Tai Chi and Tango

When I was first introduced to Tai Chi—the slow-motion Chinese martial art—I was immediately struck by how many of its qualities resonate with tango: flexibility, balance, precision, control, rhythm, and beauty. Here’s an example of Tai Chi in action.

Tai Chi is performed in a half-squatting stance that demands both strength and flexibility in the legs, allowing for movements as light and agile as a cat’s. Weight shifts gradually from one leg to the other while the torso remains upright. Every part of the body—arms, hands, torso, waist, hips, thighs, knees, ankles, and feet—is engaged, requiring excellent coordination, balance, and control. Each movement must meet high aesthetic standards and be executed with precision. The slow-motion, half-squatting posture places exceptional demands on the legs, making Tai Chi an effective practice for developing leg strength, flexibility, and control.

These same qualities are essential in tango. Like Tai Chi, tango is fundamentally leg-driven. While the entire body must work in harmony to produce elegant movement, strong and flexible legs are the foundation for lightness, balance, control, coordination, and precision. Many tango dancers struggle with these aspects without realizing that the root cause often lies in underdeveloped leg strength and flexibility. For those facing such challenges, Tai Chi offers invaluable benefits.

Although Tai Chi is not performed to music, it possesses its own internal rhythm, as seen in the opening video. Its slow-motion execution is intentional, designed to maximize physical benefits—and this quality can help tango dancers cultivate the ability to move gracefully at slow tempos. Tai Chi can also be practiced in faster sequences to develop agility and speed, as shown in the following example.

All of these attributes make Tai Chi a powerful complement to tango. It strengthens the legs, sharpens coordination, refines artistry, and develops the capacity to dance with grace in slow motion.

The following videos teach you some basic Tai Chi moves if you are interested.