Dirty Dancing: An Ethnography of Lap Dancing

by Rachela Colosi

Overview

Based on ethnographic research conducted in 'Starlets', a lap-dancing club in the North of England, this book delves into what is often seen as the 'deviant', and 'stigmatized' world of lap-dancing. As well as the relationships between dancers, the author offers a unique insider's account of lap-dancing club culture, having worked as a lap-dancer both prior to, and during, the study. The book tells a fascinating tale of the author's experiences working as a lap dancer and the insights this has provided. This book projects a textured picture of working, socializing and living as a lap-dancer by following the dancer from the beginning of her career, to her eventual exit; providing a fluid and comprehensive examination of the occupation of lap-dancing. As well as building on the popular themes of 'dancer motivation', 'dancer exploitation/empowerment' and risk already embedded in existing literature, this book also offers completely new insight into this industry by drawing attention to the occupational subculture of which lap-dancers at 'Starlets' were found to be a part. This book is recommended for anyone studying or researching in this field.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780415627641
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	03/20/2012
Series:	Routledge Advances in Ethnography
Pages:	206
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.19(h) x (d)

Table of Contents

1. Introducing the Ethnography – Working and Researching in a 'Deviant' Occupation 2. Lap-dancing and the Night-time Economy 3. Rules, Contracts and Players 4. Introducing Starlets: A Lap-dancing Club Setting Karen's Story – Part 1: Starting Out 5. Becoming a Dancer Karen's Story – Part 2: Working at Starlets 6. Learning to Lap-Dance: An Apprenticeship 7. Experiencing Lap-dancing 8. Being Established Karen's Story – Part 3: Leaving Starlets 9. Leaving Starlets 10. Lap-dancing – Complex and Contradictory. Epilogue: The Last Dance ...

Editorial Reviews

'This is an important study of the occupational culture of lap-dancing. We learn how dancers do their job, manage their identity and membership of a community, their motivations for 'stripping' overtime, and how women manage the 'players' of the lap-dancing world. Dirty Dancing provides a truly authentic, detailed and original account by a 'dance-ethnographer' of how the lap-dancing industry sits within the British night time economy.' – Dr Teela Sanders, University of Leeds

'This book, which presents one of the first accounts of lap-dancing within the United Kingdom, proved to be very interesting. Because the vast majority of studies related to stripping and strippers are confined to the United States, this work offers invaluable insights for both scholars of deviance and comparative criminal justice alike. Colosi’s examination of the lap-dancing subculture proves to be unique and offers an in-depth, insider’s perspective of adult entertainment. In spite of the fact that Colosi was employed as a dancer during the course of her study, she presents her findings in an objective and unbiased manner. Her work is also comprehensive in that it examines lap-dancing from the perspectives of managers, customers, and of course, the dancers themselves. It is likely that this book will find a strong audience within the disciplines of sociology, human sexuality, and criminal justice and may very well be regarded as a classic in the years to come. For these reasons, I strongly recommend Dirty Dancing.' – Robert M. Worley, Texas A&M University Central Texas

 

From the Publisher