Don't judge a book by its cover
I was in the lovely state of South Dakota for work, but you can't see the natural beauty of the land after the sun goes down. Therefore, I had to stop by the Belle Starr in order to try to observe some nocturnal natural beauty, and I'm pleased to report that my efforts were not in vain.
I had definite reservations about even visiting the club after my online recon prior to arriving in town, as the pictures I found on Google made it look like a total dump. Fortunately, I had absolutely nothing better to do, and I was rewarded with finding the Belle Starr to be a somewhat charming dive bar with a solidly 90s vibe. The club is essentially a large, open room measuring about 100 feet long by 40 feet wide. There is a single dance stage along the far eastern wall, perhaps 20 feet long with enough rail space for about a dozen patrons, and mirrors along the corner behind it. The bar is adjacent to the stage, with a rail that snakes back and forth for about 40 feet. The west end of the club (approx. 40 feet wide) could be mistaken for a typical sports bar, with multiple pool tables, a dart board or two, and some one-armed bandits. The private dance areas are located beyond a partition wall just a little more to the west.
I arrived shortly after 10 p.m. on a Tuesday, and I was charged a $3 cover. The bar had several drink specials posted on a board, with prices ranging from $3 to $5 for various drafts, shots, and mixed drinks. Normally, I would order a Budweiser for price comparison purposes, but I couldn't turn down $3 Amber Bock drafts all night long. Closing time was 2:00 a.m.
Arguably, the more important prices at the club were as follows: $25 for individual private dances or $125 for 15 minutes of VIP treatment. By my stopwatch, songs almost always fell between 2:30 and 3:00 in length. The private dance areas typically consist of a small room with a couch and simple chair, the presence of which provides dancers with surprising flexibility in their repertoires. Unfortunately, all private dances are conducted with absolutely no touching, seemingly with each dancer going over the instructions every time you enter the room. More on the quality of the dances later, though. Seemingly, all dances are performed topless, and prices are somewhat negotiable if buying multiple dances. Song selection that night was handled by the bouncer, and he actually put together an impressive array of music, spanning between classics and contemporary, and between rock, pop, and beyond.
There were 6 dancers listed on the dance rotation board when I arrived, and that number did not change while I was there. Talking nuts and bolts with the ladies, dancers are essentially required to work full 8-hour shifts, so I have no idea what they do before things pick up later in the night. Stage dances consist of two or three songs with the dancers typically teasing the crowd on foot. Just like in the private area, no touching is allowed, but the ladies are pretty liberal with shoving T&A in your face and lap for dollars. Here's my quick summary of the girls on shift that night:
Sonya: 7, Russian(?), late 20s/early 30s, very sociable and the busiest of the dancers (for good reason).
Chicago: 6, brunette, mid 20s(?), slightly overweight but very talkative
Medusa: 7.5, brunette, mixed ethnicity, mid 20s(?), nice bust and butt
Ash: 6.5, pale and pierced, average body
Bunny: 7.5, petite with green hair
Dollie: 7, lanky brunette
I only spent time with Sonya and Chicago, as the other four dancers were either occupied with regulars or just aloof (hard to tell from a single visit). I was definitely disappointed that I didn't get a chance to take Medusa and Bunny for a spin, but Sonya and Chicago were helpful in occupying a lot of my time otherwise. After two dances with Chicago, I determined her dance skill was about in line with her physical appearance (meh), but it was pleasant chatting her up at the bar. Sonya was the real star of the show, doing very good work as a drink companion, on the dance stage, and in the private rooms. I honestly can't remember the last time I had as much fun during private dances... her specialty was teasing and tickling with pointy fingernails, and that's just not something I'm accustomed to (and absolutely love). I did a three-song set and a four-song set with Sonya and regret absolutely nothing, so it was unsurprising that she was the busiest dancer in the club that night.
In the end, the Belle Starr exceeds the sum of its parts, and I was very pleased with my visit. The bar itself is a little dated (and truthfully looks worse from the outside), but the dance and drink price are very fair. If you can find a dancer you like, you'll feel like you struck gold. If the Belle Starr were located in my area, I could see it providing healthy competition against my favorite joint.
