Tango and balance

 

Boleo, acrylic and pastel, 21x30cm

 

Tango is good for your sense of balance. Recent research shows that learning Argentine Tango significantly improves balance and reduces risk of falls among cancer patients according to research at The Ohio State University. Another study found that patients with Parkinson’s disease who had regular tango dance classes showed significant improvements in balance and mobility compared to patients who did conventional exercise, according to researchers at Washington University School of Medicine. Many aspects of tango help improve balance including pivoting on one foot, turning, changing direction, moving at different speeds and walking backwards.

When first learning tango I would sometimes wobble from side to side or up and down, and found keeping a firmly balanced and stable body while dancing quite difficult. But doing the following exercises helped improve my balance

The first exercise is simply to stand tall, with head held high and shoulders down so you feel both tall and physically ‘grounded’. Standing tall is essential for good balance and for dancing tango well. As one teacher kept saying to me before taking a step: ‘Zip your body up!’

Test your balance and posture with this exercise: Stand tall, carefully balance an empty CD case (or book) on your head and walk forward slowly, keeping it balanced on your head for as long as possible. It is a surprisingly hard thing to do! An easier option is to imagine you are balancing something on your head and to walk forwards and backwards, maintaining that posture. Try to lower your shoulders.

Here’s another great exercise: practice standing on one leg, like a stork, without any rock or roll. With feet together, raise your right leg so the upper leg is horizontal to your body and your lower leg hangs down. Hold your leg there for as long as you can then lower it. Repeat this with your left leg. It helps if you ‘soften’ your standing leg and keep your shoulders down to feel better grounded. Now lift each leg as before, and move it across your body to the right and then to the left.! Or try lifting each leg back (as in the picture above). Then try the above exercises with your eyes closed. Like all practice, little and often is best. So head up each day for a better balance!