Tango encuentro events, honoring traditional tango etiquette and floor-craft, were first held in the US in San Diego in 2009, followed by various events mainly in the Southwest. It was around this time that Nat Natalia and John Gair started holding an annual "PT Tango Invitational" event. Like encuentros, the format offered no classes, no teachers, and no vendors. The emphasis was on a good line-of-dance, but without dictating dance style. The focus was simply to enjoy dancing, free from hierarchy or commercialism, with pricing set to break even.
In 2014, prompted by various encuentro aficionados, the first PT Encuentro was organized under the leadership of Ernie Baird. Since then, various organizers have taken the lead in celebrating close embrace tango in this charming location. Taking account of the two-year hiatus in 2020-21, it turns out that 2025 is our tenth anniversary celebration!
Ernie Baird is a skilled craftsman and historian who has played a key role participating in, and chronicling, the evolution of Port Townsend's marine trades. Shortly after his first visit in 1977, Ernie made Port Townsend his home, and has witnessed the town's transformation from a quiet mill town to a thriving center for wooden boatbuilding, highlighted by the establishment of institutions like the Port Townsend Boatworks and the Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding.
For Ernie it is collaborative spirit and dedication that have shaped Port Townsend's maritime legacy. Embracing these values enhances his reputation as a good friend, a storyteller, and an advocate for this unique community. He extends these qualities to our dance community, a blessing for all.
Vivian is quite acclimated to a life of change. Five years ago she was running a successful kinesiology business in Seattle while carrying her son, one-year old Stefan, around on her hip. The pandemic took them to Portland where the two of them ran a quiet coffee shop. Port Townsend, however, had always been on her mind, and after two years in Portland, she packed up her son and her dog, she heeded the call. The Port Townsend area, with its cool climate, suited her perfectly. She quickly found a place in the community and has thrived ever since.
When not sewing, processing wool, splitting fire wood, milking goats, making yogurt, baking bread, and raising Stefan, she is passionate about nurturing the love of tango in our community. She's happy DJ'ing, running Port Townsend's monthly Milonguita, and occasionally, dancing!
Leighton was initially drawn to tango out of curiosity and for the challenge—and has been captivated ever since. Born and raised in the Seattle area, with its quiet sense of independence, mild climate, and natural beauty, it's not an easy place to want to leave.
Discovering social dance as a warm and lively way to spend time has been a joy. The social dance floor has been a place of learning and growth in many ways. Leighton recalls attending his first major dance event, a swing dance nearly 30 years ago, where a more experienced companion turned to him and said, "It's not just about learning all the moves; it's about learning social grace." This insight resonates with Leighton's commitment to community—supporting shared values both on and off the dance floor. Safety, trust, mutual respect, listening, and play are qualities he hopes to embody in all shared dance experiences.
Nat moved to Port Townsend about 45 years ago looking for an alternative to life in the aerospace industry of Silicon Valley. He made friends with the boat builders and many other craftsmen that were seeking a new life in this little port town.
His view of dancing was, "Well, I may be shallow but I'm not THAT shallow!" He found out how wrong he was when he attended a swing dance lesson with his daughter. Tango entered his life about two years later and, as they say, the rest is history. The last 25 years have included many trips to Buenos Aires, training extensively with his mentor Eduardo Saucedo, hosting festivals and teaching with his wife Ruthie.
Where are we going, I asked? "Port Townsend, Washington" replied Claude and Hazel. Where is that?, "Somewhere outside of Seattle on the Olympic Peninsula," stated my Vancouver, BC friends.
In 2009, I attended Port Townsend's first tango festival hosted by Nat Natali and John Gair. It was there that I met my future husband, eventually leaving Canada to settle in this unique and very beautiful Victorian seaside town. Nat and I have enjoyed a wonderful life here together, studying, practicing, teaching, and organizing all things tango.
Life is full of so many incredible openings. For the past 18 years, tango has shaped my life in the most profound way, introducing me to my fabulous life partner and exploring the world through its lens.