Re: Smelly dancing

[Daniel M Iannarelli <dmi @OSTEOPATH.THERAPIST.ORG.UK>]

Hello all.

Re - the 'smelly' issue.

It's a natural thing to sweat. We all do it - some more than others.
However, it doesn't necessarily follow that sweating causes 'smelliness'.
Some people do not seem to sweat, and yet exude a certain foulness into the
local atmosphere.

A lot can be done to offset 'SMELLY SYNDROME'.

There are different types of smells that can exude from our bodies. I won't
go into too much detail, but I don't need to elaborate on the fact that some
smells are substantially more unpleasant than others(!). In ANY
activity/circumstance in which one is in contact (close or otherwise) with
others, it is a simple sense of common courtesy to ensure that all our bits
and pieces are scrubbed clean and ready for whatever action they are called
upon to perform in the heat of any given moment.

Good, efficient, effective personal hygiene is an ABSOLUTE NECESSITY.

I tend to sweat a fair bit, so I take precautions. The last thing I want is
to be labelled as being smelly-sweaty, smelly-breathy, smelly-bummy,
smelly-feety or indeed smelly-tackle-'ey'!

I thought I'd point out a few considerations for the road to Mr/Ms Clean and
Fresh, as follows:

i. For a start I 'Immac' my armpits! Ok, I'm an heterosexual guy and some
people say that it's not manly to do such a thing. Well, if that's true (and
I think that's a load of rubbish) I'd rather be 'unmanly', 'unsmelly',
clean, fresh and danceable-with, than manly and smelly with no one to dance
with! Hairy armpits - not to mention other hairy parts - are a breeding
ground for the (natural) bacteria that produces that icky acrid sweaty
smell.

ii. To a Practica or Milonga, I take a couple of changes of shirt/t-shirt,
underwear, or whatever. Even those who don't sweat much will get a bit
moist, and so should thing of taking along at least one change.

iii. A towel or two is also a very useful accessory.

iv. I always carry a ROLL-ON anti-perspirant deodorant. The sprays are no
use. The spray goes everywhere and people will avoid you for other reasons.
Also, think of the choking atmosphere if everyone uses a spray. Invariably
they will be of different brands, and therefore the dissemination of such a
cloud mixed scents can be unbearable and choking. Use the roll-on
intermittently throughout the evening. NB: the roll-on shouldn't be of too
strong a scent.

v. Breath-freshener. Keep that breath fresh. Suck an orange before going to
a Milonga/Practica. Then, when you get there - use chewing-gum. At many
Milongas I've experienced in Buenos Aires, there are different brands of
chewing-gum for sale at the entrance desk. Makes sense, doesn't it? Also,
consider the fact that bad breath is not always from the mouth itself. The
food you eat can have a considerable bearing on the colour your partner
turns when dancing with you! Other causes: dirty teeth, gum-disease (yecchh!
A BAD one this!), the previous night's curry (for example), mouth ulcers
(get rid of them!), alcohol (important to consider as this can also be
offensive), disease, infection, poor lung ventilation . . . to name a few.
Take each of these possible factors into consideration and combat the
relevant offender respectively.

vi. Remember also that spicy food can not only play havoc with each of our
opposite orifices, but can also ooze out through our largest organ (no,
guys - not THAT one!) - our very skin! Take this into consideration and
think before having that Indian food, garlic-ridden pizza, or whatever,
before (even a day or two before) dancing.

vii. Always wash hands after using the bog! This is a basic courtesy - after
all, we are touching hands with others.

viii. Always shower before going dancing - whether late or not!

ix. Change underwear regularly!

x. Fumigate those dancing shoes regularly. Lots of bacteria can build up and
breed within the confines of our shoes. Often the smell can insidiously
exude from down there, pass up between the dancing pair and foul-up our
nasal intelligence. Result? Each of the dancing pair is secretly blaming the
other, with bilateral loss of credibility!

However, let's talk a bit more about breath:

Bad breath is another Mr Smelly-inducing factor we should not forget about!
There is nothing (well, almost nothing) worse than bad breath. Trouble is
that it's often there when we don't know it. I, for one, would appreciate
anyone telling me that I have bad breath. It's only when one knows about a
'smelly-breathy' problem one may have... that one can do something about it!
Fundamentally, it's our duty to tell our tango (or otherwise) colleagues -
in a nice, but also diplomatic way, of course - that there is a problem and
a reason why there is a cloud of bluebottles following him/her around. This
is especially important for teachers. The last thing we want is for our
students to be put off coming to classes because of a Mr or Ms Smelly... and
it certainly happens.

The person in question MUST be told about the problem (breath or
otherwise) - for their sake, the other students' sake, and your own sake as
a teacher. After all, it's the size of your class at stake. Wouldn't do any
good if all your students disappeared for no apparent reason, and you were
left alone with one student to teach - yes, Mr/Ms Smelly! Soon YOU would
also leave the class!

It all boils down to consideration and courtesy. Think of how YOU might like
to dance with a smelly partner. It's an horrible experience - we ALL know
that! If someone does offend your nostrils, approach a friend of theirs and
explain the situation - DIPLOMATICALLY! It's often best coming from a
friend. Perhaps this will do the trick, and make dancing tango the
pleasurable experience it should be.

If all else fails, buy a bag of clothes pegs... or a gas-mask!

Regards to all,

Dani

Daniel M Iannarelli
Scotland
United Kingdom