Neurolinguistic Programming and Argentine Tango
For people with little to no knowledge about the Argentine tango, it may be a surprise to know that there’s so much more to the dance than just the physical movement. In fact, the dance isn’t even just a dance. Apart from its rich history and cultural significance,
the Argentine tango is also a great way to improve your communication skills and learn more about yourself. It’s often cited as one of the most effective applications of neurolinguistic programming (NLP).
We’ve looked at tango as a non-verbal communication tool. We’ve also explored it through the lens of behavioral science. Now, let’s learn about NLP and how Argentine tango can help you change the way you think, communicate, and live.
What Is Neurolinguistic Programming?
NLP might be a new term for many, but it’s actually been around for quite a while.
Neurolinguistic programming is an approach to communication, personal development, and psychotherapy created in the 1970s.
It’s based on the idea that our thoughts, words, and actions are all interconnected, affecting our behaviors and behavior outcomes.
According to PsychCentral:
Richard Bandler and John Grinder developed NLP in the 1970s after observing that one of the main differences between what they called “successful people” and others was the way they used language to encourage themselves and everyone else.
In NLP, there is a strong emphasis on understanding how people process information. It also believes that we can model other people’s thoughts and strategies and use them to our own advantage.
Most of the time, we use NLP to help people overcome fears and phobias, anxiety, and negative thinking patterns, according to Medical News Today.
Health Guide also
defines NLP as a set of techniques to alter thought and behavior patterns.
Further, as Skills You Need sees it,
these methods help us take control of our minds and, therefore, our lives. Compared to psychoanalysis, NLP focuses on the “how” instead of the “why.”
Moreover, GoodTherapy said:
Proponents of NLP assume all human action is positive.
Therefore, if a plan fails or the unexpected happens, the experience is neither good nor bad—it simply presents more useful information.
NLP — though having little evidence to support the claims — seems to be a promising solution. Many practitioners exist in a variety of settings, including business, education, and therapy. So how does it really work?
NLP Techniques
To get a deeper understanding of NLP, we can break down the term into its three main components: neuro-, linguistic, and programming.
The “neuro-” prefix refers to our behavioral results when we receive information through our senses.
The “linguistic” component deals with language. Language is a tool we use to communicate with others and organize our thoughts.
Lastly, the “programming” part is about changing our behavior.
Practicing NLP means mastering techniques that make the approach work. There are many techniques to learn.
Here are some that we can use when discussing Argentine Tango.
Imagery Training
According to Tony Robbins,
imagery training, or “mental rehearsal,” is a classic NLP technique that uses visualization to help people achieve their goals.
We can picture ourselves doing something we want to do. The goal is to physically feel how we feel in our minds. When using this technique, we have to be as detailed as possible. Robbins says that “NLP techniques like this are essential for creating absolute certainty in yourself and your abilities.”
Modeling
If there’s an award for “Most Popular Technique,” modeling would definitely win.
NLP modeling is the process of observing and modeling someone else’s behavior.
We often do this with our favorite celebrities, politicians, or educators.
NLP modeling is different because it’s about understanding the thought process and strategy that leads to a specific behavior.
When we hear the advice, “surround yourself with the right people,” NLP modeling is what they’re talking about.
Mirroring
When it comes to mirroring, verbal and non-verbal communication cues are duplicated.
We mirror another person’s vibe, energy, vocabulary, and even posture. The mirroring technique makes us more trustworthy and likable, resulting in a good connection with the other person.
As Tony Robbins reminds us:
According to the 7-38-55 Rule, just 7% of your message is communicated through words. Your tone of voice contributes 38%, but your body language communicates 55% of your message.
When we mirror someone, we subconsciously say, “I’m just like you.” Therefore, the other person is more likely to trust us.
Rapport
Rapport is the NLP technique for building relationships.
When we have a rapport with someone, we feel like we understand them. We’re on the same wavelength and can easily connect with them.
There are many ways to build rapport, with mirroring as the most common. The goal is to create a bond with the other person through natural connection.
Anchoring
Anchoring is an NLP technique that links emotions to certain physical sensations.
For example, we can anchor the feeling of happiness to the sound of a bell. The next time we hear the bell, we’ll feel happy. The way we anchor positive emotions is by thinking of a time when we felt a certain emotion.
As we relive that memory, we pay attention to the physical sensations we feel in our bodies.
Pacing and Leading
Pacing and leading are NLP techniques often used in various settings, including business and therapy.
Pacing means matching the other person’s reality, which means we mimic their words, expressions, and gestures. Once we’ve set our pace with them, we can lead them in the direction we want them to go.
These are just six of the interesting NLP techniques. It’s easy to see how this approach can help us take control of our lives and achieve our goals. It’s no wonder why many psychotherapists and coaches rely on NLP!
Besides changing behaviors, NLP allows us to influence other people’s behaviors. With proper application, NLP can really be a good treatment for depression, anxiety, and other mental disorders. But do you know who else uses NLP? Argentine tango dancers!
