Personal Hygiene

Given the physical closeness in Tango, good hygiene is essential and, for the vast majority of dancers, it is not an issue. However, probably all of us have had the occasional dance where we have become aware of our partner’s presence in a less than Tango way. At very least you can tell what they had for dinner!

This is a sensitive and potentially embarrassing area to cover, but if there was a problem, we think most of us would prefer to be the first to know, rather than the last. So we offer these words, just in case there could be something here of value for you. 

Top Hints:
  1. Shower before dancing whenever possible.
  2. If you perspire, use a towel often. Men often bring an extra shirt and change into it half way through the evening.
  3. Use a deodorant and, if you need to, an effective anti-perspirant.
  4. Use breath fresheners frequently. Many venues provide mints on the welcome table.  Even people who brush and floss their teeth regularly may still suffer from bad breath. Sometimes the source is bacteria in the minute crevices of the tongue, which can be improved by brushing, sometimes it is tooth decay, gum disease, or it can be dietary. If self help doesn’t sort it out, seek professional advice.
  5. Think carefully about eating strong foods before dancing, like garlic, onions and curry, as they linger on the breath, skin and clothes for a long time. Also, when you have been cooking – especially frying – the odour remains on your clothes.
  6. Smokers: in our experience the vast majority of your partners will not share your habit. Sucking a mint after smoking a cigarette is simply not enough because tobacco smoke penetrates your clothes, your hair and your skin and the smell does not go away with a mint, even though you, as a smoker, are not aware of it. Please do whatever you need to so that your partners will not have to endure tobacco smells when dancing with you.