Josephine Baker

Glamorous, versatile, and always full of surprises—Josephine Baker was one of the most influential stage stars of the 20th century. Art and politics were always intertwined in Josephine Baker’s life: she was a dancer and diplomat, a singer and activist. And she was a secret agent for the Résistance, the French resistance movement against Nazism. Josephine Baker experienced racism and was banned from performing in Europe and the U.S. Yet, as a Black woman, she never let that take away her courage to take the stage. The dance and theater group La Fleur consists of performers from France, Germany, Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), and Mexico. To mark the 50th anniversary of Josephine Baker’s death, La Fleur explores her life and work. What experiences did Josephine Baker have as an activist? How did she craft her humorous and courageous performances? Based on these questions, a stage show filled with dance and music takes shape, commemorating the ideals of this exceptional artist: freedom and equality for all!