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Fame or Famine

Depressed? Try a Tango!

by Gray on June 29th, 2008

This just in: Tango is useful to help people battle depression.

Apparently researchers in Australia’s University of New England are exploring whether tango can “boost people’s emotions.”

“While you’re doing tango you can only be in the present — you really have to focus, concentrate, and it doesn’t allow your thoughts to drive into your mind,” says Rosa Pinniger, who is heading up the research. “If people can have a break from their negative thoughts for three minutes, which is the time of the tango, they can realize that… this is what it is, nothing else. So all their problems and their thoughts, they cannot be, they are not invited in the tango.”

Sounds a lot like zen, and she admits that it is a lot like meditation. Also, it may not be for everyone, since it is a social endeavour and depressed people are not known for going out and socializing. Still, if you’ve ever been to a milonga, it does not matter what you look like - everyone moves, everyone dances with everyone else. It’s a group meditation, I guess.

So the question is: would watching a tango on So You Think You Can Dance or Dancing with the Stars be about as effective as watching someone meditate? See for yourself (and let me know if you feel better after). Alex da Silva choreographs for Mark & Chelsie:

POSTED IN: Dance, Dancing with the Stars, SYTYCD, So You Think You Can Dance

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