Movement, Synchronization, and Partnering in Dance

In a neuroimaging study of tango dancers, the authors attempted to address two fundamental issues about dance: movement patterning (i.e., navigation of the legs in space) and synchronization of movement to the beat of music. The results of the study revealed the importance of the posterior parietal cortex to spatial navigation of movement and the cerebellum to synchronization to the beat. In a later two-person study of leading and following in dance, the author found that leaders accentuate motor processes, while followers accentuate sensory processes in their partnership. Dance is an interesting marriage of movement patterning, timing, and joint action.