This last week I read a great article by Don Baarns, The Unlikely Salsero, regarding proper grooming habits for men that go out salsa dancing.  Indeed, I think he does a good job in the article by describing common problems with some men that go salsa dancing who fail to take care of simple things like cutting their nails, using deordorant, and even brushing their teeth!  

Aside from the most obvious things like mints and deodorant, I’ve seen many people in the salsa scene here in San Diego take an extra shirt (some people tend to sweat ALOT and women generally do not like to touch a sweaty back), a handkerchief (helps if you want to clean up in between dancers), and even talcum powder. Each person is different so the items you may bring will vary.  It’s true that sometimes you can get lucky and go to a place that has a bathroom attendant who can provide many of these items for a small fee, but it’s best not to rely on this.

In my own experience, I’ve found that its best to have prepared some basic items before going out to dance.  I never go out to dance without bringing a handkerchief, lip balm, and of course some sort of mints.  The best ones out there in my opinion are the Listerine sprays that fit nicely in your pocket.

What things do you do to prepare for dancing?  What makes up your Salsa and Latin dance grooming routine? What are some of your dance “horror” stories regarding dancing hygiene?    Share your thoughts here with a comment.  

I agree with Don that there really is no age limit for dancing salsa or pursuing those activities for which you have a passion.  In my own experience as a salsa dancer here in San Diego, some of my best dances have been with women over 40.  Indeed, I’m happy that the salsa scene here is very welcoming to older dancers since it adds to the overall sense of community when you see young and old interact in dance.

This video I’m posting here has been on youtube for a while now, but its still a great example that you are never too old to salsa dance.  See you on the dance floor!

As the San Diego Salsa Festival approaches, I’ve received numerous emails from people that are attending the event. For many of these folks it will be their very first salsa festival or congress that they will be attending. Many of these dancers are unsure about how someone can maximize their time at a salsa festival given that there will be so much to experience.

Apart from taking advantage of the salsa workshops that I mentioned in a previous Ritmo Bello article , I think it’s vital for new attendees to the salsa festival to fully integrate into the event by simply dancing and interacting with other attendees. I know from my own experience that it can be a little intimidating to arrive at a salsa event of this magnitude and be overwhelmed by the big names in attendance when you are just starting out. The Unlikely Salsero (aka Don Baarns , a friend of Ritmo Bello and online salsa dance resource, recently wrote about the upcoming San Diego Salsa Festival and addressed some of these issues. In particular, he’s written a 2 part series with tips and recommendations for those attending a salsa festival or congress.

Check them out and feel free to offer up any comments here to help out those attending the San Diego Salsa Festival for the first time.