good number for a two- to three-hour workshop. Half of them are also couples in real life, the others were chosen because they enjoy dancing together, which definitely has its advantages. Of course, partners are rotated, but everyone knows where to go when it's time to return to their "original" partner. And if one partner can't make it, the other can choose a suitable replacement.

At our private milonga, we invited 30 people, including, for simplicity's sake, the entire workshop group. Together with food and conversation, that's a great way to spend a pleasant evening together.

And for various reasons, like at encuentros, all of this wouldn't really be realistic with a public event.
 
itwillhappen said:
Events for very young dancers must be strictly protected, otherwise "wannabe somehow young" dancers will inevitably take over. Similarly, an encuentro with very experienced dancers must be protected from those who are (in the eyes of the organizers) not, but would like to dance with such.
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I think there are enough young dancers whose age is 20+ less than average than their local community that this sort of event fills a useful social niche.
 
Basically, entry to encuentros are no different from inviting and get declined at a tanda. If the organiser isn't interested, then it just doesn't work out. You can take it personally, but you don't have to.

I've received two rejections for next year. Both encuentros are full; in one, new participants are given priority, and in the other, I have to admit that I don't get along well with the organizer. But it doesn't really matter to me, tit for tat, I certainly won't be trying there again next time.
 
itwillhappen said:
and in the other, I have to admit that I don't get along well with the organizer. But it doesn't really matter to me, tit for tat, I certainly won't be trying there again next time.
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This encuentro got canceled with an emotional post when registrations fell far short of expectations now. Encuentros need selection, they are defined by it; and organizers of encuentros are far better off being reserved and discreet.

I recently attended a hotel-based encuentro, where - even due to the cost structure - senior couples are the target audience. My partner pointed out that there were no PYTs (and no YTs) there, absolutely none. Do senior couples want PYTs as competition at such an event? Probably not, at least not the women(*)! Why should the organizers wife allow them, at least as long as she can (and must) make a selection?

(*) I see encuentros mainly as events where women share their husbands for a weekend.
 
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