Dancers occupy a niche space in Nebayan (and more rarely, Aamidali) society. During their peak influence, they offered protection, companionship, and political advisement to their patrons, charges, and communities. They were able to were able to ignore many societal conventions as well.
Origins
Early vestiges of the dancers can be seen in several places: female guards who protected zenanas, members of the Fanged Woman's cult, and individual women who had gained political, social, and military power on their own.
Many, including dancers themselves, cite the book Nazanin wanted as being the dancers' foundational text, though the author did not specifically imagine them when she penned it.