No, Lap dance is different from
Go-Go dance. Let us review both in detail.
Lap Dance
A lap dance is a seductive dance
performed either in the lap of a paying customer or near him on a table. The
dancers are scantily dressed or completely nude depending to which level it is
allowed by the state’s jurisdiction and the individual club’s policies. The lap
dancers either dance topless or sometimes entirely nude.
According to the local laws and
community standards, there could be touching between the dancer and the patron.
Where some clubs totally prohibit touching, some choose to give a blind eye to
the activity between the dancers and the guests. Some clubs even have private
rooms in the back where guests can book lap dance sessions. The charges for lap
dance vary from club to club and the duration is usually the length of the
songs being played by the club disc jockey.
In the 1970s, a club in San
Francisco changed its policy so dancers would sit nude in the customers' lap
for a $1 tip. This started bringing in more customers and the club was doing
great business soon. It also meant that the club could pay less to the dancers
and thus this practice spread quickly. This then evolved into lap dancing.
It has always been a debate
whether lap dance should be considered a form of entertainment or a kind of sex
work. Lap dance has often been alleged of promoting sale of sexual acts through
installation of dark private rooms at clubs.
Go-Go Dance
Go-go dancers are the girls
(usually) who dance at clubs on a stage or a cage in the middle of the dance
floor and they are paid to do so. They are hired to liven up parties and events
and add atmosphere to discos and clubs where music is played. Go-go dancers do
not strip but receive tips sometimes. They are paid to be at parties as pieces
of art to provide eye candy to the guests. If there is some popular dance step
at the time, they lead and energize the crowds.
Go-go dance was first developed
in the 1960s in America when women wore knee-high boots to dance clubs which
eventually began to be called Go-Go
boots thus the name of this dance came up from a popular slang from that
period. The word ‘go’ is associated with energy and vigor. This may be another
reason behind the naming of this dance style as it adds energy to the room.
Some go-go dancers who perform in
bright colorful costumes with props like a snake or a fire stick are called as
performance art dancers. They are hired for special parties, rave dances or
circuit parties.
Go-go dancing was very popular in
the 1960s and made a comeback in 1988 and has remained popular ever since. My personal favorites are the go-go girls at
Club Allure in Chicago. They just make the air of the place so alive. We
are always enthralled to be there as they have the best atmosphere.
Conclusion
After reviewing about both the
dance styles and what they involve, it can be said that go-go dance is more
decent and legal than lap dance and both are performed for a different impact
on the audience.
