BOISE, ID — A local trip club hoping to continue to offer its customers nude dancing in spite of the city’s anti-nudity ordinance has been told that its dancers do not qualify as art models, no matter how many patrons take the time to sketch them.Boise cops, keen to head off any naked stripper related chaos that might result from their dancing or sitting still while being drawn have informed the Erotic City nightclub that its dancers are in violation of the city’s no-nudes are good nudes policy and that although the club has only been given tickets this time, the authorities won’t be so kind in the future.

A week after police sent the club a warning informing its management that having pads of paper and pencils available to patrons so they could participate in an “Art Night” promotion on Mondays and Tuesdays did not meet the city’s description of “serious artistic merit.” Thus, three dancers were cited for their nakedness due to the club’s continued violation of the law.

Although naked dancers and models are fine with Boise authorities if they participate in conventional forms of dance, theater, or art classes, being involved in a business that is dedicated to “entertainment which is intended to provoke sexual stimulation or gratification” changes everything.

Erotic City’s owner, Chris Teague is not impressed by the city’s tactics, although he has had his girls put their clothes back on. While the issue is being hashed out in the courts, the pads and pencils are still available although the Art Nights are on hold.

Teague, for his part, has some strong opinions about the issue, referring to the Boise city government as a “communist police state.”

Of particular irritation to Teague is the fact that he feels his dancers have been singled out for punishment. “I am really upset that they cited the girls, but not me,” he explains. “These girls have families to feed; they are doing this for a living.”

According to one of the dancers, who thinks the ordinance is wrong and hopes to dance nude for Teague’s club again, two plainclothes police officers required an hour before they were able to determine that the dancers were not wearing any clothing and thus in violation of the ordinance. At that point, uniformed officers entered the building and began handing out citations to the naked women.

The misdemeanor office of public nudity comes with a punishment of up to six months in jail and a $300 fine.

Although the dancer in question isn’t worried about the issue in the long term, Boise city prosecutors warn that the club owner could well be charged with aiding and abetting the wanton nudity.
Teague finds the idea that his dancers are naked in public to be ridiculous. “My club is a private place – you don’t come into my club unless you want to come in.”

According to Teague, the idea of the Art Nights came about after a customer asked if he could draw one of the dancers while she was unclothed. Although he initially denied the customer’s request, he changed his mind after reading the Boise ordinance. The powers that be may claim he’s just trying to get around the law, but Teague points to the art on his wall as proof that the evening “has serious artistic merit.”

Boise dancers are required to wear at least a g-string and pasties. Their occasional nudity was discovered in October after police received complaints and detectives investigated. A letter requesting that the dancers cover up did not result in compliance, thus earning the tickets.

Although the city can not close the Erotic City for its violations, it can continue to hand out tickets or pursue legal action. All signs currently point to legal action. Other clubs have encountered similar situations and changed their garment policy. Dancers can be ticketed or arrested under current misdemeanor policies.