Chapter 7: Exploring Intimacy through Tango in an Embodied Cultural Psychological Vein

This chapter takes a closer look at tango dancing to contribute to developing cultural psychologies of intimacy. Tango dancing might appear intimate to the external observer, however, once inside the embrace, feelings of togetherness vary and intimacy need not occur. Based on experiences as a tango dancer and teacher, considering these within an enactive approach to social interaction, I argue that the dynamics of the dance and the phenomenology of it are on a sliding scale of participatory sense making and mutual incorporation. So, dynamically and phenomenologically there can be more or less togetherness. The feeling of togetherness is not necessarily increased by mere bodily contact, but by partaking in and experiencing the same movement. Feeling intimate while dancing tango, I propose, hinges on both partners experiencing their improvised movement together and reciprocally feeling into each-others sensations, a “feeling through” each other. That the music is an important actor and that there are leading and following roles in tango points at the cultural articulation of the dance. This can contribute to intimacy, for example when the music is tuned into in a similar way, but can also hinder it, for example when the leader does not feel into the follower. Finally, to consider the possibility of sustaining this intimacy over time making connections between embodied interactive and cultural psychological approaches becomes particularly important. Further empirical research on tango can significantly contribute to making these connections.