Meredith is a renown tango performer and teacher with deep roots in Philadelphia. Her talent has taken her dancing all over the world, but now she is at home running the Philadelphia Argentinean Tango School in Fishtown.
For 26 years, tango has been her anchor, providing a sense of belonging that had long eluded her. “Tango has been the first long-term consistent community that I have been part of,” Meredith shares, highlighting the profound effect this dance form has had on her well-being.
Her childhood was marked by loss and isolation. “My father was slowly dying of cancer and passed less than a month after my 18th birthday,” she recalls. This experience left her feeling disconnected from her peers, struggling with “relentless sadness and pain” that set her apart from those around her. The lack of access to mental health services compounded her struggles, leaving her to navigate complex emotions alone.
Yet, in tango, Meredith found more than just steps and rhythms. She discovered a sanctuary where her past experiences could be channeled into expressive movement and meaningful connections. “There are many of us in tango who have found community and acceptance in tango.”
What’s particularly striking about Meredith’s experience is that it’s far from unique. She notes, “I have met many other people in tango who had been isolated for various reasons: learning differences, depression, differences in values, political orientation or sexual orientation from the norms in the communities they lived in.”
Tango, it seems, has a remarkable ability to bring together individuals from diverse backgrounds, offering them a shared language of movement and music.
The inclusive nature of tango aligns with research showing that social connections fostered through dance can significantly improve mental health outcomes. The physical activity, emotional expression, and social interaction inherent in tango create a potent combination for healing and growth.
Meredith’s words underscore the transformative power of tango. “Tango can be a big umbrella that welcomes people whose lives are very different from one another.”
Through tango, Meredith and countless others have found a path to resilience, community, and joy. It offers a unique combination of physical activity, emotional outlet, and social connection that can help heal past traumas and build strength for the future.
In Meredith’s story, we see the profound potential of dance to nurture well-being, create spaces of acceptance and belonging, build community, and share joy.
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Read our other blogs on dancing for mental health and movement for trauma healing.
If you want to learn more about the impact of dance on mental health, connect with these resources:
Health and mental health benefits of dancing
Some places to go dancing in Philadelphia for wellness and fun
