CONTACTANGO
ContacTango is an immersive journey where Argentine Tango, Contact Improvisation and Somatic Movement Education weave together into one living dance — a space where breath, touch, and movement open pathways between structure and freedom. Rooted in the intimacy and musical precision of tango and the emancipatory flow of contact, ContacTango invites dancers to trust their bodies, explore transformation through connection, and experience dance as a process of shared metamorphosis — where every encounter can become a co-liberation in motion.
In January 2016 I embarked on a PhD project on touch in Tango at Deakin University Melbourne. To challenge my embodied habits and assumptions as a tango dancer, deepen my sensitivity, expand my vocabulary and develop practical tools of movement inquiry, in 2017 I have approached contact and contemporary modes of dance improvisation. In particular, by leveraging the kinaesthetic tools and the spirit of freedom and emancipation typical of Contact Improvisation, I have explored the fundamentals of Tango not as given techniques or assumptions but as ‘enabling constraints’ to find a deeper sense of freedom and sharing in the dance. Engaging tango through the ‘lens’ of Contact Improvisation allows the dancer to observe and follow movement dynamics as they unfold in the shared improvisational process through the subtle play of touch, pressure and weight. The doctoral research was conducted in public spaces (first phase) and in dance studios (second phase) but I have never stopped dancing Tango and Contact Improvisation socially since the field work began. The PhD, awarded in March 2020, develops an experimental framework for engaging touch in Tango as an experience of kinaesthetic listening. The process of inquiry led me to articulate both practical and conceptual resources for exploring the somatic-imaginative spaces between the dancer’s inside and outside worlds. …
Esperienze di Tango Terapia: “Il Corpo che Ascolta” | 10.10.2026
Il seminario propone una riflessione esperienziale sul corpo come strumento di relazione e di conoscenza. La danza del tango diventa uno spazio protetto per esplorare le dinamiche di ascolto, presenza e reciprocità attraverso il movimento e il contatto. Attraverso il movimento, il contatto e la musicalità del tango, i partecipanti sperimentano il corpo come strumento di comunicazione e relazione, esplorando la fiducia, la sintonizzazione e l’ascolto reciproco nell’incontro con l’altro. La formazione è rivolta agli allievi del quarto anno della Scuola di Specializzazione in Psicologia della Salute del Dipartimento di Psicologia Dinamica, Clinica e Salute della Sapienza Università di Roma.
CONTANGO JOURNEY IN TUSCANY - Summer Residential | 15-22 May 2026
A Week of Dance, Nature & Connection – dancing, breathing, connected amidst the Tuscan countryside. retreat to dive deeply into the essence of Contact Improvisation, Argentine Tango and Somatic Awareness. Join us for an inspiring journey of dance, connection, and self-discovery.
ContacTango Weekend in Zurich: “Freeing the Embrace” | 5-6.9.2026
Two days of exploration between tango and contact improvisation , where breath, touch, and movement unfold as a somatic dialogue of trust, rhythm, and transformation. Immerse yourself in the complete intensive, where the process of the workshops is nourished by the JamMilonga — a shared space of experimentation where the worlds of tango and contact meet, and form becomes flow.
2026 ContacTango Summer Intensive Innsbruck (Austria): “Freeing the Embrace” | 20.6.2026
A full day of exploration between argentine tango and contact improvisation, where breath, touch, movement and dance open a somatic dialogue of trust, rhythm, and transformation. Join one workshop or immerse yourself in the full-day intensive ending with the JamMilonga — a shared space where tango and contact meet, and form becomes flow.
2026 ContacTango Summer Intensive Salzburg (Austria): “Freeing the Embrace” | 21.6.2026
A full day of exploration between argentine tango and contact improvisation, where breath, touch, movement and dance open a somatic dialogue of trust, rhythm, and transformation. Join one workshop or immerse yourself in the full-day intensive ending with the JamMilonga — a shared space where tango and contact meet, and form becomes flow.
ContacTango in St. Johann in Tirol (Austria): “Exploring Intimacy & Elasticity in the Dance” | 22.6.2026
A playful and immersive workshop exploring the meeting point between Argentine tango, contact improvisation, and somatic movement. Through touch, weight-sharing, breath, and improvisation, participants discover how intimacy and elasticity emerge together in the dance — creating a living dialogue between structure and freedom, support and surrender, listening and movement. Open to tango dancers, contact dancers, movers, and curious beginners.
Lezione invito alla ContacTango all’Hangar383 (Bassano del Grappa) | 23.6.2026
La ContacTango è un incontro tra tango argentino, contact improvisation e movimento somatico guidato da Raffaele Rufo. Un’esperienza aperta a tutti per riscoprire il piacere del contatto, dell’ascolto e dell’improvvisazione attraverso il corpo e la danza. La lezione viene seguita da una pratica di tango argentino aperta a tutti i livelli.
Contango Festival Cologne: Workshops & JamMilongas | 30 April-3 May 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.
Contact Tango in Padua (Italy): “Liberare l’Abbraccio” -Workshops & Practica | 8 March 2026
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.
Contango St. Johann in Tirol (Austria): “Dancing together Between Tension and Release” | 25.1.2026
An exploratory workshop between tango and contact improvisation, where breath, touch, and movement open a somatic dialogue of trust, rhythm, and transformation. Join one workshop or immerse yourself in the full-day intensive ending with the JamMilonga — a shared space where tango and contact meet, and form becomes flow.
Summer Residential Tuscany: “Contango Journey” | 1-7 June 2026
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. Join us for an inspiring journey of dance, connection, and self-discovery.
Contango Winter Intensive Innsbruck (Austria): “Between Structure and Freedom” | 24.1.2026
A full day of exploration between tango and contact improvisation, where breath, touch, and movement open a somatic dialogue of trust, rhythm, and transformation. Join one workshop or immerse yourself in the full-day intensive ending with the JamMilonga — a shared space where tango and contact meet, and form becomes flow.
Contact Tango @Padova Tango Festival (Italy): “Between elasticity and softness of movement” -Workshop | 27 June 2025
Danzare nel contatto tra elasticità e morbidezza del movimento: un workshop di Contact Tango in cui respiro, tocco e movimento si dispiegano come un dialogo somatico di fiducia, ritmo e trasformazione.