Table dance

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A dancer at Club Nocturne, New York, N.Y., 1940s (Portrait of Lois de Fee, Club Nocturne, New York, N.Y., ca. July 1948) (LOC) (5268915685).jpg
A dancer at Club Nocturne, New York, N.Y., 1940s

A table dance, or bartop dance, is a dance performed at (or on) a table or bar, as opposed to on a stage. It may be an erotic dance performed by a sex worker or it may be done as a leisure activity.

Contents

Sex work

In strip clubs, a table dance is a semi-private sexual performance that takes place near or on a customer's table. [1] In some jurisdictions, a table dance may be an alternative to a lap dance, due to laws preventing exotic dancers from making contact with customers. For example, in Waterloo, Ontario, a table dance is performed on a small portable platform the dancer takes around to patrons’ tables. [2] The Windmill Theatre in Soho, London operated as a strip club from the 1990s until 2018. The club's licensing conditions included a "no touching" rule and the club had a licence for striptease, pole-dancing and table dancing. [3] [4] In many clubs, dancers earn most of their money from tips for table dancing. [5]

Establishments

Bartop dancing is encouraged at Coyote Ugly's chain of bars. Coyote Ugly bar dancers.jpg
Bartop dancing is encouraged at Coyote Ugly's chain of bars.

The bartop dance, performed for the entertainment of those seated at the bar, is similar to the table dance. The film Coyote Ugly , set in the New York City bar of the same name, led to a fashion for bartop dancing establishments. Several bars around the city (e.g. Coyote Ugly, Hogs and Heifers, Red Rock West Saloon, Doc Holliday's Saloon) actively encouraged women to jump on the bar and dance, contributing to an "Anything Goes" atmosphere. Hogs and Heifers encourages dancers to leave their brassiere hanging from the ceiling to commemorate their dance. However, table dancing is forbidden at many events and establishments.[ where? ][ specify ]

Table dancing by patrons (both male and female) became more common in New York after the enforcement of the City's cabaret licenses (required for dancing establishments) was relaxed around the time of the 2001 election of Mayor Michael Bloomberg. In 2002, the Hilton sisters Paris and Nicky were reputed to be constant table dancers at club Bungalow 8. Nicky denied the allegations and claimed that they only dance on the banquettes, and added that she did it purely "because it was fun". At another restaurant named Da Silvano, it was reported that Kim Cattrall, Candace Bushnell and Patricia Duff were seen table dancing together. Duff said "Somebody placed me up on the table, so I danced," and that the night was "spontaneous and magical". [6]

Carnivals and festivals

Another form of table dance is practiced at traditional events like in Brazilian, European and Australian Carnivals, in German beer tents during Oktoberfest, and at other similar events. However, this kind of table dance is not of an erotic nature. As this dance often leads to accidents, especially if performed by intoxicated individuals or when tables collapse, it is forbidden at many events but dancing on chairs or benches may still be allowed.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soho</span> District in London, England

Soho is an area of the City of Westminster, part of the West End of London. Originally a fashionable district for the aristocracy, it has been one of the main entertainment districts in the capital since the 19th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Striptease</span> Erotic dance

A striptease is an erotic or exotic dance in which the performer gradually undresses, either partly or completely, in a seductive and sexually suggestive manner. The person who performs a striptease is commonly known as a "stripper" or an "exotic" or "burlesque" dancer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sex show</span> Live performance of sexual activity

A sex show is a form of live performance that features one or more performers engaging in some form of sexual activity on stage for the entertainment or sexual gratification of spectators. Performers are paid either by the spectators or by the organisers of the show.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stripper</span> Striptease performer

A stripper or exotic dancer is a person whose occupation involves performing striptease in a public adult entertainment venue such as a strip club. At times, a stripper may be hired to perform at a bachelor party or other private events.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lap dance</span> Type of erotic dance

A lap dance is a type of erotic dance performance offered in some strip clubs in which the dancer typically has body contact with a seated patron. Lap dancing is different from table dancing, in which the dancer is close to a seated patron, but without body contact. Variant terms include couch dance, which is a lap dance where the customer is seated on a couch.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Erotic dance</span> Dance meant to provide erotic entertainment or elicit erotic or sexual thoughts

An erotic dance is a dance that provides erotic entertainment with the objective to erotically stimulate or sexually arouse viewers. Erotic dance is one of several major dance categories based on purpose, such as ceremonial, competitive, performance and social dance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Windmill Theatre</span> Theatre and cinema in Londons Soho

The Windmill Theatre in Great Windmill Street, London, was a variety and revue theatre best known for its nude tableaux vivants, which began in 1932 and lasted until its reversion to a cinema in 1964. Many prominent British comedians of the post-war years started their careers at the theatre.

