The Stage

Equity warns that “sex encounter establishment” branding will put dancers at risk

Published Tuesday 18 August 2009 at 17:30 by Lalayn Baluch

Equity is campaigning to prevent venues that host burlesque, pole and lap dancing from being classified as “sex encounter establishments”, warning that such a change will put dancers at risk of “physical danger”.

Under government proposals - supported by feminist group the Fawcett Society and the Local Government Association - such venues will require a Sex Encounter Establishment Licence within the Policing and Crime Bill. This could cost up to £30,000 per site.

Opponents of the reform fear that it will leave dancers out of work and impact the way they are perceived by the public.

Equity has tabled a motion to be put forward at the Trades Union Congress next month, which insists that entertainment venues are sufficiently covered by the Licensing Act 2003. It calls on the TUC to support calls for the reclassification to be dropped by the government.

Equity spokesman Martin Brown told The Stage: “We think it is simply wrong to categorise these places as sex encounter establishments. If the clientele go there thinking it is a sex encounter establishment, they may expect from these professional dancers things they are not willing to give. That could put them at risk and at physical danger.”

Last month, Camden Council backtracked on plans to license burlesque shows in the same way as lap dancing clubs following protest from dancers, including Ruby Rose of the Burlesque Women’s Institute.

Welcoming Equity’s motion, Rose said: “Defining lap dancing, striptease or burlesque striptease as a ‘sex encounter’ is a step backwards, being deeply misleading and potentially creating unnecessary stigma.”

Meanwhile, Kate Nicholls, secretary of the Lap Dancing Association - which last year presented a 3,000-strong petition against the reclassification of lap dancing clubs - said: “The bill will impose a costly and unnecessary second licence on clubs and see dancers labelled as part of the sex industry.

“It is wholly inappropriate and a disproportionate response to concerns about the siting and operation of clubs. With licence costs of £30,000 per annum, there is little doubt this measure will cost jobs. We hope the TUC takes note.”

But the motion has been met with some opposition within the Equity. Union activist Doremy Vernon said: “Burlesque dancers and pole and lap dancers are three very different sets of work. I get very upset that burlesque dancers have been lumbered in with the others by councils and Equity.

“Pole dancing, there is no doubt about it that it can be an extreme form of fitness, but it is a fact that men go there to be excited. Lap dancing, there is no doubt at all that that is a sex encounter situation.”