How much alcohol can you handle?

[lundasalsa]

I've noticed a couple of times that the girls, eerh, followers, tend to get worse as the night proceeds (I'm talking about the same follower at different times). I'm not talking about keeping balance during spinning, but just keeping to the beat and responding to my signals.

My theory is that that doesn't have to do with them getting tired, but rather with the number of beers or wines consumed over the evening. Of course there is a small possibility that I my leading deteriorates, but I don't drink more than one drink over the evening and I don't feel tired. (That is, physically. The chore of asking for dances does exhaust me mentally, but that is a different story...)

So, I wonder: how much alcohol can one drink and still dance acceptably? I've read here many times that salsa dancers don't drink and dance at all. Is one glass enough to mess up one's dancing skills? In most countries (not Sweden), one drink is considered to be legally acceptable, though not recommended, when driving a car. Is salsa dancing more or less demanding than driving?

[Sagitta]

It depends on many things. I usually don't drink and dance. I have done some in the past, but I drink mostly to socialize. I never drink too much to affect my dancing too badly...

[pygmalion]

Hmm. I don't usually drink and dance, either. In a non-dance context, I can handle quite a lot of alcohol. But when I'm dancing, I don't need the extra stimulation. I just dance. 8)

[Lucretia]

I'm not the one to ask. I usually have one or none - glass of wine.

The endorphines keeps me high until the carbohydrates are gone in my poor body. Then I hit the wall because of lack of energy. I loose the beat and get problem with balance and coordination.

It took me several evenings to understand what was happening. And unfortunately it always happened when the kitchen had closed for the night. Peanuts helped me a few times.

Now I bring my own parcel of energy, hidden in my handbag. Swedish Polarkaka :shock: :lol: . You can eat it without butter, cheese or ham. Don't need any cooling.

What did I want to say with this....well It might be that these girls don't realize that they need to eat to be able to dance. It is energy consuming to dance salsa. You cannot manage a whole evening on icewater. One could consider a salsanight like half a marathon and eat like an athlete to perform well.

Perhaps you should bring a few pieces of Polarkaka and se if it works. :D Or perhaps you should try Polarkaka yourself? :wink:

/Lucretia

[cocodrilo]

After last night let's just say I can drink everyone under the table.

[pygmalion]

:lol: :lol: EM's want to know!!! :wink:

[lundasalsa]

Then I hit the wall because of lack of energy. I loose the beat and get problem with balance and coordination. [...] It is energy-consuming to dance salsa. You cannot manage a whole evening on icewater. One could consider a salsanight like half a marathon and eat like an athlete to perform well.
I think that one's energy need is very dependent on fitness. The human body has a big stock of carbohydrates (glycogen in muscles and liver) that you won't burn away with an evening of dancing. I find running or cycling long distances much more fatiguing than salsa. My heartbeat usually doesn't get over 120 bpm during salsa, which means it's mostly fat burning. In any case I have no problems with just drinking water and an occassional soda pop. On the other hand, I don't know how hard a workout it is for you girls to do all that spinning :)

Perhaps you should bring a few pieces of Polarkaka and see if it works.
That would cater for an original response to the "No, I'm too tired" excuse. :) :)

[pygmalion]

Cocodrilo may have a point, here. Maybe these girls just need to eat. :?

[motardmom]

I can't tolerate any. I took a dose of Nyquil a while back and it gave me wicked nightmares. Never again. LOL

I was out at a nightclub a few weeks ago and met my instructor. He'd had a beer before I got there. (No, this wasn't a lesson, it was just a chance meeting.) I could tell he'd had a drink. He wasn't dancing poorly, just a little bit, er, loose (? not sure if that's the word I'm looking for).

[dancin_feet]

I generally don't drink when I'm dancing. If I go out to dinner with some dancing friends I may have 1 or 2, but that's it. It's not worth having a drink and not being able to dance!! :wink:

Though at my performance night a couple of weeks ago, it didn't matter how much I drank, I could not get drunk! I tried (after performing of course) but I gave up around midnight. Just drank water until we finally crashed at around 3.00am. But then I guess I was pretty much eating all afternoon and night. Maybe that was the difference....... :? :roll:

[tasche]

I'm a cheap date as 1" of beer makes me feel tipsy. I smell alchol and I get drunk it seems.