NLP and Argentine Tango: Is It Possible?
Many Argentine tango dancers also use NLP techniques when teaching beginners and enthusiasts about the dance.
One interesting take about the Argentine tango in relation to NLP was discussed in the Get Real Podcast episode, “Get Real Hypnosis & NLP: the Argentinian Tango.” The speaker from Destiny Hypnosis was tasked to take ballroom classes and happened to choose Argentine tango. They described:
He was literally like 200, like 5’8, like 270. And he would float down onto the dancefloor. And it was like he was just dancing, he was like walking on air. He’s the most incredible dancer I’ve ever seen.
It’s a typical reaction when watching a great Argentine tango dancer. We can’t help but be mesmerized by their movements and the way they glide across the floor.
What the podcast episode concluded was that the Argentine tango is complete leadership. It involves leading dancers through mentorship, like how NLP practitioners would lead their clients.
Apart from leading, teaching and learning the Argentine tango also has a place here. Of course, every dancer has their own style, and Argentine tango allows that.
The key is that the dance only becomes most beautiful when both partners are in sync with each other.
There’s beauty in the need to explicitly state what we want our partner to do, and there’s an element of passion when our partner dances the way they want to.
While NLP is often used in psychotherapy, it can also be used in other areas, such as Argentine tango. Consider what Mauricio Castro — a tango dancer and teacher who studied human sciences in neurolinguistic programming — said:
“Tango [is] and should be for anyone, [as it is] something so pleasurable and common like breathing.”
How does the Argentine tango become something for “anyone?” With NLP techniques.
Tangolombia by David Alarcón and Laura Marín
One tango couple we can find that uses NLP in their dancing is David Alarcón and Laura Marín. Laura Marín, a National Tango Champion, has been dancing the tango for over 20 years. She’s a social communicator and a master in NLP.
She and her husband, David Alarcón, created the Conscious Tango Method, which seeks to “connect your emotions and heal your relationships through tango.”
In a YouTube video titled “What is tango dancing? Ambitious tango dancers share new thoughts with TANGOLOMBIA,” the couple explained how “Tangolombia” is their mix of NLP and tango, leading to a balance in life and in the dance.
In general, NLP helps in maintaining a balance in life, which is also an effective way of dancing the Argentine tango.
Mixing the tools allows the Tangolombia learners to understand the importance of self, emotions, and communication in the dance. NLP techniques provide and enhance the necessary skills to dance the Argentine tango.
Where Is NLP in Argentine Tango?
NLP can be very helpful in Argentine tango because the dance is all about communication and connection.
The use of NLP in Argentine tango dancing is evident in the need for both partners to be aware of each other’s movements.
The NLP technique Pacing and Leading allows us to start with our preferred dancing style. However, if we notice and feel that our partner isn’t responding well to our style, we change and try to find a middle ground- something both partners can be comfortable with. According to Tango Tribe:
Among the most magical tandas I have enjoyed were ones that seemed to start off poorly, where there was some mismatch keeping our dance from nicely coming into sync, but that somehow I was able to sense what they wanted to make them comfortable in their dance — a change of embrace, pressure, style of dance, energy of dance.
We see NLP in Argentine tango in the way we communicate with our partners through the dance. It’s not necessarily verbal communication, but NLP can help us be in tune with our partner’s movements and understand what they want.
Through these techniques, we make tango a beautiful, passionate dance for two.
In fact, when we watch a tango couple on the dance floor, we can see how NLP techniques make their dance more fluid.
An NLP technique that’s perfect for Argentine tango beginners is mirroring.
As learners, we mirror our teachers and other tango dancers who show us the beauty of the dance. We learn by observing and trying to imitate their movements.
NLP mirroring is different in the sense that we’re not only copying their movements, but we’re also understanding the emotions and intentions behind those movements.
In NLP, the map is not the territory. This means that we’re not trying to copy their movements verbatim, but we’re trying to understand the logic and intention behind them.
Anchoring also helps us be in the moment and enjoy the dance. This NLP technique is all about association. When we feel a certain emotion, we associate it with a physical movement or sensation.
Argentine tango, as we know it, has all the emotions we can feel — happiness, sadness, anger, love, and passion. NLP can help us feel those emotions and connect with our partners on a deeper level. After all, what is Argentine tango without rapport?
Hints of Neurolinguistic Programming in Your Tango Steps
The next time you step on the dance floor, observe how you’re getting in touch with your thoughts, emotions, and behavior. When it’s time to dance, how do you change according to your partner’s movements and communication? Whether you’re fully aware of it or not, neurolinguistic programming is there in Argentine tango.
Like NLP, Argentine tango is a beautiful way to connect with ourselves and others.
Recognizing our thoughts and emotions influences the way we dance. We know tango is not just about executing that perfect step; it’s about the connection we create with our partner and the music.
With every step and movement, we’re carrying and changing the energy of the dance.
NLP techniques can help us be more aware of our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, so make Argentine tango the dance that it really is: a beguiling, intimate communication between two people.