A good shower and plenty of soap
I found your article about sweat very interesting and informative but I feel we really need to talk very directly to the people who can cause serious problems for dancers with their sweat. I refer to the (mercifully) few people who literally stink with stale sweat because they will not wash themselves or their clothes often enough. It only takes one of these people at a session to make life very unpleasant for everyone else. We have all had the totally unpleasant experience of dancing a set where one dancer (usually male) was covered in sweat and stinking with it. At the end of the set seven other dancers can be seen running to the toilets and washing their hands to try to clean themselves. We can also expect to see dancers taking extraordinary steps to avoid getting into another set with this guy. Indeed he should be left standing there on his own until he gets the message. The late great Connie Ryan never pulled his punches with anyone and he certainly did not do so with these individuals. Many a time I heard him advise publicly at the end of his workshops, 'Go and have a good shower and use plenty of soap and put on a clean shirt before coming back here tonight. And don't be just putting the old shirt on the radiator to dry it and then put it on again tonight'. He was not behind the door either in personally nailing an individual who ignored his advice. These tactics worked as it was a very hard necked person indeed who would ignore advice from Connie. Who would know what he would do next! I appeal to all set dancers to examine their conscience in this regard and if necessary to take action to spare the noses and stomachs of their fellow dancers. I also appeal to all those 'best friends' who are out there. If you have a pal who offends in this area please please tell him or her as gently, quietly or downright bluntly as you have to. If all else fails you could at least leave copies of this note lying about on the table where they sit with the relevant lines underlined.

It can be so enlightening discussing the problems of overheating. One male dancer admitted to changing his shirt every set while another charming and elegant lady confided that she often buys two tee shirts, or more, of the same type and colour so when she changes them no one is aware. This weekend the ceili was a five tee shirt dance and the only colour she could field that many shirts in was black! And one vivacious lady, in a not overly long garment, actually admitted to leaving off certain items of what some of us would consider essential underwear, in the pursuit of comfort. Now that sounds like a good survey to conduct!