Dancers hoping to return to the floor, but with respect

With each subsequent judicial order demolishing the state government’s arguments in favour of banning dance bars, the hope amongst women in the industry grows, but rather silently.

For most of these women, while the heart may favour an unequivocal return of the dance bar, the mind seeks a better work environ.

The ten-year-long hiatus has changed innumerable things: some women have travelled abroad, some have fought off tough days and for most, given them a feeling of self-respect.

But, in real terms, what will change mean to the women, an estimated 75,000 working in the city as dancers.

A code of conduct for the patron, more formalised employment for the dancer and taking the industry out of the greys that public perception surrounds it with.

“For once, we are dancers and dance is all that we must do. We don’t want to dance in close proximity to men and allow them to touch us,” says 24-year-old Sweety, not her real name.

After the ban in 2005, the dance floor in many bars turned into a spectacle without much rationale.

Many took to singing, some took to waiting tables.

But a majority who couldn’t sing and didn’t want to wait, took to standing.

Their role was essential but absurd: stand around the performance area, throw smiles at customers, start a futile conversation, all in the hope of tips.

Sweety entered the business in 2007, after the ban was imposed but knows enough.

For another dancer Alisha, who works at a bar in Navi Mumbai, the pressing concern is the skewed sense of financial dependence that the bar industry creates.

“We have no full-time salaries. Instead, we are supposed to solicit tips from customers and the bar will let us retain it, after a 40% cut.”

Such lack of fixed monthly income makes the girls vulnerable and often pushes many to prostitution, in order to sustain herself and her family members.

Beyond this, however, it’s the battle of perception that the women wish they would win. For most dancers, the victory is as small as this: just being able to tell the world the work they do.