geisha non-kyoto dialect?

[karekora]

I watched a programme yesterday about a girl from Tohoku becoming a Maiko in Kyoto. It said that the hardest thing for her to do wasnt learning the flute, dancing, looking after her elders or losing her tomboy attitude, but losing her Tohoku accent.

Is it true that a Geisha has to speak the Kyoto dialect?! Isnt that a bit extreme?

Its tough enough that she wont really ever have a life of her own from now on.