Of Alex Marè
Dr. Chiara Tordini, clinical psychologist and psychotherapist, explains how tango can become an effective therapeutic tool, in particular in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s, and what benefits it brings to patients, both on a physical and emotional level .
What does tango represent for you?
Tango is not simply a dance. As Jorge Luis Borges said, quoting E. Santos Discepolo, it is “a sad thought that is danced”. However, for me tango evokes not only sadness or melancholy, but also a wider range of emotions. Tango is a profound encounter with the other, an experience of connection that goes beyond words: it’s about listening to the music, your own body and that of the other. It’s not just made up of steps, but of what happens between one step and another, within the embrace. It is a feeling that involves the whole person, not only what is seen, but above all what is felt on a bodily level.
How did the idea of tango therapy come about and who is it aimed at?
The idea of using tango therapy in a healthcare setting was born during my training, when I met two doctors, tango dancers and tango therapists, in a psychiatric community in Fermo. Tango therapy is a therapeutic and rehabilitative method created by the Argentine psychiatrist and psychoanalyst F. Trossero, who experimented it with his patients. It is aimed at anyone who has experienced difficult experiences, such as oncological diseases, bereavement, depression or lack of self-esteem. However, studies have shown that tango therapy is particularly effective in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Parkinson’s.
What benefits have you found with tango therapy?
The benefits of tango therapy are numerous. Firstly, it stimulates movement in a rhythmic way and promotes contact with one’s own body and that of others. It allows you to explore emotions, experiences and fragility, offering a useful experience not only for physical, cognitive or neurological problems, but also for improving mood and relationships. It is particularly recommended in cases of pathologies that affect both the body and the psyche.
How is dancing linked to a degenerative disease like Parkinson’s?
Several studies have shown that tango can be an ally in improving Parkinson’s symptoms such as balance, posture and motor dysfunctions, including tremors and rigidity. Tango helps to make walking more fluid and helps to develop greater awareness of one’s body in movement. Furthermore, it stimulates memory and, last but not least, improves mood and reduces social isolation. As one patient told me, “It’s not easy to talk about it” and added “I’m not talking about the motor symptoms, which everyone knows, but I’m talking about the non-motor, non-visible ones. You spend entire days closed at home, you isolate yourself, you no longer connect with anyone. You don’t even open the door to the postman anymore.” Tango induces general well-being, improving the quality of life and encouraging the expression and sharing of fears and anxieties within a group, especially in those facing neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s.
Is there anything you would like to add?
Yes, I would add a quote from F. Trossero, “The body says many things. Watching someone dance the tango, you can sense the resistance and personality in general from the movements, the posture and the embrace. The body speaks and does not lie.”