Taxi dancer
Encyclopedia
A taxi dancer, or taxi for short (the word has been used since circa 1927), is a paid dance partner in a partner dance
. For official purposes in the US, their occupation was referred to as "dancer", when they worked in taxi-dance halls that had all the necessary business permits. But there were some professional secretaries who did moonlighting
, or who worked part-time legally as a "dancer". Taxi dancers are hired to dance with their customers on a dance-by-dance basis. The term "taxi dancer" comes from the fact that, as with a taxi-cab
driver, the dancer's pay is proportional to the time he or she spends dancing with the customer.
would typically buy dance tickets for ten cents each, giving rise to the term "dime-a-dance girl". When a patron presented a ticket to a taxi dancer, she would dance with him for the length of a single song. The taxi dancers would earn a commission on every dance ticket that they collected from their dance partners. Typically half the price of the ticket went to pay for the orchestra, dance hall, and operating expenses, while the other half would go to the taxi dancer. The "ticket-a-dance" system was the centerpiece of the taxi-dance halls where the taxi dancers worked. During the 1920s, taxi dancers, while only working a handful of hours an evening, frequently made two to three times the salary of a woman who might work in a factory or a store.
Descriptions of taxi dancers and taxi dancing were documented as early as 1913 within San Francisco's Barbary Coast
neighborhood. At that time in San Francisco, the ticket-a-dance system was used in what were called closed dance halls, because female customers were not allowed: the only women permitted in these halls were the dancing female employees.
In the 1920s taxi dancing reached national popularity. At that time in Chicago
and in other large cities of the United States, dance academies began to adopt the ticket-a-dance system for their students. This system was so popular at dance academies, that taxi dancing quickly spread to an increasing number of non-instructional taxi-dance halls. By the mid 1920s, scores of taxi-dance halls had opened in Chicago and other cities, as the taxi-dance hall became the most popular place for urban dancing. Some films and novels of that era occasionally chronicled the life of taxi dancers. In 1927, Joan Crawford
starred in the film The Taxi Dancer
. Near that time actor Ed Wynn
starred in the Ziegfeld Broadway musical Simple Simon
, which popularized the song "Ten Cents A Dance
".
Taxi-dance halls flourished in America during the 1920s and 30s. But after World War II
the popularity of taxi dancing began to diminish, and most of the taxi-dance halls disappeared by the 1960s.
. These clubs no longer use the ticket-a-dance system, but have time-clocks
and punch-cards that allow the patron to pay for the dancer's time by the hour. Some of these modern dance clubs operate in buildings where taxi dancing was done in the early 20th century. No longer called taxi-dance halls, these latter day establishments are now called Hostess Clubs.
Taxi dancers are currently used in dance
styles such as Ceroc
for experienced dancers (male or female). They are paid to dance opposite a teacher.
Alternatively, taxi dancers may dance among paying customers in order to raise the standard, or dance among the beginners to encourage them to continue learning. In the latter situation, taxi dancers often provide their services on a volunteer basis, without pay, with the general goal of building the dance community.
In social settings and social forms of dance, a partner wanting constructive feedback from a taxi dancer normally must explicitly request it. The taxi dancer's role being primarily social, she is unlikely to criticize her partner directly.
Thanks to the boom in popularity of partner dances in the 2000s, taxi dancing is becoming more common in settings where partners are in short supply. This involves both male and female dancers. Male dancers are often employed on cruise ships to dance with single female passengers.
The growth in "Tango Tourism" to Buenos Aires, Argentina has led to an increase in both formal and informal taxi dancing services in the milongas or dance halls. While some lone operators are in the business of selling holiday romance, reputable tango taxi agencies offer a genuine service to visitors who find it hard to cope with the 'cabeceo' (eye-contact & nodding) method of finding a dance partner.
Partner dance
Partner dances are dances whose basic choreography involves coordinated dancing of two partners, as opposed to individuals dancing alone or individually in a non-coordinated manner, and as opposed to groups of people dancing simultaneously in a coordinated manner.In the year 1023 the German poet...
. For official purposes in the US, their occupation was referred to as "dancer", when they worked in taxi-dance halls that had all the necessary business permits. But there were some professional secretaries who did moonlighting
Moonlighting
Moonlighting is the practice of holding a second job . It may also refer to:* Moonlighting , a 1982 drama film by Jerzy Skolimowski* Moonlighting , broadcast in 1985–1989 and starring Bruce Willis and Cybill Shepherd...
, or who worked part-time legally as a "dancer". Taxi dancers are hired to dance with their customers on a dance-by-dance basis. The term "taxi dancer" comes from the fact that, as with a taxi-cab
Taxicab
A taxicab, also taxi or cab, is a type of vehicle for hire with a driver, used by a single passenger or small group of passengers, often for a non-shared ride. A taxicab conveys passengers between locations of their choice...
driver, the dancer's pay is proportional to the time he or she spends dancing with the customer.