[peachexploration]

I can't tolerate any. I took a dose of Nyquil a while back and it gave me wicked nightmares. Never again. LOL
..... :lol: Whew! I'm glad I'm not the only one who can't handle Nyquil. I dream of spiders attacking me when I used that stuff. *shudder* I tend to stay away from any other alcohol. Not that I'm a non-drinker or never had it, I just tend not to drink if that makes any sense. 8)

[pygmalion]

Ahh! I remember when I used to get smashed on a wine cooler(2 - 5% alcohol.) Then I got introduced to chardonnay (6-7% alcohol. ) Then merlot (12 - 13% alcohol.) Now, it takes actual alcoholic beverages to get me impaired. :wink: :lol:

[peachexploration]

Yeah, I would say it depends on a person's tolerance level and also their food intake as well at the time. I haven't had alcohol in years so I'd proably couldn't handle it and dance at the same time even with food. Would not be pretty. Funny but not pretty. :lol: Side Note: Funny, I'm noticing more and more that some people have to get totally wasted in order to dance. Confidence thing I guess. Pretty hilarious to watch, though. But interesting how the word DANCE can scare the heck out of people. 8) Anyways, back to the topic. :)

[DancePoet]

I've had a glass of wine with dinner before dancing, but I usually don't mix the two.

[alvaro]

I dont usually drink while dancing, but i think that more important that how many drinks could i take, is how many more drinks than my partner can i take... and then stay clear from that number!

[cocodrilo]

I believe there wa another thread on this subject where I stated that I DO drink as the dances I attend are at clubs as opposed to studios. Most important to me is keeping hydrated as I dance hard( & sweat hard :oops: ) so I would say one glass of wine to one liter of water. I never seem to get too "buzzed" as I sweat all the alcohol out. It is also wise to have food in your stomach before or during drinking to absorb the alcohol & making less work for that liver.

Last night, Pygmalion? Let's just say we had a GREAT gig, I sang some cool jazz standards we had been practicing all last month, lots of friends showed up and then a bunch of us went out for drinks/dinner & drinks. I think I kissed someone I shouldn't have. I think he is a band member! :oops: :shock: :wink: (This was all in good fun, and according to the mail we all exchanged this morning, there were no regrets!)

[Lucretia]

I think that one's energy need is very dependent on fitness. The human body has a big stock of carbohydrates (glycogen in muscles and liver) that you won't burn away with an evening of dancing. I find running or cycling long distances much more fatiguing than salsa. My heartbeat usually doesn't get over 120 bpm during salsa, which means it's mostly fat burning. In any case I have no problems with just drinking water and an occassional soda pop. On the other hand, I don't know how hard a workout it is for you girls to do all that spinning :)


I do hardly spin - but I get tired anyhow. There are som guys that make the girl doing all the work. They send her to the left, to the right, in circles around. They behave like the centra of our earthglobe, and the lady is the moon. Perhaps tired guys stays even more centralized and make us girls even more tired. Just a theory.

(I'm sorry I havn't had the opportunity to dance with you. Otherwise I could have helped you better.)

But you are right on the spot, I guess the fat burning procedure does not start as it should. Probably because I dance too energiconsuming and have a puls greater than 120 (yes I have used a pulswatch and checked it). I'm trying to reduce my steps and adjust my style of dancing.

Perhaps Polarkaka(or any other carbohydrates) may help a few more keep the beat late at nights.

/luc

[squirrel]

I do drink... up to 3 beers a night. I don't really have a problem with drinking and dancing. Only when I am very tired... :).

But drinking is rather the habit than the exception here... :).

I had problems when I drank too much (spinning was hard and following was quite a problem)... but I usually refuse dancing when I feel I've had too much!

[lundasalsa]

Interesting responses so far. Most seem to be on the bandwagon, but a couple of you have no problems with drinking and dancing. It makes me wonder whether your dance partners agree on that. :) After all, people who are completely intoxicated often think they are only slightly tipsy. :)
:cheers:

[squirrel]

:) As I said, drinking is a habit in my country... so we nobody minds... (actually we think non-drinkers are weirdos...)... we usually convert the non-drinkers who get admitted in the gang! We even managed to convert this guy, who is presently living in Canada (he's of Romanian origin) and who told us we shouldn't dance and drink... :). Guess who was drinking beer the 2nd day spent with us!

[Flat Shoes]

I never drink and dance. But sometimes I have a beer or two if eating dinner before going out to dance. I don't eat garlic before dancing either.

I don't think a beer or garlic breath mixes very well with social dancing.

[Flat Shoes]

:) As I said, drinking is a habit in my country... so we nobody minds... (actually we think non-drinkers are weirdos...)... we usually convert the non-drinkers who get admitted in the gang! We even managed to convert this guy, who is presently living in Canada (he's of Romanian origin) and who told us we shouldn't dance and drink... :). Guess who was drinking beer the 2nd day spent with us!

