Re-Connect Through the Dancing Body

Combining Argentine Tango, Somatic Movement Education and Contact Improvisation, TangoSomatics cultivates a sensory experience of connection in times when bodies feel far apart—opening spaces of trust, intimacy and creative co-liberation.

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TangoSomatics - Practice Pathways

TangoSomatics Practice Pathways explore how the combination of tango, somatic movement education and contact improvisation can deepen proprioception, relational awareness, embodied connection and emotional intelligence. Through the practice of Contango (also known as Contact Tango), Nonviolent Communication in the Dialogue of Bodies, Contact Family, Tango for Communities, Tango for Schools and Tango in Nature participants cultivate presence, trust, sensory perception and creative co-movement. These practices support wellbeing, connection and transformation for dancers, movers, families and communities.

Nonviolent Communication in the Dialogue of Bodies

A somatic approach to communication in the dialogue of bodies through tango: listening before leading, responding instead of reacting. Participants learn how movement can dissolve frustration and cultivate empathy, clarity, and respectful relational exchange.

Family Dance: Workshops & Dance Playground

Where tango’s intimacy meets contact’s freedom: a fluid, improvisational practice exploring touch, weight, and shared axis. Dancers discover co-liberation in motion—moving between structure and openness with presence, trust, and playful connection.
An intergenerational movement practice where children and caregivers build trust, communication, and shared play through touch and dance. A gentle and energetic space to explore connection, bonding, and embodied presence as a family.

About
Tango Somatics

TangoSomatics is a practice that brings together Argentine tango, contact improvisation and somatic movement education to help people feel more connected, expressive and alive in their bodies. It is the outcome of Raffaele Rufo’s cross-disciplinary research and his long-standing artistic and pedagogical collaborations across Europe, Australia and Africa. It blends the structure and musicality of tango with the freedom and playfulness of contact, and the sensitivity and slow attention typical of the Feldenkrais method.

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  • "Rediscovering one's body, encountering the other person through a deep and vibrational feeling, all (very gently and very gradually) accompanied by the visceral music of tango... beautiful! Raffaele has extraordinary sensitivity and tact, he is a great professional."

    — Roberta, Roma

  • “Beautiful, loving, deconstructive, counter-hegemonic, and full of feeling and love, thank you!”

    —Marco, Barcelona

  • "I am very pleased to share my joy about the successful workshops with you. For me, it was a successful introduction to the world of Contango. Even the first exercise ‘simply walking criss-cross in the group’ had a decisive effect. Feeling the energy of the participants as they walked past, releasing inner blockages and making contact was a wonderful feeling."

    —Henryk, Freiburg

  • "It's incredible to share these moments together in your presence! Love."

    — Charel, Geneve

  • "A nice way to bring me/us into the feeling of tango."

    —Elke, Innsbruck

  • "Often I dislike watching Contango, it doesn't make sense. Your work seems to me an appropriate approach from inside of both dances. Somehow it opens another space...another taste of both. I like to feel the dance from inside and not the outer exterior form. And you gave the way into it. Thank you a lot. Nice teaching, it moved quite a lot people coming from Tango who participated."

    — Birgit, Freiburg

TangoSomatics Videos

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NEWS

Featured
Contact Tango a Padova: Seminari e Pratica - “Liberare l’Abbraccio”
Mar 8
Contact Tango a Padova: Seminari e Pratica - “Liberare l’Abbraccio”

Liberare l’abbraccio
 significa sciogliere il corpo e lasciare fluire l’energia emotiva nel contatto.
Attraverso pratiche semplici di ascolto somatico e improvvisazione esploreremo un abbraccio più sensibile, presente e dinamico.
Impareremo anche a entrare e uscire dall’abbraccio con fluidità, mantenendo viva la relazione nella danza.

Cologne Contango Festival 2026
Apr 30
Cologne Contango Festival 2026

The Kölner Contango Festival invites dancers into 4 days of exploration, workshops, JamMilongas, live music and somatic spaces for listening and connection — a warm celebration.

Contango Residential Monterosi (Tuscany)
Jun 1
Contango Residential Monterosi (Tuscany)

A week just for you – dancing, breathing, connected amidst the Tuscan countryside. retreat to dive deeply into the essence of Contact Improvisation and Argentine Tango

 

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