How Argentine Tango Can Help You Become More Intuitive
Life is full of decisions. One may not realize it but,
decision-making is such an inherent and integral part of daily life that an individual can make as many as 35,000 decisions each day.
According to a post from UNC-TV:
“Researchers at Cornell University estimate we make 226.7 decisions each day on food alone. And as your level of responsibility increases, so does the multitude of choices you have to make. It’s estimated that the average adult makes about 35,000 remotely conscious decisions each day. Each decision, of course, carries certain consequences […] that are both good and bad.”
There are certainly many factors that can influence a person’s decision-making process, but ultimately, it all boils down to logic and reason. Analytical thinking serves as the foundation for a person’s attempt to make sound choices, which they hope would result in a positive outcome. In many cases, the bigger the decision, the slower it may take for a person to consider all their options. This is understandable since big decisions, which may have life-changing consequences, can have a long list of risk factors to take into account.
However,
one often overlooked but important aspect of decision-making is intuition.
Some people may simply define this as a “gut feeling” or an inner voice telling them to do something or choose another option. The Association for Psychological Science defines intuition as
“the idea that individuals can make successful decisions without deliberate analytical thought.”
In exercising one’s intuition, one may feel that this gut feeling or inner voice is beyond logic and reason since it is often inexplicable. To arrive at a particular conclusion using intuition might not even make sense for those who perceive themselves as analytical thinkers since intuition isn’t easily quantifiable.
However, intuition does not mean that one isn’t using logic to approach a problem or situation. In fact, according to Scientific American, intuition is not irrational. For this, the publication sought the insight of Kamila Malewska of the Poznán University of Economics and Business in Poland:
“Malewska thinks that intuition is neither irrational nor the opposite of logic. Rather it is a quicker and more automatic process that plumbs the many deep resources of experience and knowledge that people have gathered over the course of their lives. Intuition, she believes, is an ability that can be trained and can play a constructive role in decision-making.”
In making sound decisions, one can then say that intuition is equally important as applying logic to find the best approach to a situation.
The problem is that not all people have developed their intuitive skills, or they might not be confident enough in their gut feeling to follow it.
Although there are various ways to develop one’s intuitive skills, one unconventional yet effective method is by learning the Argentine tango.
How Argentine Tango Can Nurture Intuition
Believe it or not, dancing Argentine tango is an activity that requires quick yet also accurate decision-making. As a dance,
Argentine tango promotes an environment where an individual’s physical, emotional, psychological, and even spiritual awareness are stimulated all at once.
With every step and beat of the music, a tango dancer considers all these factors while also taking into account the decisions of their dance partner.
Since intuitive skills can be developed, learning Argentine tango can help nurture an individual’s intuition. Whether one is a leader or a follower — or even an instructor — here are some ways that Argentine tango can help anyone amplify their intuitive skills:
1. Become More in Tune With Your Body
The foundations of Argentine tango are largely based on improvisation.
This essentially means that skilled tango dancers do not typically follow a series of steps or orchestrated movements. One can see this demonstrated in milongas. The steps they choose to perform on the dance floor are spontaneous, relying mostly on their dance experience and emotion in the moment.
Aside from improvisation,
Argentine tango also requires dancers to have good balance, proper posture, and spatial awareness.
The last factor is particularly important since most milongas happen in small spaces where there are also other dance couples. Muscle control also plays a significant role in keeping a dancer’s movements more fluid.
With all these factors that need to be considered, tango dancers tend to depend more on their intuition than the slower, more considerate process applied in logical decision-making. Constant practice allows them to develop not only muscle memory, but also intuitive skills they can use in relation to their movements and physical awareness.
In fact, what tango dancers may describe as “feeling the moment” is more likely an exercise in intuition than anything else.
Thus, by learning the Argentine tango,
one may also experience the same physical awareness and control as they become more in tune with their body and those around them.
Even instructors may benefit from the way Argentine tango helps a person become more intuitive. According to a post from Tango Mentor:
“I understood that there are two groups of students. The first one are those who are inclined to first understand with their minds. They need to first understand the concept and then transfer what they learned to their body. They learn with their intellect.
The other group is more inclined to learn with their intuition. They need to see and feel, and then they get it even without understanding how they do it.”
To make lessons more fruitful, especially for beginners, tango instructors can have a more intuition-based approach in their classes. Of course, this also helps the instructors themselves develop their intuitive abilities so that they can impart such lessons to their students.
