Josephine Baker photo - portrait by Lucien Waléry
When Baker arrived in Paris and began working as a dancer, she was well-loved by the public. Her signature dance was dubbed the “banana dance!” This was thanks to the risqué outfit Baker wore when dancing. Well, by outfit, I mean a bra and a skirt made from plastic bananas that didn’t leave much to the imagination! Her shows were definitely on the erotic side, which helped to attract fans. Baker wasn’t afraid to be bold. While there was definitely some racism in Paris in the 1920s, it was the lesser of two evils in comparison to the United States. Baker was not only accepted in Paris, she was adored! Over the course of her career, she starred in shows at the famous Folies Bergère, a cabaret in Paris. Her “banana dance” was officially called the “danse sauvage,” which translates as the wild dance. Baker’s banana dance also coincided with the emergence of the Art Deco art movement. The movement showcased African art in addition to other non-Western types of art. Baker was definitely in the right place at the right time, as her dancing fit the bill for those interested in Art Deco - Molli
Size: 2181px × 2920px
Photo credit: © photo-fox / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
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