8 tips to stay Cool while dancing HOT Salsa

Article written for OnlineSalsa.com by Robert Castellucci

Sweating is no fun. After three hours of non-stop Salsa dancing, you're bound to go through at least 2 wardrobe changes just to stay dry. Guys, make no mistake, dance partners do not enjoy your sweat. If you are lucky, they tolerate it and that is about the best that you can hope for. Since I am Italian, I break into a full sweat after eating spicy Doritos. Out of necessity, I have discovered a few ways to stay cool while dancing throughout the night:

1. A/C Vents & Fans
Let us start with the obvious: air conditioning. Hopefully, the dance room has central air or at least an A/C unit somewhere in the building. Do your best to jockey for positioning where the cold air comes out. The same goes for fans.

2. Take Off That Hat
If you are wearing a hat whilst Salsa dancing, stop it now. Most of the body's heat is released through the top of the head and by wearing a hat, more heat becomes trapped in the body, causing more sweat.

3. Snip Snip
It is funny how many parts of your life can be influenced by your obsession with Salsa dancing: your clothing selections, music choices and even hair styles. Just like hats can constrict the escape of heat from your body, so can that mop on your head. I used to have pretty long hair, but then I decided
to take a set of clippers to it. I am now rocking the crew cut and I love it. Not only do I sweat less, but I also look more put together on the dance floor when I do sweat. No more sweaty strands of hair everywhere. You can read more tips for how Salseras can carry their hair here.

4. Bring Ice Water
 A couple hours before the event, throw a Poland Spring bottle in the freezer. Take it out right before the event and now you have water that will stay colder for longer, which will make you colder for longer too!

5. Salsa Sweat Towel
Throw a small towel in your back pocket and whenever you start to sweat, wipe it off with the towel instead of your shirt. Not only are towels stylish and practical, they are also cheap! I get combo pack bandana rags at Walmart, 4 pairs for $3. They are all different colors so I can match with any shirt in my closet. Can't beat that.

6. Carry Spare Shirts
For us sweatier individuals, this is a no-brainer. Pack a spare shirt in your shoe bag and halfway through the night change shirts. Make sure that you are not actively sweating before you make the switch or that will just defeat the purpose. Also, start the night out with your nicer, more dressier shirt then replace it with a casual t-shirt. You do not want to go the other way around because who wants to slide into a nice shirt after sweating for 2 hours?

7. Take Rests
 I know Salsa dancing is fun and you want to dance every song, but do not. Give it a rest every couple of songs. Pace yourself. Dancing every song does not give your body a chance to cool down and does not let you take a time out to stand by the cold A/C unit or drink from your super cold water bottle.

8. Beg Your Studio to Get a Misting Fan
If you ever watch NFL football games, you know what misting fans are. The players sitting on the sidelines get to enjoy these misting fans, which blow cool misting air at them. These are great ways to cool down rooms up to 20 degrees. And because mist is so fine, there is no danger of people slipping from wet floors or causing harm to the wood.

What other ways do you stay cool on the dance floor? Comment here!

In the meantime, enjoy Buena Vista Social Club's Ibrahim Ferrer singing “El Cuarto De Tula” burning down because he fell asleep forgetting to put out the candle.

About the author

Robert Castellucci is President of  salsadancegear.com an online store for Salsa dance shoes, apparel, instructional DVD's, worldwide Salsa event tickets and more. He lives and dances Salsa in Gainesville, Florida (U.S.A.).