NYWIFT Blog

By Farah Qureshi

Welcome to NYWIFT, Chicava Roslyn Tate!

Chicava is a burlesque artist, actor, producer, and leading scholar of Black women in burlesque. For more than 15 years, she served as Creative Producer of New York City’s Brown Girls Burlesque, developing political and theatrical shows across the United States and internationally.

She holds an MFA from Goddard College, where her studies focused on Black burlesque herstory, Taoism, and sacred sexuality.

Chicava’s work spans performance, film, and scholarship, including directing The Skin I’m In, co-writing and directing Becoming Betty Page, and developing the docu-series Black Bombshells, which explores the history and cultural legacy of Black women in burlesque and pinup. As an actor, she has appeared in Chock Full Till Empty, Nicole Franklin’s Title VII, and Spike Lee’s film She Hate Me.

In our interview, Chicava reflected on her creative journey, the overlooked history of Black women in burlesque, and the projects she is developing to preserve and celebrate this cultural legacy.

NYWIFT Member Chicava Roslyn Tate

Welcome to NYWIFT! Could you give our readers a brief introduction to yourself?

My creative focus lies at the intersection of performance, spirituality, and cultural heritage. I am a scholar of Black burlesque heritage, currently working on a docuseries, Black Bombshells, about the history and cultural significance of Black burlesque and pinup, and their impact on pop culture and the presence of Black women.

My art practices include burlesque, acting, standup, writing, and producing. I am a Universal Healing Tao and Institute of Integral Qigong and Tai Chi instructor, along with being a Taoist Womanly Arts teacher.

In the summer, you can find me on Governors Island at my community house, DuYe Moves, where we offer donation-based dance and wellness, art exhibitions, and concerts.

What brought you to NYWIFT?

I am a returning member of NYWIFT. I started my career in fashion as a stylist and costume designer, working on numerous music videos, album art, press, and films. I also worked in the wardrobe department on film, TV, theater, and opera.

Chicava Roslyn Tate with Esra Dayani and El Beh

Can you share how you found your way into filmmaking and performance, and what pivotal experiences shaped your creative path along the way?

One day, a long time ago in a fabulous iteration of New York City, there was a place called Tramps. A girlfriend introduced me to a woman who was a stylist and then said, “That’s what you should do!” I did, and it was a fabulous time in R&B and Hip-Hop videos. I hope I helped make some of people’s favorite memories.

Chicava Roslyn Tate on set of Chock Full Till Empty

What inspired you to explore the heritage of Black women in burlesque, and how did this journey become such a central part of your work?

When I began my burlesque journey, I scoured the internet researching costume and music ideas for my routines. After getting my fill of images of the prominent performers from the classic to modern era, I asked, “Where am I?” Was Josephine Baker the only Black woman who ever dared perform burlesque? And to be 100% clear: Josephine Baker is not a burlesque performer; she is the brightest star of a genre called Music Hall. I quickly learned how she felt about the “low arts.”

If you gather a collection of books on the history of burlesque, from the largest tomes on the golden era, there is scant mention of women of color and no discussion of our unique artistry and struggles.

Burlesque, and Black burlesque specifically, is the spine and sinew of feminine performance in popular culture. It is the driving force behind all things, especially in the performance of the feminine in American pop culture.

Our herstory has been widely overlooked, lost, and erased due to a range of factors: from cultural appropriation and inequity in access to early recording technology to the economic instability that probably saw loads of documentation thrown away from someone’s garage. So, as you can tell, it lit a fire in me.

Chicava Roslyn Tate in Chock Full Till Empty

What has been the most fulfilling project you’ve worked on so far, and what made it special for you?

That’s a tough question! I spent 15 years creatively producing live burlesque and loved most of the political and theatrical shows we created. The Brooklyn Museum series stands out. I’m going through a kind of Michael Jackson renaissance at the moment, and the MJF: Black or White show stands out as a big joy. We had a fully costumed “Thriller” flash mob in the audience, and it was also a highly emotional time, shortly after the murder of Trayvon Martin, to whom we created a video hoodie tribute.

Filmically, I am looking forward to finishing the first installment of Black Bombshells, which is a short called Mother Sparkle, made from my interviews with my burlesque moms Lottie “The Body” Graves, Toni Elling, and Jean Idelle. I started the project as part of BRIC Media’s Documentary Short program. (Seeking editor! 😁)

Chicava Roslyn Tate with Nicole Franklin and Cybel Martin in Title VII

Are there any upcoming projects or areas of storytelling you’re excited to explore next?

I am continuing this 20-plus-year journey of creating a comprehensive docu-series on Black burlesque. I have also wanted to make a documentary on my dad, Penfield Wallace Tate II. He was the first and only Black mayor of what was my little hometown, Boulder, Colorado, in the early 1970s. That’s been on my heart for many years. With Sundance coming to town, I think it’s very important to pick that up. He’s a very inspirational joie de vivre of a fella, and I’d like the world to know his story.

I’m just beginning a journey into standup comedy and solo burlesque shows. I very much want to explore what burlesque can be on film. Basically, I’m striving to keep my personal art practice trim so that I can keep it integrated and thriving.

Learn more about Chicava Roslyn Tate’s work at chicava.com, and explore DuYe Moves on Governors Island at duyemoves.org, where artists can find opportunities to present readings, screenings, and creative work.

(All images courtesy of Chicava Roslyn Tate)