My nightlife love has always been indie rock, a genre in which skinny jeans and thrift store quirkiness dominate. Spending time among progressive feminist types, I had associated bikini girl dancers shaking their asses in a club with an earlier, passé era. But when I decided to venture into the exotic waters of Beijing’s club scene, I couldn’t help but wonder about the abundance of scantily clad babes hired to get their raunch on. Do they attract business? Do they improve the atmosphere for revelers? Is there artistic merit? I decided to find out.

“For summer, we recognized that bikini style, together with beautiful models and luxury cocktails, is what customers [most appreciate],” explained Jaroslav Melichar, who manages Becherovka alcohol’s China marketing and has organized more than a few events that have successfully attracted clubbers with bikini girls.

“It makes me want to dance more stupid and just have fun, rather than trying to compete,” one female friend explained.

Another was less kind: “That ‘atmosphere’ is one of objectifying women, which never makes me want to stay in a place very long,” she told me.

Cicilia Yang, who runs the Pussycat Dance pole-dancing studio, believes that dancing can provide an artistic platform for the dancers, but she is unimpressed by the skills of most dancing girls we see in Beijing’s clubs. “Most of the dancers are not very professional,” she commented, adding that they offer little more to a club than “a beautiful view.”

When I spoke with some of the dancers themselves, however, they argued that they did find their performances had their own merits.

“We add color to a party!” said Leng Xuan, who was introduced to her job by friends and performs twice a month. During the day, she works as a personal trainer, teaching yoga and belly dancing.

While I may be lukewarm on bikini babes in clubs, I have to admit that they do provide something to look at. That’s not a bad thing, especially when you’re listening to an absurdly loud cover of “Country Roads” at Latte. Talking to my subjects for this piece, I saw that dancers believe they provide a form of entertainment that goes beyond simple objectification by hornballs.

While it’s rare that the performances go beyond titillation, I have to acknowledge that, even in normally tight-laced Beijing, sex sells. If you like it, get down at China Doll, Club LA and Bling. If not, we can always sweat in our cardigans in the mosh pit of D-22.