As summer heats up, so do the socials: Be prepared!
I decided with the last social being so hot, to take a minute to remind everyone what it's like every summer at the YA Salsa Socials by updating and reposting content from a post response I made last year:
Yes, it is true that the temperature can get quite high - especially in the summer months and when it's very humid like during the unseasonably warm weather at the April social (and the May 23 social). YA Salsa volunteers make our best effort to keep the place - and the dancers - as cool as possible by doing the following:
- Keeping the air conditioning on (this only works for so long - once the dancers reach a critical mass, the air conditioning has no effect)
- Opening the doors to provide fresh air ventilation
- Using high powered fans throughout the room
- Providing copious amounts of very cold, fresh water
- (New this year) renting out the basement room to thin the crowd and offer additional, cooler dancing space
What we, unfortunately, cannot control is when the social occurs on a hot or humid day (at least not based on the weather forecast) because the date is booked at least a month in advance. The fact is, the more people in a room, the hotter it will get, winter or summer, and with all the bodies moving, it makes it even hotter and more humid.
In my experience, men who dance, sweat - a lot - no matter what the temperature (and that 's how I like em!). For those who find the heat difficult to tolerate, we suggest taking frequent breaks by stepping outside to cool off; drinking A LOT of water - always, always, always important to drink WATER; avoiding alcoholic beverages or pop; and paying attention to the signals your body is giving you.
Also, it's not practical to wear anything other than summer clothing. You should wear loose fitting, lightweight clothes whenever you come to dance. People who walk in wearing long-sleeved shirts, pants made from heavy materials and light sweaters quickly realize their mistake.
As for the sweaty men, keep a towel on you if you can boys! It isn't exactly fun to have a slippery lead!
The bottom line is that it's up to you to take care of yourself, understand what your body is telling you and take care to not overexert yourself if you feel like the heat is too much for you. Here are some tips from the CDC on preventing heat exhaustion.
~ Jess
thank you
I just want to say that you guys to an amazing job. Thank you for being there and doing this. Much love and respect. :))))))
rg
Helping the situation
What would have helped the past May 23rd social is having TWO (2) more fans that is faced in a way that would carry the hotter and more humid air outside. Usually there are two more fans, but this time there was only one.
Also, the fans won't work well if all three were pointing towards the dance floor (or people blocking it). The air would be 'locked in' as there won't be any cross current.
My suggestion is to pull in cooler air from the Front entrance and from the entrance closest to the DJ into the room, thus facing inwards. And the third and only fan facing outwards will be at the entrance near the food table.
This would create a cross current, pulling drier and cooler air in, and purging out hotter and more humid air out.
Also, all doors must be open, which I hear is difficult when the neighbors complain. Send them a free invitation to come out and that should help.
When the Social was at Dearborn, the facility there had a higher ceiling that acted as a buffer for the hotter and humid air. Unfortunately, the current VFW location lacks that buffer and you feel it quite quickly.
Also, artificial material or a mix will lessen the amount of sweat dwelling. I wear Polypro material that is breathable, and don't get sticking shirt or pants that only makes you want to sweat even more (this reduces the evaporation effect as air cannot travel between skin and clothing).
Nude Salsa dancing in black light is the coolest way I know to reduce perspiration.
Fans and nude dancing, lol
Well, we found out that the A/C wasn't working, well after the fact, and the VFW hall folks promise to have it fixed well before the next one. We also had all the doors propped open and we actually put the same number of fans out as we've always ways have. We did not however, do any cross ventilation, though I've suggested that in the past to pull air from outside in and from inside out. I'll redouble my efforts to see if that works for next time.
As for nude dancing, I'm sure that's an option for some, but I shiver the thought, personally!!
Thanks for the suggestions. And, as always, keep the feedback coming!!
~Jess
Drink water.
Drink water to hydrate. When it gets warm you need more even when you don't sweat. From what I know dehydration makes blood harder to move for your heart, and puts wear on it. I'm sure it cause other problems. Probably makes skin look bad too. You can tell your hydration by the color of your pee. Clearish is hydrated. If it's not drink a liter. Water water water...