Tango Psychotherapy? Yes, It Exists!
Tango psychotherapy taps the potential of the tango dance to ignite or rekindle the spark between two dance partners through its sensual nature.
The tango is an alluring dance that is popular all over the world because of its unique flair and cultural impact. Nevertheless, while it has a universal appeal for a global audience, it also has a personal appeal for couples.
Tango psychotherapy may be beneficial to couples who wish to restore and strengthen their romantic connection.
While it is not a substitute for marriage counsel, it can be a fun, effective supplemental activity that can boost the results of a couple’s therapy.
Find out what tango psychotherapy is and what its origins and benefits are as you discover who Igor Zabuta and Emma Kologrivova are. Learn why they are qualified to help couples improve their relationships through the power of tango psychotherapy.
What Is Tango?
Tango is an enthralling partner dance that is characterized by dramatic motions and fluid expressions. It is known for its improvisational nature because of the dynamic interactions between two dance partners.
The lead dancer establishes the flow and style of the choreography, while the partner follows and reacts to the movements of the leader.
The word “tango” is usually used to describe the partner dance. However, the term is also used to refer to musical styles that are related to this dance.
Some examples of tango musical styles are traditional, nuevo, and alternative. Musical instruments such as the bandoneon, piano, violin, guitar, double bass, and traditional accordion are typically used to play tango music.
According to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association, tango has a significant contribution to the evolution of music:
“Tangueros (tango composers/arrangers/performers) have solidified the genre by establishing distinct musical elements that have aurally come to define tango, such as the dotted habanera rhythm, iconic instrumentation (including the bandoneón), fluid melodic phrasing, and harmony rooted in classical and popular music.”
The tango is an integral part of the national heritage of Argentina and Uruguay. The UNESCO recognizes its major influence on world culture by including the dance style in the 2009 Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity:
“[Tango is] spreading the spirit of its community across the globe even as it adapts to new environments and changing times. That community today includes musicians, professional and amateur dancers, choreographers, composers, songwriters, teachers of the art and the national living treasures who embody the culture of tango.”
What Is Psychotherapy?
Psychotherapy is a form of therapy that assists people to cope with emotional challenges and mental health conditions,
based on the definition by the American Psychiatric Association. It can boost the holistic wellness of a person. It may reduce or control the symptoms of mental or emotional issues as well. It can also improve relationships and dynamics between two or more people.
There is a wide range of psychotherapy options that are available to individuals, couples, and families during these modern times. Psychotherapy may be employed in conjunction with medication and other kinds of therapies.
What Is Tango Psychotherapy?
Tango psychotherapy is a type of psychotherapy that falls under the category of creative arts therapy.
Creative arts therapy employs dance, music, painting, drama, writing, and other art forms to facilitate personal and relational healing and growth among participants.
According to a study by the Clinical Case Reports, tango therapy is considered as a combination therapy. It merges various approaches such as physical therapy, music therapy, and cognitive therapy.
It is a safe option for people of all ages because the dance steps may be performed at a slow speed. The motions can boost the range of movements of a person while minimizing the risk of balance loss.
Aside from enhancing the physical and neurological condition of patients, tango therapy can also level up the relationship dynamics of a couple. It may be used as a supporting therapy for marriage counsel or couples therapy.
Origins of Tango Psychotherapy
The roots of tango in Argentina go way back to the 18th century. Even back then, the partner dance was already used as a primitive form of tango psychotherapy.
The tango served as a creative type of coping mechanism by African slaves who gathered together to dance so they can bring joy to their difficult lives.
It was also practiced nearly exclusively by the lower class population of Argentina during the early days of tango.
Dance Facts explains that the term “tango” originated from the words “tango” or “tambo.” These words referred to the musical gatherings of slaves in the River Plata basin region.
Benefits of Tango Psychotherapy
Tango psychotherapy has several significant advantages for couples. These are some of the benefits that may be experienced by dance partners in a relationship:
Repression Release
The tango dance is a cathartic activity that can release the repressed feelings and memories of both dance partners.
Repression refers to the unconscious and unintentional blocking of emotions, thoughts, and impulses of a person.
It is a form of defense mechanism that protects an individual from painful and unpleasant sensations.
Although repression may cause immediate relief at first, it may result in bigger personal and relational issues in the future since repression can cause stress and confusion. Tango psychotherapy can help alleviate repression through the liberating music and motions of the tango dance.
Expression Outlet
Tango can be a creative outlet of expression of dance partners. If one or both parties find it awkward or embarrassing to convey their feelings for each other through words, dancing is a nonverbal option which they can use to express their emotions.
The couple can perform the tango choreography in such a way that it represents their relationship in a distinct way. Tango psychotherapy can increase the ability of the partners to externally show what is inside their minds in an imaginative, playful manner.
Connection Strengthening
Tango psychotherapy can improve the relationship of a couple in various ways. Tango encourages both parties to live in the present moment as they engage with each other through dance interactions.
So Tango concludes that “tango and dance [can be considered] as a metaphor for relationships. This is one of the qualities of tango that continually intrigues me, and it makes tango so much more than a dance. It's clear that what applies to tango applies to relationships and vice versa.”
