Category: Performers of Color
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The Hyers Sisters: Early Burlesquers
American burlesque history is usually traced to Lydia Thompson’s “British Blondes” in New York, but the Hyers Sisters were already… Read more.
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Iretha “Pepper Pot” Tucker
Born in 1926 in Kansas City, Missouri, Iretha Tucker—née Greer—was a firecracker on stage and a force in midcentury Black… Read more.
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The Ebony Dancers of Kansas City
In the heart of Kansas City’s vibrant Black entertainment scene, a dazzling troupe emerged in 1950 that blended rhythm, spectacle,… Read more.
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Sahji: Queen of the Shake Dancers
In the golden age of jazz and burlesque, Madeline Jackson, professionally known as Sahji, emerged as one of the most… Read more.
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Aida Overton Walker: Queen of the Cakewalk
Aida Overton Walker (1880 – 1914) was a transformative figure in American performance history. As a dancer, singer, choreographer, and… Read more.
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Uncovering the Lost Legacy of Saidie Sellyna
In a sepia publicity portrait dated circa 1911, a poised young woman named Saidie Sellyna (Thompson) gazes confidently at the… Read more.
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Lin Chan: Chinese Dancer
In the late 1930s, as tensions escalated in East Asia and the United States edged toward war, a young woman… Read more.
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Carmen Holiday
Carmen Holiday was a Mexican-American dancer whose career blurred the lines between striptease, theater, and social commentary. Born and raised… Read more.
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Maya Angelou: The Calypso Dancer
Long before the world knew her as a poet, memoirist, and civil rights champion, Maya Angelou was a nightclub performer.… Read more.
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Sada Yacco: Geisha and Global Icon
In the twilight of the 19th century, as Japan opened its doors to the world, one woman stepped through them… Read more.
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Lola Falana: Showbiz Trailblazer
Lola Falana was a force of nature, transforming every stage she touched into a showcase of glamour, grit, and brilliance.… Read more.
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La Toya Jackson
The Moulin Rouge Era In 1992, La Toya Jackson became the lead revue performer at the famed Moulin Rouge in… Read more.
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Yolanda Montes AKA Tongolele
In a swirl of sequins and shadowy spotlight, Yolanda Montes—the woman the world came to know as Tongolele—stepped onto the… Read more.
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Noel Toy
Noel Toy was a pioneer of Chinese American burlesque, known for her stunning fan and bubble dances that captivated audiences… Read more.
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Tura Satana
Tura Satana was a Japanese-American actress, exotic dancer, and cult film icon, best known for her fierce portrayal of Varla… Read more.
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Sono Osato
In the shimmering world of ballet and Broadway, few figures stand out quite like Sono Osato. A pioneer in dance… Read more.
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Anna May Wong
Anna May Wong (born Wong Liu Tsong on January 3, 1905) was a trailblazing Chinese American actress and the first… Read more.
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Burlesque Dancers of Color
The art of burlesque has long been a stage for bold self-expression, dazzling creativity, and fearless individuality. Yet, beneath the… Read more.
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Thida Loy
Thida Loy was a San Franciscan-born Chinese performer began dancing as a burlesque fan dancer in the 1930s. The earliest… Read more.
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Neryda
“The Snake Dancer” Neryda was an exotic dancer who performed with a 6-foot python named “Allah.” She danced in night… Read more.