Is it possible to Tango your way out of depression?

Rosa Pinniger wants to know if people can Tango their way out of depression.

Ms Pinniger, an Honours student in psychology at the University of New England, Australia is organizing a "Tango trial" to help her find out.

Rosa Pinniger comes from Barcelona in Spain and lives in Sydney, where the "Tango trial" will begin next week. Not a Tango dancer herself, she was taken by surprise when she was invited to a Tango session and realized that it was "just the thing" for her study of alternative therapies for depression.

"In learning Tango movements you have to focus your attention and be completely in the present moment," she explained. "You need to be constantly aware of - and connect with - your partner, and so you can't have extraneous thoughts. In other dances you can still have thoughts - but not in Tango."

Such "mindfulness", she believes, can "switch off the automatic negative thought patterns that contribute to anxiety and depression. I believe that if people can experience freedom from their negative thoughts for just the three minutes of a Tango dance, they'll realise that such freedom is possible."

"While we already know that meditation can be helpful in the treatment of depression, not everyone can meditate. But everyone who can walk can Tango. It doesn't matter whether you're graceful or not; it's all mindfulness and connecting with another person."

Although she's from Spain, she did not consider Flamenco as a candidate for depression therapy. "In Flamenco you're very self-conscious," she said - "aware of your own posture and the impression you're making on others. In Tango you're not concerned with that. Also, the music of Tango is not intimidating."