SEAN ZEVRAN--Allow me to make a distinction between two types of dancers—that is the go-go dancer and the erotic dancer—and how both require a special set of skills worthy to be proud of.
Go-go dancers perform in timed sets with our primary emphasis on delivering a phenomenal performance in sync with and supplementary to the art of the DJ. Go-go dancers must possess rhythm, athleticism and good eye-hand coordination. We are driven by our love for the music and the exhilaration of the party environment. Working as part of an entire production team, go-go dancers serve as the visible carnal manifestations of the sounds produced by the DJ. If the music were said to be the soul of the party, we, as go-go dancers, would definitely be its heartbeat.
Erotic dancers usually work for private venues, and for themselves, to provide customer service with their primary emphasis on hustling. Not unlike waiters and bartenders, the goal of the erotic dancer is customer satisfaction in order to maximize tips, or profit, utilizing individual sex appeal, social skills and other talents. Erotic dancing often requires patience, open-mindedness, an outgoing personality, and, for the most successful erotic dancers, a tad bit of ambition.
I have experience working as both a go-go dancer and an erotic dancer, though the past couple years I have worked predominantly as a go-go dancer, as go-go dancing is more compatible with my personality. Either type of dancing requires a unique set of strengths and skills, and some are fortunate enough to possess the strengths and skills to be successful at both.
Though we are as surely to possess our flaws as any other human being, we are still people, each of us having our own life story, motivated by our own reasons to dance. And, personally, I think many of us—I know I do—share a small bond with our fellow dancers simply because we know the intricacies of the industry and we share in an experience that most people will never be privy to. Despite a lot of stereotypes and abusive criticism that we have to put up with, I have always had and always will have pride in my work and passion as both a go-go dancer and as an erotic dancer, as should every dancer.