Prof. Dr. Julia Kaesmayr
LOOKING BACK AND MOVING FORWARD: FROM “I” TO “US”
In this bridging keynote, Julia explores the evolution from last year’s focus on individual healing through tango to this year’s emphasis on community thriving and social change, examining how personal transformation ultimately contributes to collective wellbeing. Her presentation weaves together insights from the 2024 conference themes—physical health, mental wellbeing, personal development, and holistic approaches—to demonstrate how these individual-focused elements create the foundation for addressing the 2025 themes of community sustainability, belonging, and social evolution. Through this journey from “I” to “Us,” participants will gain a deeper understanding of how nurturing individual wellbeing ultimately strengthens the fabric of tango communities, creating spaces where both people and the art form can thrive together.

Dr. Stefan Knauß
WHO ARE WE AND WHAT DO WE NEED FROM OUR TANGO COMMUNITY?
In this interactive session, we will brainstorm together about the motivational aspects of tango, belonging, bonding, relationships and our needs as individuals in both our local and the worldwide tango community. The outcome of this session will serve as input for further discussions. This will also be an opportunity for all participants to share their views and experiences.

Prof. Dr. Sarah de Mul
WHEN ART MEETS ACTION
Translating Historical Tango Narratives into Practical Community Safety
In her Key Note Sarah will address what, and if so how, art and culture could help us to understand and cultivate community safety in tango. What historical narratives of tango have we inherited from the past and how have these been historically interwoven with various gendered and racialised forms of (un)safety? How could we perform, re-assemble or re-imagine these narratives to create or anticipate new modes of existence, dance and safety for the future?

Sharna Fabiano
ENERGETICS OF COMMUNITY BUILDING
Imagine that your work can feel as nourishing for you as it is for your community. This experiential workshop will show you three embodied practices that shift how your body holds energy, so instead of burning out, you feel supported by your work with others. You’ll leave with tools to organize classes and events with more ease and joy.

BREAKOUT ROOM
Need a break, an introverted moment, a short rest? You can use the big dance hall to retreat and recharge or engage in networking.

MEET & GREET OTHER PARTICIPANTS!
To close the first day of the conference, we will mingle and get to know each other, and maybe make plans to go for dinner as a group or groups.

Oliver Euchner
DISCOVER THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF THE 5 RHYTHMS DANCE, GROUNDED IN DEEP CONNECTION WITH YOUR EMBODIED SELF
The 5 Rhythms dance practice connects body, heart & mind. It evokes authentic expression from within. Often playful, often deeply moving, like tango, its power and joy are in embodied relations to one’s self, to music and to fellow dancers. In Oliver’s 5 Rhythms workshops, intentional somatic experiencing is the gateway to liberating & magical dance journeys within a community of passionate dancers. Together let’s inspire and empower our embodied selves to dance the joy & beauty that being alive really is.

Dr. Stefan Knauß
WHAT ARE COMMUNITIES?
What are communities? How do they develop, exist and disappear and what does this mean for tango? As a political scientist and philosopher, Stefan looks at the general characteristics and dynamics of communities and examines together with you whether and how they manifest themselves in tango. Of particular interest is how tango scenes are changing in the face of societal changes and what inertia and innovation potential tango communities offer for social transformation.

Eric Jørissen
CREATING A TANGO COMMUNITY: THE ORIGIN STORY
In this keynote, Eric Jørissen shares the story behind the creation of El Corte in Nijmegen, one of Europe’s most iconic and enduring tango communities. He will reflect on its beginnings, evolution, and the key practices that helped it thrive. Drawing from over two decades of experience, Eric will offer insights into the challenges and rewards of nurturing a vibrant local scene with a strong international presence.

Darko Dožić
BUILDING COMMUNITIES (PART I)
Vertical and horizontal dynamics in community formation
In skill-based communities, such as tango, a healthy dynamic between vertical and horizontal dimensions is essential. The vertical dimension reflects the natural striving for mastery, status, and excellence within the craft. However, when emphasized alone, it can erode the sense of belonging, turning community life into pure competition. In this talk, we will explore how balancing vertical growth with horizontal connection – where individuals bond beyond skill levels – creates vibrant, resilient communities that nurture both personal development and collective spirit.

Darko Dožić
BUILDING COMMUNITIES TOGETHER (PART II)
Vertical and Horizontal Approaches in Action
Following the lecture, this workshop will offer practical ways to design and strengthen communities by integrating vertical aspirations and horizontal bonds. Through interactive exercises, we will discover how to create environments where skill advancement coexists with inclusivity, and where both experienced and less experienced members can grow and connect meaningfully.