Engagement is a more critical element of tango compared to performance when it comes to couples therapy. It can lead to a more fulfilling relationship and better sexual chemistry. Tango psychotherapy rebuilds and solidifies the romantic and emotional connection between couples.
Read on to discover who Igor Zabuta and Emma Kologrivova are and why they are equipped to help couples experience the advantages of tango psychotherapy.
Who Is Igor Zabuta?
Igor Zabuta is a psychotherapist, tango-teacher, and writer who is based in Kiev, Ukraine.
He specializes in tango psychotherapy, couple’s psychotherapy, and the Gestalt approach.
He guides people from all over the world to transform their lives with the help of tango psychotherapy and general psychotherapy.
Fluent in English, Russian, and Ukrainian languages, he helps clients from the U.S., Canada, Israel, and the European continent.
Igor is convinced that people are conditioned by their past memories, current circumstances, and future events which are not entirely under their control. However,
he believes that it is possible for persons to influence the course of their lives by responding to various situations and challenges.
He analyzes that people turn to psychotherapy not out of curiosity but because they wish to resolve their feelings of pain and dissatisfaction. He explains that therapy enables individuals to learn about themselves, accept their limitations, and change their circumstances.
Igor recommends tango psychotherapy because humans need proximity to their fellow humans. He reminds them to achieve the right balance of autonomy and dependence, so they can achieve a balanced self-esteem.
He relates that therapy makes it possible for people to develop a capacity to cope with the trials of life and to deal with instability, especially the challenges and uncertainty that couples may encounter in their romantic relationships.
After all, tango psychotherapy encourages dance partners to collaborate with one another because the partner dance naturally requires cooperation.
While he is realistic about the imperfect nature of humans, Igor has hope for the possibility of change and growth of individuals and couples alike. He shares:
“I do not believe in the opportunity to build ideal relationships by ‘working’ on them. We ourselves are not perfect and live in an imperfect world. But we can work on ourselves and do a lot so that relations help us to grow, bring joy and warmth to us and the person next to us. I do not believe in people without trauma and neuroses. Only them make us human.”
He shares that every idea or conviction is based on an emotional feeling, sensation, and need.
Therapy is necessary for people to understand the emotional foundation of their seemingly objective reasonings and speculations.
This understanding can provide them with the wisdom they need to navigate relationships.
Igor openly relates that tango psychotherapy may involve the risk of pain: “I do not believe in ‘painful, expensive, without guarantees’ therapy. The client brings pain with him. Sometimes therapy occurs by alleviating this pain. Sometimes laughter is more healing than tears.”
Still, Igor believes that tango psychotherapy is worth investing time and effort in because of its potential positive outcomes: “I do not believe that I can ‘heal’ or change the client. But the client can do it himself if I am sincerely and fully present.”
That’s why Igor is committed to helping couples to change their relationships for the better through his tango psychotherapy expertise.
Who Is Emma Kologrivova?
Emma Kologrivova is a practical psychologist, certified Gestalt therapist, and advocate of psychological sciences. She is also a trainer, supervisor, and leader of therapeutic and educational groups. She is based in Kiev, Ukraine. She has been active in psychological practice for 15 years and counting.
Tango psychotherapy is one of the methods she uses to guide people to overcome their relationships as a couple and as a family.
She specializes in analyzing matters such as emotional conflicts, inability to maintain long-term relationships, dissatisfaction with family dynamics, and divorce. She also helps people to process their emotions of pain, loss, loneliness, fatigue, and apathy.
Aside from her professional qualifications, Emma is also fit to conduct tango psychotherapy because of her own passionate enjoyment of the tango dance. She shares:
“It’s hard to believe now, but I remember that I enjoyed tango from the very first steps… Pleasure turned out to be a completely separate variable, not related to technical skills. Contact, steps, music – that was enough. Tango has become a place of continuous guaranteed joy.”
She has been practicing the tango since childhood, so she is proficient in the dance style. She relates her tango story: “I have been dancing since childhood. In the ballroom school, we were lined up at the barre to practice stretching and movement accuracy and to learn different figures and moves. In folk dances, we trained synchronism and dynamics.” Her familiarity with the physical moves enables her to understand the impact of the dance steps on the emotions of a couple.
As both a psychologist and as a tango dancer, Emma is in a unique position to promote the positive effects of tango psychotherapy on the connection between two people who are dancing together. This is what Emma learned from tango:
“Contact with the partner, music, my body, parquet, dancing couples is an amazing rainbow of sensations. I don’t know where else they are so subtle, though intense and vivid.”
Improve Your Relationship as a Couple Through Tango Psychotherapy
Romantic relationships naturally have their ups and downs. Still, you and your partner can take proactive steps to rekindle the spark in your relationship by participating in tango psychotherapy.
Dancing the tango as a couple can be the sensual highlight of your marriage counsel therapy or couple therapy.
If you are interested in working directly with Igor Zabuta and Emma Kologrivovava you can contact Tango Therapy and they might be able to help you strengthen your romantic connection with your partner through tango psychotherapy.