Many of us have been to strip clubs at some point in our lives, but it’s unlikely that you received a crash course in striptease history before you visited. You might be surprised to find out that men and women hundreds of years ago were entertained by a lot of the same things we’re still entertained by today. Over time, exotic dance and dancers have come to occupy a unique place in culture, to the point that they’ve become the traditional destination for bachelor party festivities. While some only care about what they’ll see when they visit, many people are curious about how clubs dedicated to exotic dancing became so popular. If you’re interested in the topic, keep reading to learn more about the history of strip clubs.
What is the historical origin of strip clubs?
While sex work and dancing as a form of entertainment have been around since the dawn of time, the club as we know it started to take shape in the late 17th century. Thomas Otway’s The Soldier’s Fortune, published in 1681, makes reference to women stripping to music in a lewd manner. There are a number of other works of art and cultural traditions that may have inspired the idea of modern exotic dancing.
Some suggest French colonists observing the dances of the Ghawazee in 20th century Africa played a part. While fundamentally different from striptease, Middle Eastern belly dancing also helped to popularize the concept of dancing as entertainment after being shown off at the 1893 World’s Fair.
How did clubs become what they are today?
Strip clubs have always been popular, but World War II was a significant factor in their popularity around the globe. The American style of club eventually made its way to Europe and Asia and influenced the exotic dance culture in those areas, too, mostly in the 1980s. War has always historically been a driver of the adult entertainment industry, and these clubs are another example of that.
Within the United States of America, Wall Street and the booming economy of the ’90s also played a role in turning clubs and strippers into a cultural phenomenon. Movies like Showgirls (1995) helped to change the perception many people have of dancers and clubs, turning them into a glamorous spectacle rather than something seedy and discreet. Due to the impact of media from the U.S. all over the world, this newfound interest in exotic dancing took root in other places as well.
If you’re curious about visiting a club yourself, finding a good one to visit in Brisbane or your local area is simple. You can just type “strip clubs Brisbane,” for example, into your search engine, and you’ll get plenty of results. Anyone planning on spending a lot of money should look into the club’s VIP services and whether they offer private dances. Many clubs also have photos of their most popular dancers online, so you can even choose a club that has girls who are your type. The only way to find out what it’s like, ultimately, is to visit yourself.
Looking at scantily clad men and women has been a form of entertainment since the beginning of recorded history, and stripping specifically can trace its origins all the way back to the 17th century. The Australian idea of a strip club specifically was influenced heavily by the American, European, and Asian traditions in the aftermath of World War II. While your friends may not appreciate a history lesson while you’re watching dancers on stage in their lingerie, the history of clubs and striptease can be a great way to get the conversation going at a different time. You can impress your pals and maybe even some of the dancers with your knowledge, even though it probably won’t get you a discount on your next lap dance.