<i>Beat Girl</i> 1960 film by Edmond T. Gréville

'Beat' Girl is a 1960 British teen drama exploitation film directed by Edmond T. Gréville. The film was released in the United States under the title Wild for Kicks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Strip club</span> Sexual entertainment venue

A strip club is a venue where strippers provide adult entertainment, predominantly in the form of striptease or other erotic dances. Strip clubs typically adopt a nightclub or bar style, and can also adopt a theatre or cabaret-style. American-style strip clubs began to appear outside North America after World War II, arriving in Asia in the late 1980s and Europe in 1978, where they competed against the local English and French styles of striptease and erotic performances.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coyote Ugly Saloon</span> U.S.-based bar chain

The Coyote Ugly Saloon is an American drinking establishment and the namesake of an international chain of bars, known for its bartenders dancing on the bar. It served as the setting for the 2000 movie Coyote Ugly.

<i>Coyote Ugly</i> (film) 2000 film by David McNally

Coyote Ugly is a 2000 American musical comedy-drama film based on the Coyote Ugly Saloon. It was directed by David McNally, produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and Chad Oman, and written by Gina Wendkos. Set in New York City, the film stars Piper Perabo in her breakthrough role, Adam Garcia, Maria Bello, Melanie Lynskey, and John Goodman with supporting roles performed by Izabella Miko, Bridget Moynahan, and Tyra Banks as Coyote Ugly waitresses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raymond Revuebar</span> Theatre and strip club in Soho, London

The Raymond Revuebar (1958–2004) was a theatre and strip club at 11 Walker's Court, in the centre of London's Soho district. For many years, it was the only venue in London that offered full-frontal, on-stage nudity of the sort commonly seen in other cities in Europe and North America. Its huge brightly lit sign declaring it to be the "World Centre of Erotic Entertainment" made the Revuebar a local landmark.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sexual Freedom Awards</span> Awards event for porn industry

The Sexual Freedom Awards is an annual British event that honours achievement in the sexuality and erotica industries worldwide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great Windmill Street</span> Street in London, England

Great Windmill Street is a thoroughfare running north–south in Soho, London, crossed by Shaftesbury Avenue. The street has had a long association with music and entertainment, most notably the Windmill Theatre, and is now home to the Ripley's Believe It or Not! museum and the Trocadero shopping centre.

The legal status of striptease varies considerably among different countries and the various jurisdictions of the United States. Striptease is considered a form of public nudity and subject to changing legal and cultural attitudes on moral and decency grounds. Some countries do not have any restrictions on performances of striptease. In some countries, public nudity is outlawed directly, while in other countries it may be suppressed or regulated indirectly through devices such as restrictions on venues through planning laws, or licensing regulations, or liquor licensing and other restrictions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hogs and Heifers</span> American chain of bars

Hogs and Heifers Saloon is a small chain of bars. The original bar opened in 1992 in the Meatpacking District of Manhattan, in New York City. A second location was opened on 1st Avenue between 95th and 96th Streets of Manhattan by early 2000. A third opened in downtown Las Vegas adjacent to the Fremont Street Experience.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Biker bar</span> Type of bar

A biker bar is a bar that is frequented by bikers. Some are owned or managed by people who are friendly toward bikers. Some bars and restaurants advertise that they are "biker friendly" to attract more bikers and motorcycle (bike) enthusiasts. Biker bars are patronized by people from all walks of life, including bikers, non-bikers, and motorcycle club adherents, including outlaw motorcycle clubs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oscar Owide</span>

Oscar Manuel Owide was a British businessman, who ran nightclubs, restaurants and sex industry businesses over a long career. He was the proprietor of Soho's Windmill Theatre, which he ran with his son Daniel Owide as the Windmill International, a "gentleman's club", offering adult cabaret, table and lap dancing. The Evening Standard in 2004 said Owide was once "Britain's biggest pimp".

Nudity in live performance, such as dance, theatre, and performance art, include the unclothed body either for realism or symbolic meaning. Nudity on stage has become generally accepted in Western cultures beginning in the 20th century.

References

  1. Victor, Terry; Dalzell, Tom (2007). The Concise New Partridge Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English. Routledge. p. 637. ISBN   9781134615346.
  2. Pender, Terry (February 12, 2008). "Table dancing here to stay". The Record (Waterloo Region) . Archived from the original on 3 March 2009. Retrieved 2008-02-24.
  3. Sheppard, Owen; Prynn, Jonathan (10 January 2018). "Historic Soho lap-dancing club The Windmill Theatre faces closure after performers flout 'no touching' rules". London Evening Standard. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
  4. Brown, David (11 January 2018). "Historic Soho strip club The Windmill Theatre loses its licence". The Times. Retrieved 11 January 2018.(subscription required)
  5. Morrill, Calvin; Snow, David A.; White, Cindy, eds. (2005). Together Alone: Personal Relationships in Public Places. University of California Press. p. 68. ISBN   9780520245235.
  6. Bob Morris (August 11, 2002). "The Age of Dissonance; Tabletopping Exuberance". The New York Times .