History
During the 1920s and '30s when taxi dancing enjoyed its peak popularity, patrons in a taxi dance hallTaxi dance hall
A taxi-dance hall is a type of dance hall where dancers called taxi dancers are paid to dance with patrons . The owners of a taxi-dance hall provide music and a dance floor for their patrons and taxi dancers...
would typically buy dance tickets for ten cents each, giving rise to the term "dime-a-dance girl". When a patron presented a ticket to a taxi dancer, she would dance with him for the length of a single song. The taxi dancers would earn a commission on every dance ticket that they collected from their dance partners. Typically half the price of the ticket went to pay for the orchestra, dance hall, and operating expenses, while the other half would go to the taxi dancer. The "ticket-a-dance" system was the centerpiece of the taxi-dance halls where the taxi dancers worked. During the 1920s, taxi dancers, while only working a handful of hours an evening, frequently made two to three times the salary of a woman who might work in a factory or a store.
Descriptions of taxi dancers and taxi dancing were documented as early as 1913 within San Francisco's Barbary Coast
Barbary Coast, San Francisco, California
Barbary Coast was a red-light district in old San Francisco, California. Geographically it constituted nine blocks bounded by Montgomery Street, Washington Street, Stockton Street, and Broadway...
neighborhood. At that time in San Francisco, the ticket-a-dance system was used in what were called closed dance halls, because female customers were not allowed: the only women permitted in these halls were the dancing female employees.
In the 1920s taxi dancing reached national popularity. At that time in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
and in other large cities of the United States, dance academies began to adopt the ticket-a-dance system for their students. This system was so popular at dance academies, that taxi dancing quickly spread to an increasing number of non-instructional taxi-dance halls. By the mid 1920s, scores of taxi-dance halls had opened in Chicago and other cities, as the taxi-dance hall became the most popular place for urban dancing. Some films and novels of that era occasionally chronicled the life of taxi dancers. In 1927, Joan Crawford
Joan Crawford
Joan Crawford , born Lucille Fay LeSueur, was an American actress in film, television and theatre....
starred in the film The Taxi Dancer
The Taxi Dancer
The Taxi Dancer is a 1927 silent comedy film starring Joan Crawford and Douglas Gilmore. Crawford plays Joselyn Poe, a southern girl who tries her luck as dancer in New York...
. Near that time actor Ed Wynn
Ed Wynn
Ed Wynn was a popular American comedian and actor noted for his Perfect Fool comedy character, his pioneering radio show of the 1930s, and his later career as a dramatic actor....
starred in the Ziegfeld Broadway musical Simple Simon
Simple Simon (musical)
Simple Simon is a Broadway musical with book by Guy Bolton, and Ed Wynn, lyrics by Lorenz Hart, music by Richard Rodgers, produced by Florenz Ziegfeld, and starring Ed Wynn....
, which popularized the song "Ten Cents A Dance
Ten Cents a Dance
"Ten Cents a Dance" is a popular song in which a taxi dancer laments the hardships of her job. The music was written by Richard Rodgers, with lyrics by Lorenz Hart...
".
Taxi-dance halls flourished in America during the 1920s and 30s. But after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
the popularity of taxi dancing began to diminish, and most of the taxi-dance halls disappeared by the 1960s.
Taxi dancers today
Paying to dance with a female employee is still available in some nightclubs of the United States, including many in Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. These clubs no longer use the ticket-a-dance system, but have time-clocks
Time clock
A time clock, sometimes known as a clock card machine or punch clock or time recorder, is a mechanical timepiece used to assist in tracking the hours an employee of a company worked. In regards to mechanical time clocks this was accomplished by inserting a heavy paper card, called a timesheet,...
and punch-cards that allow the patron to pay for the dancer's time by the hour. Some of these modern dance clubs operate in buildings where taxi dancing was done in the early 20th century. No longer called taxi-dance halls, these latter day establishments are now called Hostess Clubs.
Taxi dancers are currently used in dance
Dance
Dance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting....
styles such as Ceroc
Ceroc
Ceroc is a partner dance best described as a fusion of Salsa and Jive, but without the complicated footwork. It is derived from many other dances including French Jive, Swing, Lindy Hop, and Rock and Roll, the main change being simplified footwork which makes it more accessible to beginners.The...
for experienced dancers (male or female). They are paid to dance opposite a teacher.
Alternatively, taxi dancers may dance among paying customers in order to raise the standard, or dance among the beginners to encourage them to continue learning. In the latter situation, taxi dancers often provide their services on a volunteer basis, without pay, with the general goal of building the dance community.
In social settings and social forms of dance, a partner wanting constructive feedback from a taxi dancer normally must explicitly request it. The taxi dancer's role being primarily social, she is unlikely to criticize her partner directly.
Thanks to the boom in popularity of partner dances in the 2000s, taxi dancing is becoming more common in settings where partners are in short supply. This involves both male and female dancers. Male dancers are often employed on cruise ships to dance with single female passengers.
The growth in "Tango Tourism" to Buenos Aires, Argentina has led to an increase in both formal and informal taxi dancing services in the milongas or dance halls. While some lone operators are in the business of selling holiday romance, reputable tango taxi agencies offer a genuine service to visitors who find it hard to cope with the 'cabeceo' (eye-contact & nodding) method of finding a dance partner.