You smell! What?

[MadamSamba]

Ok. I just returned from an Argentine Tango lesson and overheard a rather unpleasant conversation.

A chap, having just changed partners during the lesson, rather undiplomatically told a lady that she stunk (physically, not her dancing).

The problem is that she had, for the past 15 minutes, danced with a man drenched in sweat and it had wet her own clothing and she did smell, but of him! The poor dear had a lovely perfume on and is always immaculately groomed, even after a hot and heavy AT session, but, not wanting to expose the real perpetrator, simply apologised and kept her distance.

It was thoroughly unfair, but it occurred to me that many fellows never seem to consider that the woman might have carried the odour from the previous guy. I know that on social nights, I smell of half a dozen different aftershaves, particularly AT where the embrace is closer than other dances. Unless I'm exhausted, I have a shower the moment I return home. I particularly dislike smelling of another man's sweat.

So, what's my question? 1) for the guys, how do you feel when you're sweating like a pig (another fabulous Aussie expression)? Do you hold the women at arms length or continue dancing closed hold nonchalontly?

2) How do the women feel about the issue? On the weekend I danced with a man whose shirt went from light green to dark green through sheer sweat. It was very offputting, but he didn't care, especially since men were in severe shortage. His sweat soaked through my top and I had to change because it looked like my sweat. How do you decline a dance on "too sweaty" grounds?

[pygmalion]

Ugh! One gross breach of etiquette compounded by another.

If these people wern't raised with a proper sense of courtesy by their moms and dads, surely they have enough sense to read the billion etiquette columns plastering the web. Simple etiquette -- if you're extremely sweaty, change your shirt, wipe down, re-deodorize, or get the heck offf the dance floor.

And, if you find someone else's sweat or smell offensive, politely decline the dance. Saying, "you stink" is no way to treat another person. Yikes!

That poor lady. I can only imagine that the problem is worse with AT than other dances -- given the close, close proximity of the dancers. When asked about sweat, many of the swing dancers in this forum thought it was a non-issue (of course, they bring extra shirts for their own comfort). But the closer the dancers get, the worse the sweaty/smelly problem gets.

[Vince A]

The woman was, of course, wrongfully accused, but she should have noticed "a smell" being emitted from the man in the first place, or at least saw how drenched in sweat he was. I have refused dances because of people being to "wet." I didn't want their sweat, especially from their hair, being slung on me.

Sam's for the guys, how do you feel when you're sweating like a pig?

I think it's called "taking pride in yourself."

I have the common courtesy to go to the men's room, and at least attempt to rinse off and dry. I don't think I've ever smelled bad while dancing . . . however, I always carry at least three shirts in my truck when I'm out dancing, and I will go change if I get too sweaty.

I may even do a spritz of "Cool Water" and add some fresh deodorant. A change of shoes and socks usually happens at this point, as well.

You never know when "Ms Right" is out there, but forget it guys . . . I already found her and married her!

[pygmalion]

So are people taught basic dance etiquette in tango classes, or do they just have to figure it out for themselves?

[cocodrilo]

I come in contact with quite a few shtinkers and it's soooo true how someone's BO can rub off on you. All of my dance-friends are very careful about applying deodorant and being freshly-showered, and the latin boys always douse liberally with cologne, so sometimes I end up smelling like them, which is OK. I'm big into wine and always drink wine at my parties, but alcohol breath can be quite a turnoff so I'm always chewing gum. I sweat like a pig(also an Americanism) so I have to be very careful what I wear- no problems with being stinky(au contraire, so I've been told!) but have to wear synthetics and little strappy things, perfect salsa attire!

[Suaveson]

Smell is not an option!

1. Shower before you dance.
2. Wear d/o
3. Perfume or Cologne (Just enough to be fresh not overpowering.)
4. If you sweat a lot, take a small sweat towel or exit the dance floor and freshen up. (sweat is just your body trying to cool itself off -nothing gross about it.)
5.Chew gum, take mints, or binaca.



I think the issue of sweat all depends who you are dancing with. One of the first few times I danced with my wife we were so into each other before we knew it 4 or 5 hours had passed by and we were both drenched in sweat. :friend:

I have run into people who just stink and the worst part of it is I don't even think they realize it.(heck maybe they are used to it.) :shock: A stinky person will surely clear out a dance floor quick.

[pygmalion]

And sometimes there's a cultural (or more correctly speaking diet) component. Certain things, like garlic, for example, will be excreted from your pores if eaten in large quantity, and no amount of DO can help that.

[pygmalion]

Just wondering. Maybe someone here knows. There are countries out there where wearing deodorant isn't customarily done, the way it is in the US. Do the people there worry about sweat, etc, while dancing? Or is the etiquette totally different? Hmm. Maybe there is a big cultural component we're all assuming.

[bordertangoman]

I checked out what websites have to offer

http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/hilaryjones/embarrassingprobs/bodyodour.htm

this seemed to be typical of the advice given;
sweat doesn't smell; its the bacteria on the skin, esp. in groin and armpits that cause the smell.

Which confirms my view; that I don't find sweat in itself offensive. I have danced on many a night in the summer where everyone is just dripping.

I try to stay clean then I react to most deodorants so I use an alum crystal which is antibacterial.

[cocodrilo]

I have been living in Asia for the past 19 years and have "smelled"(passively, of course) a lot of people here. Most Asians don't seem to sweat much. You should see the full make-up jobs on these ladies when dancing- heavy foundation, painted-on eyebrows, etc. I don't even bother with foundation or powder as I just end up wiping it off after the first dance(last night I danced 6 hours and soaked 2 hand towels.) Waterproof mascara is great for long evenings and a girl doesn't have to worry about scaring her partner if the mascara runs.
As for stinking being a cultural thing, I have been to most European countries and some of the folks just don't seem to mind if they smell. Some use d/o like we do in the states and others just prefer not to. I noticed one country that had particularly offensive-smelling men and that was the Czech Republic. I was there for a substantial time and noticed this everywhere when I toured the country. The women were beautiful and didn't seem to have this problem, however. Can you figure it out?