In the past professional families used to provide talented and tactful female dancers and courtesans in the royal Mughal palace or to Maharajahs or Nawabs. It was simply the Indian culture all across the border limits, just before the arrival of British colonists, until then slavery was not considered very unlawful or demeaned act full with agony, so being a dancer was not probably that unworthy job, as it is considered today. Certainly in our times, in the presence of counter narratives and as women have gained lot high and prestigious place in society: they are yet striving hard to get it more proper place, so the social commentary has changed on 180 degree scale.
I am not suggesting that women should continue very unwanted life style as such, 'Dancing girls of Heera Mandi'.... but what I am saying is that, it is mere echo of our recent history.