An event promoter in the 1890's coined the term in hopes of stirring up a scandal that would stimulate ticket sales. By Any Other Name here on Suite101 for the detailed explanation behind this advice. But, most of these dancers live in communities where many people are already familiar with Oriental dance and have friends or family members who have tried it. These people can afford to call the dance whatever they like, because they're not risking as much when they do. Sometimes you can't have both.
Many dancers are inherently lazy.
We prefer to let someone else go find a place that welcomes dancers, and then we come knocking on the door to ask if we can dance there, too. If people aren't coming to you to beg you to perform for them, then you'll need to invest some effort into developing local interest in what you have to offer. No one else is going to think it's important to help you find an outlet for your yearning to perform. It's harsh reality. Gear up your Public Relations engine.