Cheerleaders
for Reproduction
by Amelia Dallis
by Amelia Dallis
The dancers were brazen. They were lusty and primal. Their power was undeniable and strong.
On any given night or day, thirty to sixty women descend upon the stages and runways of clubs like Flashdancers in New York where I have come to find out about strippers and stripping.
The club is a sensory jungle of lights, music, alcohol, food, smoke machines and the sensual intensity of the women. I observe the ritual of the table dance or lap dance. A man approaches the dancer, or the dancer senses his interest and approaches him. The first thing she does as the music starts is to ask him to spread his legs to make room for her performance. This position leaves the man vulnerable and reinforces a very stringent line of acceptable behavior. The first rule of conduct for the clientele of topless clubs is "Do not touch." A few seconds into the song, the dancer removes the top of her dress or bra to expose her breasts. Then she slowly undulates and turns. She bounces and rolls her bottom and places her hands on the customer's shoulders, moving her chest in so closely he can smell the flesh of her breasts. Most clubs will allow the dancer to initiate limited contact, though it is often restricted to a quick rub of her bottom against his groin. Some clubs, however, have very strict rules governing table dances. The women are not allowed to touch their breasts, rub the front of their G-strings or suck their fingers. The strip-club Stringfellows insists an invisible two-foot box exist between dancer and customer.
The dancers police each other on any infractions because they affect tips. When the song ends, the dancer has made $20. If a woman is diligent she can make $80 an hour. And this of course is why the women dance.
The dancers work from 12 noon to 8:00 pm or 8:00 pm to 4:00 am, four or five times per week. They leave with $500 to $800 per "booking" (shift) and the really good dancers can make up to $1200. In this environment, women transform sexual power into earning power. Topless dancing allows them the economic freedom and flexibility of scheduling they need to live comfortably while raising children or pursuing other careers. One dancer, Rita, designs lingerie, T.J. acts and writes children's books and Rachael, is an actress. Gabriella worked for minimum wage in a clothing store and grew weary of coming home to find her roommates counting "piles of singles." She's now been dancing for five years. Val was working to support her singing career. After working 26 hours for $13, she answered an ad for "Girls! Girls! Girls!" in a local paper. After dancing for one week, she had made enough to cover her rent.