Hey! Drinking is a big part of the culture here two, just not when out dancing.

Maybe because dancing is a special activity. When out dancing, it's a dance happening. It's not a club where dance is possible. Also, as state above, I don't think a beer breath is a very nice thing to add to the dance experience. But if the woman were drinking too, that would of course change things a bit.

[cocodrilo]

I never drink and dance. But sometimes I have a beer or two if eating dinner before going out to dance. I don't eat garlic before dancing either.

I don't think a beer or garlic breath mixes very well with social dancing.
I remember dancing once with a very CUTE and charming young latino and he tried to kiss me, on the mouth, when we were dancing. I turned my head to avoid this and got a very strong dose of garlic breath(*choke* wheeze*).

[squirrel]

Flat Shoes... I dance Salsa only in clubs! If it weren't a club... I probably wouldn't drink!

:)

[Tasek]

When I go out dancing most of the times I'll have a few drinks (2-4), over the course of an entire evening this doesn't really change my dancing compared to a sober state.

Every now and then i'll have a few drinks too much, but generally I can still dance although my lead then sometimes gets a little rough, and my ability to adjust to mistakes diminshes.

And to answer the question, how much alcohol can i handle?
Some time ago I got a compliment from a girl whom I had danced with who was mightily impressed that I was still able to dance after half a liter of vodka. Though for myself that dance (yes I do recall it) was pretty bad, was going purely on physical reflexes and constantly felt lagging, barely doing whatever I had to do in time. But apparently I did still take care of the girl. Oh, and don't worry, I rarely drink that much.

[dancin/dj]

no more than 2 wines for me, anymore and i get sloppy,i can have just as much fun without drink but i like some wine and un po buzz, sometimes i think (some dancers) should have a drink,because they think too much :roll:

[Flat Shoes]

Flat Shoes... I dance Salsa only in clubs! If it weren't a club... I probably wouldn't drink!

:)
Yep, I think that would apply to me too. But I don't suspect I would drink very much, just a two-three beers. And of course a lot of water.

The Lindy scene here is so small that there's no economy in a public lindy club. So when I go out dancing locally it's an arrangement by the local scene.. And it's not a place to drink, it's a place to dance.

[borikensalsero]

I only drink a bit on thrusday nights. I have 1 glasses of wine for every 10 to 15 dances, sometimes with a bottle of water. In 4 hours of dancing, I usually have had at most 4 glasses of wine and 3 bottles of water. I do not drink when I dance otherwise, but I want support the venue that is one of my favs.

I know a number of ladies who drink and dance. Boy, they go from advanced to, maybe you should sit down. Yet, they don't think their ability is affected at all. Hmmm

[pygmalion]

:lol: :lol: Exactly why I take it easy on the booze while out dancing. I don't want to land on my ... anatomy in front of a crowd. How embarrassing!

[MacMoto]

:lol: :lol: Exactly why I take it easy on the booze while out dancing. I don't want to land on my ... anatomy in front of a crowd. How embarrassing!
I managed to do that stone sober, and it's even more embarrassing when you haven't got a nice excuse like being drunk :oops:.

Maybe I should start drinking just so I will have an excuse next time that happens... :roll:

[Swingolder]

Isn't it funny how a person's slant on life changes. When I hung around with drinkers (married to one who is now the "ex"), I thought that is the only way to have fun and everyone drank. (I didn't drink and I seemed to be the only one not having a good time!)

Now, married to a nondrinker, I hardly every drink, most of the people we hang around with hardly ever drink, our favorite dance place just has a couple of water coolers set up and we all have a good time! If I do have wine, one is the limit, any place, or any time.

[delamusica]

sometimes i think (some dancers) should have a drink,because they think too much :roll:

So true! Some dancers would be a lot better if they'd just loosen up a little bit. :) Not that I want them to be falling on me, but you know - it'd be nice if they wouldn't worry so much.

[amrimi]

My maximum with dancing is one drink, but normally I stick to non-alcoholic beverages. But my problem is also that I'm one of only two privileged car owners in a group of about 20 dancers, so I'm the one who is driving anyway.

The amout of alcohol that I can drink while still be able to dance also depends on the height of my heals. With flat shoes i can drink more than with 3'' heals.

I know about the problem when I haven't eaten enough before I go out dancing. The other night I felt so sick because of that I couldn't dance anymore.

[Flat Shoes]

With flat shoes i can drink more than with 3'' heals.

