Island Embrace

Island Embrace Tango Marathon – Victoria B.C.

Dates: April 9 – 11, 2027

Let the many tides of West Coast tango converge on “the Island.” Join us for a role-balanced weekend of tango in one of the most charming cities on the West Coast. Whether you are a leader, follower, or switch dancer, and whether you are a seasoned dancer or a beginner, we know there are memorable tandas in store for you.

Featuring five milongas (with snacks), some learning experiences, brunches, pro photographers to capture your embraces, and most importantly, lots of great company.

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Location: da Vinci Centre, 195 Bay Street in Esquimalt.

Travel and Stay in Victoria

2026 DJ Team

Ayano Yoneda

San Francisco

Based in San Francisco, Ayano travels and dances at milongas worldwide, including her annual pilgrimage to Buenos Aires.

She regularly DJs at the local milongas in the San Francisco Bay Area. She has been invited to DJ at many major events in the United States, Asia, and Europe.

One of her many dreams is to remove cultural and language barriers through the Tango Poetry Project (More than 800 tango lyric translations, videos introducing its creators, and stories behind tango, all free and available at www.tangopoetryproject.com). Her interactive lectures and DJing with lyrics & translation projections have opened many tanguero’s eyes to the world of tango poetry.

Yelizaveta Nersesova

Los Angeles

I’m a tango teacher, DJ, and content creator based in Los Angeles. I host The Tango Banter podcast.

I’ve been DJing since 2015, and my strategy is built around contrast and curation. I alternate between Guardia Vieja, Milonguero, and Salon-style orchestras so that dancers experience a full range of textures, moods, and phrasing.

Think of it like a well-balanced menu: I aim to serve something satisfying for every musical palate. Whether you crave the deep nostalgia of Canaro, the pulse of D’Arienzo, or the lyrical elegance of Caló, I want each tanda to spark a new appetite—and keep you dancing.

You’ll find me DJing across Southern California and the Pacific Northwest.
Connect with me on Instagram: @imso_tango

Saeed Zadeh

Seattle

Based in Seattle, Saeed has been a tango DJ for over 10 years, DJing at local milongas in the Pacific Northwest and tango events. Saeed’s passion for tango DJing is first and foremost due to its inherent potential for artfully animating and embodying the Golden Age tango tunes through the dancers on the dance floor.

Derrick Del Pilar

Portland

Derrick took his first tango steps in Buenos Aires in 2006 and started DJing in 2008. Taking cues from the dance floor, he plays classic tangos, milongas, and valses with rhythm, romance, energy, playfulness, drama—whatever the dancers seem to be craving in the moment. He has DJed at milongas, marathons, and festivals across the U.S., such as: Century Ballroom in Seattle, Portland Valentango, Portland TangoFest, Portland Tango Marathon, Tree City Tango in Boise, San Francisco Tango Marathon, Nora’s Tango Week, All-Night Milonga in Berkeley, Oxygen Tango in Los Angeles, San Diego Tango Festival, Tucson Tango Festival, Phoenix Encuentro Milonguero, Albuquerque Tango Festival, Buscándote Marathon in Houston, Chicago Mini Tango Festival, and Gallo Ciego & Bailemos in Astoria in New York City. He is currently based in Portland, Oregon, where he regularly DJs at Tango Berretín and other local milongas.
Derrick also holds an M.A. in Latin American Studies from the University of California, Berkeley, with a focus on the history and literature of Argentina in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. You can read his English translation of tango lyrics at poesiadegotan.com.

Dan Boccia

Alaska

The music is what first drew Dan to tango in 2000, and he still loves the music deeply. His DJ journey began well before tango: spinning vinyl in the late 80s, continuing to DJ for various social dances through the 90s, and then seamlessly transitioning to DJing tango events throughout North America since 2001. He enjoys studying the crowd to inform his on-the-spot song selection, with artful transitions between tandas that take the dancers on a dynamic journey with the music. Dan also enjoys mentoring new and upcoming DJs, challenging them to learn the underlying fundamentals and skills of the craft.

2026 Classes

Chacarera Workshop

Jorge Olguin | Vancouver

Date & time: April 10th, Friday, 7 PM – 8 PM

Learn to dance chacarera! A milonguero from Buenos Aires, Jorge Olguin is a tango dancer, master choreographer, teacher, and judge for competitive tango. For over 30 years, Jorge has been a dedicated ambassador of tango, teaching salon, stage, and folklore styles internationally. 

Tango Poetry Project Presentation

Ayano Yoneda | San Fransisco

Date & Time: April 11th, Saturday, 12 PM – 1 PM

A presentation on the “Poets we dance to”. Get to know the main poets through the characteristics of their main works and their personal lives. Find out more at: tangopoetryproject.com

Body Connection — Morning Recovery Session

Lya Elcagu | Buenos Aires

Date & Time: April 12th, Saturday, 12 PM – 1 PM

This class is designed to help marathon dancers recover after long hours on the dance floor.

We focus on stretching, mobility, breathwork, and simple somatic tools to reduce stiffness and improve comfort for the day ahead. 

Participants will leave feeling restored, more upright, and ready to move with ease—without fatigue or strain. Ideal for rebalancing the body for another wonderful day full of Tango. Come in comfortable clothing!

2026 Photographer Team

Louis Parks

Chicago

Louis has been dancing tango and shooting portraiture since 2009, and his work reflects a deep understanding of the nuances of both artistic media. He has a keen eye for both the drama and tenderness that characterize tango embrace, movement, and artistry. With his wife Jennifer (also a tanguera) providing editorial support, they form an uncommon team, able to visually tell the story of a tango event as experienced through the hearts of dancers.

FAQs

When does registration open?

Registration will open in the fall. Be sure to subscribe to our newsletter for updates

Do I need to sign up with a partner?

Island Embrace is a role-balanced event. You can register as a couple or a solo participant. Solo registrations will be placed on a waitlist until someone of the opposite role (or another switch dancer) registers.

What are the rates?

TBA when registration opens

I live in Victoria and want to host an out of town dancer

This is a great way to make new dance friends! If you have extra space to host an out of town dancer (or multiple!) please fill out this form.

Do you need volunteers?

We do need volunteers! Registration for 2027 has not yet opened.

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Island Embrace Tango Marathon

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