What Do You Call "Dancer" Characters?

[Telluride]

Also, Eorzea needs belly dancing. We've got the outfits for it, now. And while belly dancers are often overtly sexual in their dances, it's because of the style of the dance, not because they are going to offer anything else to the onlooker besides the stage performance.

Sounds pretty interesting enough, but then you find out that there's like 7 different styles of dance that revolve around the term "belly dancing".

 

That does sound like a really cool concept though. Mind if Madda steals borrows it?

 

Heck, more than that. There ought to be a dancer's event, or at least a gathering. I have the toon for it. It is a tricky thing to RP right now, but I have seen some nifty macros. SE, moar dances, pls.

[Madda]

Also, Eorzea needs belly dancing. We've got the outfits for it, now. And while belly dancers are often overtly sexual in their dances, it's because of the style of the dance, not because they are going to offer anything else to the onlooker besides the stage performance.

Sounds pretty interesting enough, but then you find out that there's like 7 different styles of dance that revolve around the term "belly dancing".

 

That does sound like a really cool concept though. Mind if Madda steals borrows it?

 

Heck, more than that. There ought to be a dancer's event, or at least a gathering. I have the toon for it. It is a tricky thing to RP right now, but I have seen some nifty macros. SE, moar dances, pls.

Totally! It'd be nice for all the dancers and such to gather and then chat, teach dances to others, network a bit.

[Ozma]

To me Dancers were classes that can dance and cause various debuffs and status effects on enemy units. At the same time I had very hard time trying to counter 2 ladies who were masquerading as a Dancer class by dressing up as them but armed with overpowered abilities like Stop Bracelet/Shadow Stitch that can 1 hit KO anything and Everything. 

 

Dancers for me were a horrifying class to see in FFT.

[Telluride]

Interesting and relevant for gamer-dancers:

 

[video=youtube]

[Aya]

I find dancing so difficult to represent in text: whether RP or stories, despite my best efforts (I have quite a few stories including it in my threads!).  To date. Aya has only danced in actual RP a few times.  I wouldn't mind doing so some more if she could be lured out of her currently sequestered state (partly due to a rather irrational belief that Ul'Dahn's would never be interested in a non-Miqo'te dancer!)

[Madda]

I wouldn't mind doing so some more if she could be lured out of her currently sequestered state (partly due to a rather irrational belief that Ul'Dahn's would never be interested in a non-Miqo'te dancer!)

Towering does have an interest in Aya after she managed to get her hands on some pinup pics.

 

If you ever wanna dance for a 7 ulm FemRoe.

[PkThunda]

I find dancing so difficult to represent in text: whether RP or stories, despite my best efforts (I have quite a few stories including it in my threads!).  To date. Aya has only danced in actual RP a few times.  I wouldn't mind doing so some more if she could be lured out of her currently sequestered state (partly due to a rather irrational belief that Ul'Dahn's would never be interested in a non-Miqo'te dancer!)

I personally use chain emote macros, tying them together enough to look like dance steps.

[C'kayah Polaali]

I'm amused by the idea that dancers would by necessity also be prostitutes in any era other than the modern one. I'm more amused by the idea that other professions wouldn't be...

 

Nat came up with the idea of gladiators also being prostitutes a while ago. The idea makes total sense to me. Some muscular, skilled fighter in a light steel subligar in the fighting pits, body sheened with sweat and blood? They'd attract attention.

 

In our own history, actors have frequently been associated with prostitution. Why not in Eorzea, too?

 

Likewise musicians.

 

Likewise witches and sorceresses. Now there's an interesting idea. "There, sir. I've washed your wounds and aetherically healed them. Would you like a happy ending with that?"

[111]

I'm amused by the idea that dancers would by necessity also be prostitutes in any era other than the modern one. I'm more amused by the idea that other professions wouldn't be...

 

Nat came up with the idea of gladiators also being prostitutes a while ago. The idea makes total sense to me. Some muscular, skilled fighter in a light steel subligar in the fighting pits, body sheened with sweat and blood? They'd attract attention.

 

In our own history, actors have frequently been associated with prostitution. Why not in Eorzea, too?

 

Likewise musicians.

 

Likewise witches and sorceresses. Now there's an interesting idea. "There, sir. I've washed your wounds and aetherically healed them. Would you like a happy ending with that?"

Historically gladiators were absolutely prostitutes.

 

They were slaves, but sort of like rock stars. The whole City of rome just watched some guy wreck it in the Arena, and then he stands there among the fallen, his rippling muschles covered in blood and sweat.

 

You can believe people paid shitloads of money to be the one who would fuck them right after the match. Gladiator training halls also often doubled as brothels. 

 

I can imagine Ul'dah being the same way, and we can see how people like 'Franz the Fair' are sexual objects.

[Aya]

Historically gladiators were absolutely prostitutes.

 

They were slaves, but sort of like rock stars. The whole City of rome just watched some guy wreck it in the Arena, and then he stands there among the fallen, his rippling muschles covered in blood and sweat.

 

You can believe people paid shitloads of money to be the one who would fuck them right after the match. Gladiator training halls also often doubled as brothels. 

 

I can imagine Ul'dah being the same way, and we can see how people like 'Franz the Fair' are sexual objects.

I think that reputation hangs over most lower-paying physical performance professions (i.e all of them!), and those who work intimately with their clients  And reasonably so! Its part of the reality of life for a dancer, etc.  But, what this means is that every dancer has to deal with the idea that others think they may be prostitutes, it does not mean that every dancer is one.  its really not much different in the modern world, in these professions sex is often considered a currency, at least many people view it that way. 

