smokers

I am pleased to report that I am taking dancing lessons and having a fabulous time learning to dance well

I have found many of the threads here at Dance Forums interesting to read.

My question:
I am a smoker. I have no interest in prolonging this obnoxious habit.

For the non-smokers out there, I am asking: Just how smelly is it dancing with a smoker?

Thanks for any comments.

Hi learningtodancewell. Welcome!

On the smoker question, I have to say it depends. My first dance teacher was a chain smoker, and I rarely, if ever, smelled smoke on him. He brushed his teeth after every smoke break, constantly consumed mints or breath strips, and always smoked outdoors, where the wind could blow the smoke away. It bothered me not at all, even though I'm very sensitive to smoke.

On the other hand, I've danced with some smokers where I could barely stand the smell. I'm not sure what the differences were.

Either way, I'm glad you're dancing, and glad you're now part of the DF family. Welcome.

learningtodancewell said:

I am pleased to report that I am taking dancing lessons and having a fabulous time learning to dance well

I have found many of the threads here at Dance Forums interesting to read.

My question:
I am a smoker. I have no interest in prolonging this obnoxious habit.

For the non-smokers out there, I am asking: Just how smelly is it dancing with a smoker?

Thanks for any comments.

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As long as you don't breathe in my face and, if you could, would you dance with me from across the room . . . then I won't smell you . . .

To a non-smoker . . . it's very, very noticeable!

Welcome to df learningtodancewell!

I would go with what Pygmalion and Vince say. If I don't smell it I don't care about it and I'll dance with you. If I smell it I'm with Vince. I won't dance with you.

learningtodancewell said:

My question:
I am a smoker. I have no interest in prolonging this obnoxious habit.

For the non-smokers out there, I am asking: Just how smelly is it dancing with a smoker?

Click to expand...

Welcome to DF learningtodancewell! I'm glad you are enjoying learning to dance.

In an effort to support your goal of not prolonging that obnoxious habit, you can almost always tell who smokes. First, they generally stink. It's not always the breathe, but when it is that is the worst! Sometimes it's just that slight odor clinging to thier skin and clothes. Second, smokers tend to get winded quicker and so can't dance as well, or as fast (where fast is an issue.) Stop smoking now, and you will increase your life expectancy and so will be able to dance longer!

Kevin

Hi, learningtodancewell! And welcome to a fellow newbie to DF!

I've never found it hard to dance with smokers or non-smokers. Most of the dancers I know obsessively consume breath mints so the only time I notice if someone smokes is if we go out clubbing together. Carry those breath tabs with you and don't worry about it--have fun!

Sagitta said:

If I don't smell it I don't care about it and I'll dance with you. If I smell it I'm with Vince. I won't dance with you.

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Me too. :wink:

Though, I heard that smoking kills your appetite, thus it makes you look slim. Wish I have that figure. :x :?

One thing that sucks when coming back from a Las Vegas competition, is when all my stuff, even the stuff I didn't wear, smells like smoke. It's not cool, because you know how the laundry care can be for some of our costuming... and even the stuff that's washable - you don't want to be washing black more than you need to.

At least no one smokes in the ballrooms, which I hear is thanks in part to the Professional Dancers Federation (PDF), before indoor smoking laws became so popular.

What's amazing is the amount of tip-top pro's that smoke... I guess since many of them are European :?:

Welcome to DF learningToDanceWell...

Ahhhh, It is the worse to dance with a smoker. I don't know if it is just me but, when I'm dancing all out and someone who smokes walks by me. It's like if they still had the cigarette at hand. Yuck, I even start coughing. If it is the one I'm dancing with, I try to dance as far away from you as my lead allows, and that will be the last time we dance.

Great to hear you want to quit.

To be honest I'm not as turned off by the smell of cigarette smoke as I am by spices such as garlic, alcohol and body odor.

learningtodancewell said:

IFor the non-smokers out there, I am asking: Just how smelly is it dancing with a smoker?

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Very Smelly! I cant stand the smell of a smoker. I really dont like coming off the floor after a dance and smelling like Im the one who has been smoking!

When Im dancing progressive at my studio, Ive become really familiar with the smokers and as I see them getting closer in the dance I start dreading the dance with them...terrible as it sounds!

ShyDancer said:

When Im dancing progressive at my studio, Ive become really familiar with the smokers and as I see them getting closer in the dance I start dreading the dance with them...terrible as it sounds!

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Progressives at our studio are usually only a short sequence, so can generally hold my breath for that time if necessary!! Not nice I know, but sometimes you just have to do what you have to do.

thank you for your replies

Thank you all for your replies. I really appreciate them. I showed them to my instructor and she said she doesn't really smell my "smokiness". Whew!

Any dancer insights on quitting smoking?

I am now gobbling chewing gum to keep my breath fresh but I look like a 1950's teenager chomping on the gum. I just bought some Lifesavers mints to end that problem I hope.

Listerine pocket packs :!:

Re: thank you for your replies

learningtodancewell said:

Any dancer insights on quitting smoking?

.

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Hi learningtodancewell

I'm a newbie here myself and an ex smoker (I kicked the habit in June last year). I think part of the success in quitting is to be absolutely certain that you really want to quit. There's no in between. I've had many friends quit because they thought they should (not because they wanted to) but returned to it not long afterwards. I quit for several reasons -

1. I was tired of spending so much on the habit when I could spend it on something more constructive (like dance classes)
2. I didn't like my clothes smelling...or my lounge, my furniture, towels, the dog...
3. My then fiance, now wife, is an asthmatic and I had to consider her health (if not mine).

I didn't take any of the patches or nicotine gum as I didn't think much of them. I had an inhaler but that only lasted a few weeks when I realised how ridiculous it looked sucking on a plastic tube. For me it was needing to have something in my hand.
Anyway, I think everyone is different but the main thing is the psychological aspect. After battling the cravings, by concentrating on something else, I began to find that physical part of it less difficult to manage. Now I find I can sit with smoker friends and not crave a 'puff' myself.
Whichever way you approach it, best of luck.