As much as you want to, baby! :wink:

[Suaveson]

Hi all,

I think a few drinks is ok (just enough to loosen up a bit.) I personally will anywhere from 8-10 drinks (mostly shots of rum or tequila) over a period of 3-4 hours ( I just get sabroso :cheers: :banana: ) but that's the limit. I'm a big guy (5'10 225)so don't think I get totally plastered. I don't think you can get drunk and dance very well , you lose balance, timing and annoy other people. I'm a bit of a slow starter so a few good songs and a few drinks are needed for me to get going.

[borikensalsero]

Hi all,

I think a few drinks is ok (just enough to loosen up a bit.) I personally will anywhere from 8-10 drinks (mostly shots of rum or tequila) over a period of 3-4 hours ( I just get sabroso :cheers: :banana: ) but that's the limit. I'm a big guy (5'10 225)so don't think I get totally plastered. I don't think you can get drunk and dance very well , you lose balance, timing and annoy other people. I'm a bit of a slow starter so a few good songs and a few drinks are needed for me to get going.

If i was to have that many drinks, you'd have to carry me out! In an ambulance. I'm a total light-weight with alcohol.

[dTas]

i don't drink... i'm allergic to the sulfates used to produce alcohol. thus i don't drink so when i come across a sulfate free product my tolerance is so low that i'm out after one drink.

its better for me to to just stay away. i have no taste for the stuff anyway.

i think i can count the number of times i've tried alcohol in my life on 2 hands.

[tanzsegler]

When we consider fitness, drinking:-), and dancing:-), it is important to consider all the aspects affected. Firstly, your personal fitness will affect your ability to not become as physically tired as the night wears thin, or into the early hours of the morning. As you (or anyone) becomes tired your ability to connect the dots so to speak; music/timing, leading/following, and overall energy level will drop. With ANY alcohol in your system (one drink or 10 drinks), you will be simillarly affected as if you were tired reflexes slow, dehydration (also, dumkopf you can not sweat out alcohol, alcohol causes dehydration as well as the afformentioned impariments) dehydration will also cause you to lose energy and loose your steam, your coordination. In regards to having high energy throughout the night, it is easier to notice someone else who is becoming tired then it is to know exactly how tired you yourself are. For someone (especially girls, but also including guys) to have enough energy for the entire night, it is important to eat right (yeah, ok, I don't most of the time and I suffer because of it occasionally). To eat right ie correctly, you can't get by on a a cup of coffee and a doughnut, you need real food (if you don't know what that is go to the library look in the non-fiction TX900s) to give you energy.
Back to the alcohol and how much it affects you, if you are male and or are heavier, you will have a higher tolerance of alcohol. If you are female, or lighterweight, you will have a lower tolerance. That means that you guys who are 225 pounds built like a football (american) player, will have to drink 2.5 drinks to the 1 drink of the 117 pound girl who is built like a ballet dancer. Your ability to break down alcohol in the liver is about 1-1.5 drinks per hour (ie. 1 shot ____(insert liquer here), or one glass wine, or one beer, or .5(half) shot absinthe :-) ). And, regardless of your weight, age, sex, marital status, creed or color, you will be effected by any alcohol that you drink. With alcohol in your bloodstream, it is likely that you will have no idea of its current effects on you, but it will affect your dancing. If you can't get on the floor without a drink or two, perhaps its is not alcohol that you need, but perhaps you should instead see someone to help you look at your self image and your confidence in yourself.

happy dancing

[Suaveson]

If you can't get on the floor without a drink or two, perhaps its is not alcohol that you need, but perhaps you should instead see someone to help you look at your self image and your confidence in yourself.

happy dancing
:cry:

I've been married for 10 years (so I have no self image or confidence.) :lol: !

Just kidding - But to get back to the needing alcohol/help - you have to remember alcohol is a drug just like smoking or caffeine or any other nasty habit. You have to control it and be responsible when using it. I have yet to receive a complaint about being disrespectful, obnoxious. I don't drive after drinking, But I do enjoy having some drinks a couple of times a month and socializing with family and friends, whether it be at a club or someones house. When I said I need a couple of drinks and a few good songs to get going , it meant that I like to arrive somewhere and sit 20 -30 minutes and chat with whoever I'm with (usually in a big group of people - some who drink and some who don't) and then get my groove on. I don't know many people that get to the club and immediately stampede to the dance floor without loosening up a bit. (except maybe Boriken) -just kidding though. I know my limit and I don't exceed it, because nobody would be strong enough to carry me out if I were to pass out! :lol:

Good info however.......
[/b]

[borikensalsero]

I don't know many people that get to the club and immediately stampede to the dance floor without loosening up a bit. (except maybe Boriken) -just kidding though. I know my limit and I don't exceed it, because nobody would be strong enough to carry me out if I were to pass out! :lol:


That is right!!! I walk in, the music is on, I've got it going on!!! My loosening up is on the dance floor looking like a chicken with the head cut off. I've been known to dance even with my coat still on walking through the door.... wepa...

