One of my initiates once asserted to me that he had once been told that two people dancing the banda together during a Vodou service must avoid looking each other in the eyes to prevent becoming sexually aroused. That's no way to have sex, when you have sex for real you want things sweet, and nice. When a lwa comes, it can do what it wants, but we ourselves are serving the lwa. Big dances, where several congregations come together, provide opportunities for new encounters, and the dancing itself provides the opportunity for men and women to display health and strength, as well as talent for song and movement. At a Vodou dance, men generally wear normal civilian clothing, trousers or jeans, and nice shirts.
Women wear dresses, usually with full skirts, and head kerchiefs.
The Houngans or Mambos present may be dressed more richly, or in clothes more resembling African styles. Men seldom remove their shirts, unless it has grown quite late and everyone is more or less soaked in sweat from several hours of dancing. The exceptions are the drummers, who in many cases are professional musicians who are not members of the congregation. Drummers often play shirtless, because they are the first to ruin their clothes with perspiration, owing to their exertions playing the drums. Outside of religious activity, the magical work of Houngans and Mambos very often includes doing sex-related magic.