Every(body) Wants To Be A Showgirl

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Every(body) Wants To Be A Showgirl 〰️

Everybody 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 U.S.
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

EXHIBIT PROGRAMMING EVENTS

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.

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!

DONATE

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.

SIGN UP

Exhibit Partnerships

Dupont Undergound

Dupont Underground is a non-profit cultural organization that revitalizes a long-abandoned subterranean trolley station beneath Washington, D.C.’s Dupont Circle, functioning as a multidisciplinary platform for contemporary art, architecture, and design. The site occupies a 75,000-square-foot network of tunnels originally built in 1949 and closed in 1962, which has previously served as a Cold War fallout shelter and a short-lived 1990s food court before its 2016 reopening as an arts venue.
Burlesque Hall of Fame

The Burlesque Hall of Fame (BHoF) is is the world’s premier organization dedicated to preserving the living legacy of burlesque as an art form and cultural phenomenon. A registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, BHoF collects and exhibits thousands of artifacts, costumes, and personal effects spanning a century of burlesque history to educate and inspire future generations. While the physical museum is currently closed, the organization remains active, hosting the annual BHoF Weekender and working to ensure the art form's vibrant history and ongoing relevance are never forgotten.
The Harlem in Havana Project

Embark on a riveting journey through time with The Harlem in Havana Project, a compelling multimedia documentary work by artist and filmmaker Leslie Cunningham that pays homage to one of America’s most triumphant traveling girl shows that significantly impacted American entertainment in the 1940s, 50s and 60s.
Metro Cabaret Club

Metro Cabaret Club is the dynamic, performer-led production house created by Aquarius Moon. Based in Washington, DC, our productions blend burlesque, live music, community, and storytelling, creating unforgettable performances that captivate audiences and elevate brands.