Moderated by Veronica Toumanova
Dr. Sabine Zubarik, Isabella Bayer, Ellie Mutchler
BUILDING AND GROWING LOCAL TANGO COMMUNITIES

Without the local organisers, our multi-layered and rich world of tango would collapse. They run local milongas, classes and practicas that give us the chance to meet, dance and grow, as well as attract new people. They are responsible for the daily, weekly, monthly routine of making tango happen for all of us in our respective home cities. But many tango communities struggle to keep afloat. In this session we will discuss the advantages of associations, how they can help communities to thrive, grow and attract new dancers. Tango associations and schools will share their experiences, challenges and best practices.

BREAKOUT ROOM

Need a break, an introverted moment, a short rest? You can use the big dance hall to retreat and recharge or engage in networking.

Dr. Daniel Kaesmayr
THE ONLINE HOME OF THE GLOBAL TANGO COMMUNITY
Are We Ready for a Cooperative Tangoverse?
The tango community’s online evolution mirrors the broader internet’s transformation, from specialized mailing lists of the 1990s to Facebook’s dominant position after 2007. While Facebook initially democratized tango information sharing and community building, its declining utility since 2020 has created an urgent need for alternatives. This presentation examines the past, present, and potential futures of tango’s digital infrastructure, exploring cooperative models, decentralized platforms, and community ownership approaches that could foster a more sustainable and inclusive online tango ecosystem.

CLOSING DAY II DISCUSSION, APERO & MINGLE
We use this time to reflect on the things we’ve learned and discussed during the second day of the conference. This is furthermore an opportunity to talk to our speakers, to network and to connect with other participants.

Prof. Dr. Thomas Alkemeyer
COMMUNITY THROUGH PRACTICE
On the embodiment of a social imaginary and its social limits
Communities are not given—they must be actively brought about through sensory-physical practice. In historically variable forms of practice such as work, play, sport, dance, ritual, or protest, a social imaginary is embodied that allows belonging to be experienced. Communities that see themselves as transformative live and perform alternative values, ways of life, and visions, e.g., of interpersonal relationship or corporeality. In this way, they seek to initiate a transformation in social structures and subjective world- and self-relations. The question is whether such an embodiment of a social imaginary can be achieved without social distinction and exclusion.

Daniele Donzello
ATTRACTING AND KEEPING YOUNG PEOPLE IN TANGO
In this session Daniele will talk about his experience building the Partyka, a non-profit tango community for under 35 years of age in Warsaw (Poland) offers free or donation-based beginner classes, by social gatherings and regular practicas. Over the past three years, Partyka has grown organically to around 80 weekly participants and introduced nearly 1,000 young people to Argentine tango in inclusive, non‑judgmental spaces. Daniele will share their grassroots approach, from choosing accessible venues and offering free-first lessons to fostering community ownership, to show how anyone can launch and sustain a vibrant young tango scene from zero.

Astrid Weiske, Veronica Toumanova, Dr. Maria Milbert
TANGO COMMUNITIES & SOCIAL CHANGE
Making tango a safe and welcoming space for everyone
In this panel discussion we will welcome speakers with experience in creating change in tango communities by engaging in social activism, such as Queer Tango and feminism, with the goal to make the worldwide tango community a more inclusive and progressive space. Astrid will talk about her 20+ years of experience of building a queer and open role tango community in Berlin and worldwide. Veronica will talk about her engagement with La Connexion Féministe, an activist group in Paris combatting sexism in tango in Paris and France. Maria will speak about a long-running feminist tango initiative that supported people affected by gender-based violence, seminars on topics like bias in tango, leading for followers and the process of drafting a Code of Conduct for the Nou Community.

Thomas Rieser
INCLUSIVITY & DISABILITY IN TANGO
Tango can be a source of a feeling of great happiness and enjoyment of life that is equally accessible to people with and without disabilities. Inclusive tango classes and events often show an immediate social connection. Classes for people with disabilities are very often light-hearted, fun and carried by an honest, strong and warm atmosphere of kindness. What can we learn from such formats?

Moderated by Dr. Stefan Knauß
Melina Sedó (Germany), Ioana Lascu (Romania), Zrinko Maloseja (Croatia)
FESTIVALS, MARATHONS, ENCUENTROS
Experiences and best practices for optimal tango event organization
In this online session we will reunite several seasoned event organizers that run some of the most longstanding and successful tango events in Europe, ranging from festivals to encuentros to marathons and tango holidays. They will discuss their challenges, past experiences and the best practices when it comes to various event formats.

BREAKOUT ROOM
Need a break, an introverted moment, a short rest? You can use the big dance hall to retreat and recharge or engage in networking.

Rubem Joy

THE IMPORTANCE OF TOUCH
What are the positive effects of touch and why should we engage in activities involving touch?

Moderated by Veronica Toumanova & Thomas Rieser
THRIVING TANGO COMMUNITIES OF THE FUTURE
In our closing session we will focus on what we have learned about tango community building in the three days of the conference and what it means for us in the future in our roles as teachers, organizers, performers, activists and social dancers.