Black Chorus Girls: A Panel Conversation

• Venue: Poster House
• Address: 119 W. 23rd Street, New York, NY 10011
• Date and Time: Saturday, July 25, 2026, 6:30–7:30 PM (Doors open at 6:15 PM)
• Host, Artists, Performers, or Collaborators:
  • Moderator: Es-pranza Humphrey (Assistant Curator of Collections at Poster House, researcher of Black performance, fashion, and visual culture)
  • Panelist: Kimberly Jenkins (Fashion studies scholar and educator, founder of The Fashion and Race Database®, CEO of Artis Solomon)
  • Panelist: Dr. Jonathan Michael Square (Assistant Professor of Black Visual Culture at Parsons School of Design)
  • Panelist: Chicava HoneyChild (Burlesque artist, actor, producer, leading scholar on Black women in burlesque)
• Activity Description: Join Poster House for a panel conversation exploring the style and presentation of Black chorus girls in the early 20th century, and their influence on Black women in theater and film. This event is presented in connection with the "Act Black: Posters of Black American Stage and Screen" exhibition. The discussion will cover the history of Black women’s performance from enslavement to the 20th century, focusing on costumed movement, industry limitations, and the evolution of fashion as chorus girls reclaimed their femininity. An audience Q&A will follow the discussion. A cash bar will be available.
• Accessibility: Masks and clear masks are available free of charge. Assistive listening devices and stools are available. ASL (American Sign Language) interpretation or CART (Communication Access Realtime Translation) is available upon request. To request interpretation services or address other accessibility needs, contact [email protected] or (914) 295-2387.