Every(body) Wants To Be A Showgirl

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Every(body) Wants To Be A Showgirl 〰️

Every(body) Wants to Be a Showgirl is a Black History Month exhibition celebrating the artistry, cultural impact, and living legacy of Black burlesque performers. Featuring over 100 Black performers from around the world, the exhibition highlights how Black burlesque artists have shaped American performance, fashion, and commercial entertainment—often without institutional recognition.

Through costumes, archival materials, immersive installations, and live programming, the exhibition centers on living artists while honoring the lineage of Black performance traditions that continue to influence culture today. This exhibition is made possible through partnerships with Dupont Underground, The Burlesque Hall of Fame, Metro Cabaret Club, and The Harlem in Havana Project.

A Black History Month Exhibition Celebrating the Living Legacy of Black Burlesque

February 6–28, 2026

Dupont Underground | Washington, DC

What to Expect

Visitors will experience:

  • A Costume Gallery Walk featuring emerging Black burlesque performers from across the globe

  • Contemporary and archival garments from the Burlesque Hall of Fame

  • Artist narratives and contextual storytelling through multimedia and immersive installations

  • Live performances and public programs throughout opening week

Black burlesque has long been a site of innovation, resistance, and economic impact, yet its contributions remain under-documented and underfunded. This exhibition is a corrective moment—creating visibility, care, and historical context while supporting artists who are actively sustaining the art form.

The project is Black-led, community-informed, and ethically curated, prioritizing dignity, authorship, and legacy over extraction. This exhibit is 100% self funded and independently produced. We welcome sponsors, cultural partners, and patrons interested in supporting Black art preservation.

EXHIBIT PROGRAMMING

Exhibit Partnerships

VOLUNTEER EXHIBITION TEAM

The following people played integral roles in the exhibition creation process. Their hard work provided crucial support as gallery stewards, installation members, gallery guides, liaison support and fundraising.

Aquarius Moon, Lead Curator & Installation Designer

Camila Obscura, Exhibition Design, Visual Communication & Documentarian

BOARD OF ADVISORS

  • Chicava HoneyChild

  • Desire D'Amour

  • Egypt Blaque Knyle

  • Elyse Elaine

  • Jessabelle Thunder

  • Leslie Cunningham

  • Rayceen Pendarvis

  • RedBone

  • Tre Da Marc

  • Twirlisha Devine

FEATURED EXHIBITION ARTISTS

Abby Fantastic 

Academixxx

Androsia Wilde

Aquarius Moon

Ashantidoll

Aurora Wells

Billie Beloved

Body Confidence Queens

Brooke Jay

Brown Girls Burlesque

Brown Skin Showgirls

Bunny Vicious 

Cadbury Parfait

Caffeyne Luv

Candace Cane

Carson St. Clair

Cat Zaddy

Charliecakessss

Che Monique

Cleopantha

Coco Rosé

Dainty Dandridge

Dawn Voz

Delilah DuBois

Demi Noire

Desiré d'Amour

Dominant Jeane

Donna Poderosa

Elyse Elaine 

Eros Sea

Essence Revealed

Fem Appeal 

Foxi Lexxi Brown

Fox Martin

Ganja Kitty

Harlem Nyte

Hell O’Kitty

It's Like Candy 

Jean Idelle

Jessabelle Thunder

Jezebelly 

Josephine Shaker 

JoRie Tigerlily

Juicy D Light

Judas Saint James

Kassidy Luvit

Kayy Lovely 

Lady Lola LeStrange

Lakota Shekhar 

Lana La Rouge

La Reina

Leslie Cunningham

Lola LeSoleil

Lola Loveletter

Lou Lou la Duchesse de Rière

Raven Rose

Raquel Reed

Ray Gunn

Redbone

Red Tongued Raven

Ricky Rosé

Rita D'LaVane

Rose Whip

Roxy Reverie

Sailem From Hell

Sepia Jewel 

Sgt. Die Wies

Siren Pack

Shawna The Black Venus

Shimmy LaRoux

Shug Savory

Simone Del Mar

Sydni Deveraux

The International Nerdesque Festival

The Maine Attraction

The Rockabilly Barbie 

Toni Elling

Tré Da Marc 

Twirlisha Divine

TU$H

Venessa Chevelle

Zelia Rose

Zyra Lee Vanity

Lux LaCroix

Maki Roll

Mecca Mwah

Mia "The MVP" 

Mika Romantic

Mirage

Miss Aurora BoobRealis

Misty Rose

Mojo Deville

Mx. Eden

Mz. Juno

Nami Flare

Nirvana Noire

Nona Narcisse

Nox Falls 

Obscura Fox

P No. Noire

Perle Noire

Petra Liyahn

Poison Ivory

Professor M

Qing Blaze

Qu’in de la Noche

Queen Lolita

Queen Nefertittie

Queen Zinga

Queerly Femmetastic

ARTIST LIASON TEAM

Academixxx

Coco Rose

Egypt Blaque Knyle

Elyse Elaine

Ganja Kitty

JoRie Tigerlily

Maki Roll

Misty Rose

Molotov Bombshell

Nirvana Noire

Shay Au Lait

Tre Da Marc

Twirlisha Devine

INSTALLATION PRODUCTION TEAM

Charliecakessss

Coco Rose

Elyse Elaine

Ganja Kitty

Michael Goodyear

Nirvana Noire

Shay Au Lait

INSTALLATION VOLUNTEER TEAM

Anissa Smalls

Jove Galore

Kassidy Luvit

Khaimera

Mx. Eden

Nami Flare

ARTIST TALK PANEL

Aquarius Moon

Camila Obscura

Che Monique

Rayceen Pendarvis

Ricky Rose

Shay Au Lait

Tariq O’Malley

FUNDRAISER TEAM

Coco Rose

Cocoa Pearlesque

Desire D’Amour

Support the Exhibit

The exhibition is fully self-funded and needs your help. Your contribution helps cover production costs, artifact care, documentation, and public programming celebrating the living legacy of Black burlesque.

Suggested contribution: $25 or enter any amount you’d like to support. Thank you!

Volunteer

Join the volunteer support team and help bring this Black History Month exhibition to life. This exhibition is fully self-funded. Volunteer roles are unpaid and based on project needs.