2. Comprehend Wordless Communication
Further to Argentine tango being a dance largely based on improvisation, tango dancers typically communicate without speaking. Since neither leader nor follower knows what next step to take, the dance’s spontaneity encourages them to deliver messages through more subtle means. Some of these methods can include a very gentle push or pull, dissociation, a light tap with the foot to capture the rhythm, and many more. In doing so, tango dancers become more mindful not only of their actions but the reactions of their partners.
Although their interactions do not involve words, what happens between them is a silent yet continuous dialogue exchanged through intuition.
Even without conscious thought, humans are able to read body language and interpret expressions. However, it’s inevitable that not everyone may value or practice this skill for fear of making the wrong conclusions. On the dance floor, though, this ability can be nurtured in a more creative and effective way when coupled with intuitive decision-making. Here, the saying “actions speak louder than words” takes on an almost literal meaning since body language is at the forefront of this unspoken exchange between tango dancers.
In fact, according to a post from the World Economic Forum, communication cannot do without intuition:
“Intuition goes hand in hand with communication. Being mindful from the outset, setting good foundations, and practicing prepares you to make decisions and act intuitively. Mastering the basics gives you the tools to improvise.”
“In times of uncertainty, having a good foundation is essential. Emergency room doctors, firefighters, airline pilots, and other professionals practice for thousands of hours so that they can rely on instinct to carry out basic actions in a crisis.”
“While lives may not be at stake on the dance floor, the same principles apply: learning the basics so that they are second nature makes it easier not just to avoid collisions but also to do more advanced steps and execute the embellishments — the kicks, twists, and other flourishes that make the tango so memorable.”
Thus, by learning tango, one can gain more confidence in understanding how a situation may pan out or how another person might feel despite not receiving verbal instructions or answers.
One may also become more adept at interpreting body language and using one’s instincts to deal with more challenging situations or more complex issues.
3. Have a Deeper Perception of Others
Part of successful decision-making is being able to understand how others may be affected by one’s actions or choices. Similarly, another person’s actions may influence their decision-making process as well. In a milonga setting, this can be exemplified not only on the dance floor but even before a tanda begins.
Whether one is aware or not, intuition actually plays a significant role in partner selection.
Although tango dancers may observe how others perform during a tanda, a person’s dance skills aren’t the only elements to be considered.
Here is an example of a situation that one may find all too familiar:
“You observe a tanda first, searching for a potential dance partner. You spot one who looks enjoyable to dance with. They seem to have the skills and look like they’re having a good time. From what you can see, everything about them seems to check out. However, an inner voice tells you not to dance with that particular person. You can’t explain it, but there’s just something about them that seems off. You try to tell yourself that you might just be overthinking things, and you can’t really see a logical reason not to dance with them.
When the tanda is over, and a new one begins, you cabeceo with that person. They accept, and you head onto the dance floor with them. When the tanda begins, you suddenly realize that you’re just not compatible and you’re unable to enjoy yourself. So now you’re stuck with them until the next cortina, thinking that you should have listened to your intuition instead.”
This simple example actually has various factors that one may have logically missed but was caught by one’s intuition. For instance, one reason for incompatibility may stem from the possibility that neither dancer is responding accordingly to each other’s movements. The leader could have been too aggressive, the follower could have been too passive, or vice-versa. Skill levels might not have also matched.
One party may have overestimated the other’s experience in applying mere visual observation. Logic alone might not be able to perceive these traits, but intuition can help one sense these nuances or subtleties even without tangible evidence.
Partner selection in a milonga can also act as a microcosm for selecting a partner outside of the dance floor. By listening to their intuition, one may avoid choosing partners, friends, or even business associates who — at first — seem to be suitable candidates but end up not being compatible with one’s values, experience, and worldview. One might not always see these signs until they become much more noticeable, but their gut feeling may provide insight into what may be a disastrous — or fruitful — combination.
Through Argentine tango, one may be able to gain a better perception of others, allowing one to develop the skill of reading people in a more efficient and insightful manner.
As the old saying goes, looks can be deceiving, but intuition allows a person to look beyond mere appearances.
Exercise Intuition With Intellect
Although intuition can serve as a useful and insightful skill to promote better decision-making, it becomes even more effective when exercised with intellect. Merely relying on one or the other may still lead to mistakes that could have been entirely avoidable.
For those who wish to develop their intuition as well as their intellect, taking up Argentine tango can help them have the confidence and skill to exercise both — not just on the dance floor but outside of it.
After all, Argentine tango originated from the physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual experiences of porteños, who expressed all these through dance and music.