Emotional and neurohumoral responses to dancing tango argentino: the effects of music and partner

Abstract

The present study examines the emotional and hormonal responses to tango dancing and the specific influences of the presence of music and partner on these responses. Twenty-two tango dancers were assessed within four conditions, in which the presence of music and a dance partner while dancing were varied in a 2 √ó 2 design. Before each condition and 5 minutes thereafter, participants provided salivary samples for analysis of cortisol and testosterone concentrations and completed the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule. The data suggest that motion with a partner to music has more positive effects on emotional state than motion without music or without a partner. Moreover, decreases of cortisol concentrations were found with the presence of music, whereas increases of testosterone levels were associated with the presence of a partner. The authors’ work gives evidence of short-term positive psychobiological reactions after tango dancing and contributes to understanding the differential influence of music and partner.