March 27-29, 2026 at the Clubhouse in Salt Lake City
Our Event
Pioneer Encuentro is a private, invitation-only, dance-role balanced event for experienced dancers of close-embrace Argentine tango. Dancers agree to observe traditional etiquette and attempt to recreate the social dance experience they imagine existed in milongas frequented by the milongueros of Buenos Aires during the Golden Age of tango. These customs include separate seating for leaders and followers, use of the mirada and cabeceo, and careful dance navigation. The Encuentro features classical music that involves cortinas (musical breaks between dance sets) and tandas typically of three or four similar songs from Golden Age tango orchestras.
Our Mission
To host an Encuentro Milonguero: to bring like-minded dancers of close-embrace Argentine tango and superb DJs together for a unique and memorable experience in a historical and intimate social setting.
Our Values
Friendliness, Respect, Tradition, Connection, and Harmony
Friendliness
Pioneer Encuentro participants aim to be friendly, notice and welcome previous participants, and extend a warm embrace to dancers new to the event; essentially, to not overlook or take anybody for granted.
Respect
Pioneer Encuentro participants are respectful, particularly of their partners and fellow dancers, as well as service personnel and others they come across during the event.
Tradition
Pioneer Encuentro participants value the codigos and observe traditional practices and codes of behavior that make the Encuentro experience smooth, safe, and enjoyable for all participants.
Connection
Pioneer Encuentro participants value connection with their partners and fellow dancers both on and off the dance floor. They are sensitive to nuance in connection and value the quality of partner connection as more important than dance elements, figures, or choreography.
Harmony
Pioneer Encuentro participants value harmony: musically, physically, and energetically. Though they individually improvise, they are aware of their surroundings and aim to dance in harmony with those around them so that the entire room's pace of movement and energy is coordinated.
Our Team
Pioneer Encuentro Steering Committee for 2026
Bill Raymond
Claudia Goulston
Lorraine Christensen
Mark Christensen
Sage Agbonkhese
Acknowledgment
We acknowledge and thank Jonathan Yamauchi and Olivia Levitt for co-hosting the first Pioneer Encuentro Milonguero, August 10-12, 2018. We also wish to thank all the volunteers who have assisted with Pioneer Encuentro in any capacity since that time.
Our Images
Many of the photos displayed on our site were taken by Adrienne Yvr, Andrey Yaroshchuk, Matt Doval, Claudia Goulston, John Krauss, Kuro Kurosaka and Steven Smith and other tango photographers who are dancers themselves. The fleeting moments they capture reflect their love for tango, respect for their subjects, and photographic skill. They have generously shared the results of their work, documented events, and preserved memories for many. We recognize and appreciate their contribution. (Pioneer Encuentro dancer images are found under Past Events.)
Adrienne Yvr
She enjoys traveling to expand her tango family. With her camera she tries to capture the connection that happens at a milonga - the joy, intensity and communal spirit that makes dancers glow from within. Vancouver, BC
Andrey Yaroshchuk
Andrey has been dancing in the lovely SLC tango community for years and now applies his love of tango to photography as well. SLC, UT
Matt Doval
Photography is a way to capture fleeting moments of beauty that often pass without notice. Whether it is in my favorite form, portraits, or in one of my favorite environments, the milonga, I love catching authentic expression of presence. Spokane, WA
Claudia Goulston
I love to catch the space and intimacy between dancers. When they are relaxed and socializing, you can see their joy. SLC, UT
John Kraus
I celebrate connection. Whether on a shoot as a photographer or on the floor as a tango dancer, I relish the moments when warmth, technique and heart come together to find that spark.
SF,CA
T. Kuro Kurosaka
Kuro discovered tango by accident in early 2000s and has kept dancing. He started taking pictures at US encuentros after he got his first Sony DSL camera. His focus is to capture the state of joy and calmness. SF bay area, CA
Sara Melzer
Sara has been dancing tango since 2014 and recently took up photography when in Corona Captivity and couldn’t dance! She teaches Mindful Awareness – and applies it to tango and photography. LA, CA
Steven Smith
Steve started taking tango photos around 2023 and he's been refining his concept to providing flattering memories to milongueros. His focus is on showing the inner emotion, and connection between the dancers. Seattle, WA