 

I'm not trying to say: no one should think dancers also sell sex.  Not that at all.  That reality is part of the life and culture, and part of what I have always thought effects Aya's life. ICly many people assume that she is one, or has been one, and even her father accused her of it.  The perception of these things are all tied up together: that doesn't mean that dancers also sell sex, period.  Just many people will assume that they do.

[Dat Oni]

Interesting and relevant for gamer-dancers:

 

[video=youtube]

 

If I could dress up Aradial as Shantae some time...

[111]

 

 

This is a very good point. There are quite a few economic and moral schools of thought that view all work that is done only for money to be prostitution.

 

That there is no true difference between having sex for money, and being a taxi driver. Both ways are using their body and time to gain profit, and while they have different work and risks and requirements, they're both equally profane/acceptable. 

 

A society like Ul'dah that lacks the morals of Earth religions could very much have the same view. That city in particular I think would not see shame in using one's beauty to gain advantage. After all, no one complains when the smart or strong do it

[Oli!]

 

 

 

 After all, no one complains when the smart or strong do it

 

stop being stronger than me

 

die in a hole

[Aya]

After all, no one complains when the smart or strong do it

Work-it Work-it!  Don't worry, Aya's making a life of that for now! ^^

 

I do think that Ul'dah, especially, being so transnational in nature, is probably as you describe.  The sme with Limsa.  Conservative Gridania and Ishgard...?  Not so sure

 

As far as characters, of course, its all up to the individual!

[Madda]

I'm amused by the idea that dancers would by necessity also be prostitutes in any era other than the modern one. I'm more amused by the idea that other professions wouldn't be...

 

Nat came up with the idea of gladiators also being prostitutes a while ago. The idea makes total sense to me. Some muscular, skilled fighter in a light steel subligar in the fighting pits, body sheened with sweat and blood? They'd attract attention.

 

In our own history, actors have frequently been associated with prostitution. Why not in Eorzea, too?

 

Likewise musicians.

 

Likewise witches and sorceresses. Now there's an interesting idea. "There, sir. I've washed your wounds and aetherically healed them. Would you like a happy ending with that?"

Historically gladiators were absolutely prostitutes.

 

They were slaves, but sort of like rock stars. The whole City of rome just watched some guy wreck it in the Arena, and then he stands there among the fallen, his rippling muschles covered in blood and sweat.

 

( side note: the url code and stuff for posting is either too picky or horrible. )

[Jana]

 

I'd imagine that the common street dancers might be willing to have sex for money, and maybe there are pimps/madames with their turfs in Ul'dah and other cities, but at the same time, I don't think it's a foregone conclusion that being a dancer/gladiator/bar girl or anything similar meant you were also a prostitute.

[Caspar]

I'm amused by the idea that dancers would by necessity also be prostitutes in any era other than the modern one. I'm more amused by the idea that other professions wouldn't be...

 

In our own history, actors have frequently been associated with prostitution. Why not in Eorzea, too?

A notable npc in my character's backstory sold his body when not acting in the manner of old kabuki actors. I feel like I'm reaching a bit given we don't know much about Doma though. It fit given the kind of theater background he had, and allowed him the leave to gather info.

[Chill Man]

Dancer job or riot.

[K'nahli]

I can't speak for Ul'dah specifically, but I recall at least a few of NPCs referencing the fact that anything of that nature was "unfavourable" to say the least. I think I recall one or two saying that they'd rather die than stain their soul by pursuing coin through such means. It's a shame that I can't for the life of me remember who actually says this but I think that at least one of them was an Ala Mhigan.

 

For that reason alone I'd personally contest the idea that it's widely embraced and accepted as "the norm" but unless anyone can back that up(my hazy recollections that is) then remember to take what I say with a grain of salt.

[Branson Thorne]

For that reason alone I'd personally contest the idea that it's widely embraced and accepted as "the norm" but unless anyone can back that up(my hazy recollections that is) then remember to take what I say with a grain of salt.

 

I would think it would be more widely accepted depending on the location. For instance, I view Ul'dah as a scum of a city, there's rundown alleyways and crime all over the place. Though upper class dancers may be present in Ul'dah, I think they would be the exception.

 

Limsa I would view having the 2nd largest sex worker attendance, with Gridania being the least.

 

And these are all just my personal opinions.

[Ignacius]

For that reason alone I'd personally contest the idea that it's widely embraced and accepted as "the norm" but unless anyone can back that up(my hazy recollections that is) then remember to take what I say with a grain of salt.

 

I would think it would be more widely accepted depending on the location. For instance, I view Ul'dah as a scum of a city, there's rundown alleyways and crime all over the place. Though upper class dancers may be present in Ul'dah, I think they would be the exception.

 

Limsa I would view having the 2nd largest sex worker attendance, with Gridania being the least.

 

And these are all just my personal opinions.

 

And let's all remember that this game is Japanese, and their attitudes towards sex workers is a lot different than that in most of the countries we live in.  Here in America, prostitution (and even dancing) have historical taboos associated with them.  Many of the more tight religious sects (the Mennonites being the best example that springs to mind) consider dancing and music outside a religious setting to be encouragement to sin because it might lead to sex (all those bodies pressed together and whatnot).

 

In Japan, dancing and being sex workers are parts of a long and colorful tradition.  Whether you agree with it or not (and there are people across the world who are at odds with their respective cultures) a lot of this isn't necessarily as seedy there.  Being a dancer who engages in sex work is better, culturally, than just being a sex worker, and even then the idea that having a woman's company for the night for pay will lead to sex isn't so firmly ingrained on that culture.

[Garalona]

Dancer job or riot.

 

This. This right here. I want to kill people with the power of dance.