As we get ready for the Portland English Country Ball weekend, we would like to ask for your help in creating a dance environment that can be enjoyed by all.
To provide a safe, healthy and pleasurable evening of dance for all, we ask you not to wear scented products to any of the dance events during the weekend. If you are chemically sensitive, please understand that we strive to facilitate a frgrance free event.
Chemical sensitivity is a health issue for some members of the dance community, not a personal preference. Some people simply cannot tolerate even small amounts of chemicals in perfumes, after shave lotion, fabric softeners, hand lotions, dry cleaning fluids and many other personal products such as dandruff shampoo, hair spray, and other products containing fragrances or various petrochemical products. These chemicals can act as respiratory irritants, as cardiac stimulants (skyrocketing blood pressure, palpitations), and as neurotoxins (blurred vision, loss of equilibrium). The effects can be cumulative and each exposure can lower the sensitivity threshold so that people react to more substances at lower doses and with more severe symptoms. Exposure to even small amounts can cause these symptoms and it can be especially dangerous while dancing if dancers collapse or become unconscious.
The Ball provides a special challenge as many of us are used to "sprucing up" with colognes, perfumes, hair spray, and after shave. Fancy clothes come out of storage smelling of mothballs or perfume. Ball costumes are sent to the dry cleaners. Please be aware of the issue and check your products for fragrance. Please do your best to be fragrance free. If you suffer from chemical sensitivity, please come prepared to protect yourself against exposure.
For the Ball weekend, please:
- Save perfumes, colognes and aftershave for another occasion
- Forego using dandruff shampoo or hair spray - even unscented varieties
- Consider using unscented personal products (products are available from stores like Fred Meyer's and New Season's in Portland, suggested brand names include Tom's of Maine, Pure Essentials, Organic Essence)
- Plan ahead so that you can thoroughly air any clothing that has been stored in mothballs, that has recently returned from the dry cleaners, or that have been worn previously with perfume
Thanks for your continuing efforts to make our Portland Ball weekend safe, healthy and great fun for all.