The bad part of not taking my time before hitting the first dance is when a lady comes with me and wants to have the first dance only with me, but she is shy!!! OMG, talk about time not moving!!! HELLO! The music has been on for 5 minutes!!! Yet I have to wait for one beer, 20 minutes of talk, one more beer to loosen her up... Then, ahhhhhh, she isn't ready! Not enough people on the dance floor! Ahhhhh! HELP!!!!

I simply go nuts that we've just spent a good 45 minutes not dancing! HELP!

[tacad]

No drinking and dancing for me. Actually alcohol tends to make me zone out.
I become less sociable. So I have to loosen up the hard way. I have enjoyed a glass of wine however. Great with Italian food!

Say, wasn't there some song with lyrics "You don't drink don't smoke, what do you do? You don't drink don't smoke, what do you do?"?

Oh! And in one lindy hop class the instructor was dancing with an assistant and commented that the assistants following skills which were usually razor sharp seemed to be off a bit. The assistant replied that she had had a champagne brunch a few hours earlier.

[squirrel]

I dance socially... for fun! I enjoy alcohol and resist to a lot of alcohol intake (training I guess :lol: :lol: :lol: , as I am very short and lightweight). So I don't see why I shouldn't mix the two! Dancing and drinking should be done together if one can cope with them! If not, you'd better stay away from alcohol! Since I do not see dancing as sports, nor do I train for competitions or shows... why not drink as well if I am enjoying myself?! Again, I am not advising anybody to drink, nor do I say I don't wanna be around non-drinkers... heck! I've got many non-drinking buddies... as many as I have of the other kind! I've just wanted to underline dancing socially is fun for me... and I associate fun with drinking a beer or 2 or 20 (depends on the mood)... and I don't mind dancing with tipsy people :)! :lol: :lol: :lol: Some of the best moments of my life tookk place when I was tipsy!

[squirrel]

:) I forgot to mention I start dancing the minute I walk through the door and there's Salsa music playing! :)

[MacMoto]

I don't know many people that get to the club and immediately stampede to the dance floor without loosening up a bit.
I do that -- through the door, get a bottle of water, change shoes, grab a guy and on to the dancefloor! :lol: I dance to loosen up. I don't need to loosen up to dance :lol:

Say, wasn't there some song with lyrics "You don't drink don't smoke, what do you do? You don't drink don't smoke, what do you do?"?
Dance, obviously :roll:

[tacad]

:lol:

[Sagitta]

I don't know many people that get to the club and immediately stampede to the dance floor without loosening up a bit. (except maybe Boriken) -just kidding though. I know my limit and I don't exceed it, because nobody would be strong enough to carry me out if I were to pass out! :lol:


That is right!!! I walk in, the music is on, I've got it going on!!! My loosening up is on the dance floor looking like a chicken with the head cut off. I've been known to dance even with my coat still on walking through the door.... wepa...

The bad part of not taking my time before hitting the first dance is when a lady comes with me and wants to have the first dance only with me, but she is shy!!! OMG, talk about time not moving!!! HELLO! The music has been on for 5 minutes!!! Yet I have to wait for one beer, 20 minutes of talk, one more beer to loosen her up... Then, ahhhhhh, she isn't ready! Not enough people on the dance floor! Ahhhhh! HELP!!!!

I simply go nuts that we've just spent a good 45 minutes not dancing! HELP!

I go the same way if I'm in the mood. I drag anyone out and will dance to anything. :? I have started so many latin dances by dancing as the first couple I don't think twice about an empty floor. Anyway, I prefer an empty one to one that is packed and people keep on bumping into my partner and me. :)

Let's see. Raluca and MacMoto both do the same as us. Not bad. We go out together and jump out there on the floor.

[motardmom]

I don't know many people that get to the club and immediately stampede to the dance floor without loosening up a bit. (except maybe Boriken)


That is right!!! I walk in, the music is on, I've got it going on!!!

I go the same way if I'm in the mood. I drag anyone out and will dance to anything. :? I have started so many latin dances by dancing as the first couple I don't think twice about an empty floor. Anyway, I prefer an empty one to one that is packed and people keep on bumping into my partner and me. :)

Let's see. Raluca and MacMoto both do the same as us. Not bad. We go out together and jump out there on the floor.

I just got brave a week ago and started dancing on an empty floor with my partner. It was weird at first, but after I got loosened up and a good connection going, it was no big deal. Don't know what I was nervous about!