The Science of TangoMind
At TangoMind, we believe that learning Argentine tango is more than just picking up dance steps—it’s a powerful way to engage your brain, body, and emotions. This page gives a brief overview of what current research suggests about dance, brain health, and learning.
Important note: The studies below focus on dance and movement training in general, not always on Argentine tango specifically. They don’t prove that tango “cures” anything, but they do support the idea that complex, enjoyable movement practices can be very good for your brain and body.
1. Dance, Brain Plasticity, and Learning
“Your brain is built to adapt. Tango gives it something worth adapting to.”
Key idea: The brain is “plastic”—it can change and adapt in response to experience. Learning a complex skill like tango gives the brain rich, repeated practice in coordinating movement, timing, attention, and connection with a partner.
Researchers call this experience‑dependent plasticity. When we practice a skill regularly:
- Neural pathways involved in that skill become more efficient.
- The brain refines how it processes movement, timing, and sensory feedback.
- Over time, this can support better coordination, balance, and motor control.
Science Snapshot
Repeated practice doesn’t just make movement feel easier—it changes the brain networks that control that movement.
A classic overview of experience‑dependent plasticity explains that repeated practice drives the brain to reorganize and strengthen specific circuits that support the practiced skill:
- Kleim, J. A., & Jones, T. A. (2008). Principles of experience-dependent neural plasticity: Implications for rehabilitation after brain damage. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 51(1), S225–S239. https://doi.org/10.1044/1092-4388(2008/018)
Another review focuses on how motor skill learning (like learning new dance patterns) leads to structural and functional changes in the brain over time:
- Dayan, E., & Cohen, L. G. (2011). Neuroplasticity subserving motor skill learning. Neuron, 72(3), 443–454. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2011.10.008
What this means for tango: When you consistently show up to practice, you’re not just “remembering moves.” You’re actively training your nervous system to coordinate with music, space, and another person. That’s exactly the kind of repeated, meaningful practice that supports brain plasticity.
2. Dance, Balance, and Sensorimotor Skills
“Every tanda is a message to your nervous system: learn this, refine this, keep this.”
Key idea: Regular dance training can improve balance, posture, and sensorimotor performance—especially in older adults.
In one study, older adults participated in a six‑month dance program. Afterward, they showed improvements in:
- Postural control (how steadily they can stand and move)
- Sensorimotor skills (integrating sensory information with movement)
- Certain cognitive functions without major changes to their cardiorespiratory fitness.
This suggests that the coordination and complexity of dance itself was a key factor.
- Kattenstroth, J.-C., Kalisch, T., Holt, S., Tegenthoff, M., & Dinse, H. R. (2013). Six months of dance intervention enhances postural, sensorimotor, and cognitive performance in elderly without affecting cardio-respiratory functions. Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, 5, https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2013.00005
Another study compared two groups of healthy seniors: one did dance training and the other did conventional fitness training. Both groups benefited, but the dance group showed:
Increased volume in the hippocampus (a brain region important for memory and spatial navigation)
Improved balance
Rehfeld, K., Lüders, A., Hökelmann, A., et al. (2018). Dancing or fitness sport? The effects of two training programs on hippocampal plasticity and balance abilities in healthy seniors. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 12, 305. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2018.00305
Balance Beyond the Dance Floor
Better balance and body awareness can translate into everyday life—how you stand, walk, turn, and move through the world.
What this means for tango: Tango challenges you to coordinate weight transfers, pivots, and subtle shifts in direction while staying connected to a partner and the music. This kind of multi-layered challenge appears to be especially powerful for training balance and sensorimotor skills.
3. Dance, Cognition, and Aging
“Tango is a workout for memory, attention, and connection—not just for your legs.”
Key idea: Social, mentally engaging, and physically active hobbies—like partner dance—are associated with better cognitive health in older age.
A widely cited observational study followed older adults over time and looked at how different leisure activities related to dementia risk. Among many activities (reading, playing musical instruments, doing crosswords, etc.), ballroom dancing stood out as being associated with a lower risk of developing dementia.
- Verghese, J., Lipton, R. B., Katz, M. J., et al. (2003). Leisure activities and the risk of dementia in the elderly. New England Journal of Medicine, 348(25), 2508–2516. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa022252
This doesn’t prove that dance causes better cognition, but it does support the idea that activities combining:
- Physical movement
- Mental challenge (learning patterns, responding to a partner and music)
- Social engagement are linked with healthier cognitive aging.
Other work has tested dance-based interventions more directly. For example, a randomized controlled trial with older adults with mild cognitive impairment examined the effects of international ballroom dancing:
- Lazarou, I., Parastatidis, T., Tsolaki, A., et al. (2017). International ballroom dancing against neurodegeneration: A randomized controlled trial in Greek community-dwelling elders with mild cognitive impairment. American Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease & Other Dementias, 32(8), 489–499. https://doi.org/10.1177/1533317517725813
Participants involved in the ballroom dance program showed benefits in measures related to cognitive and physical functioning compared with controls.
Mind, Body, and Social Brain
Tango engages movement, music, memory, and human connection at the same time—a rare combination in modern life.
What this means for tango: Tango belongs to this family of complex, social partner dances. It invites you to:
- Listen and respond to music
- Navigate a shared space with others
- Coordinate closely with a partner
- Remember patterns and improvise in the moment
All of these elements are promising ingredients for supporting brain health over time.
4. How This Connects to TangoMind
“Show up, connect, repeat. Consistency turns dance into transformation.”
At TangoMind, we don’t claim that tango is a medical treatment or that it guarantees specific health outcomes. What we do recognize is:
Your brain is built to adapt.
Repeated, meaningful practice strengthens the neural pathways you use most.Complex movement matters.
Dance challenges balance, timing, spatial awareness, and coordination in ways that simple, repetitive exercise doesn’t always match.Connection matters.
Practicing with another person adds layers of communication, empathy, and attention that further engage the brain.Consistency is key.
The benefits described in these studies come from ongoing participation and practice, not a one-time class.
The TangoMind Approach
We design classes and practice sessions to be challenging but supportive—giving your nervous system rich, repeatable experiences to learn from.
When you commit to showing up, even once or twice a week, you’re giving your nervous system the chance to learn, adapt, and grow—both as a dancer and as a human being.
5. A Gentle Disclaimer
The research summarized here is exciting, but it has limits:
- Many studies focus on older adults, specific populations, or particular styles of dance.
- Results are averages, not guarantees for any one person.
- Tango and other dances should be seen as complements to, not replacements for, medical care or professional treatment.
If you have any medical conditions or concerns, please consult a healthcare professional before starting a new physical activity.