Dance of Life

American dancer, singer and actress Josephine Baker (1906-1975) spent most of her career in France, captivating audiences with her performances and her extroverted personality. Her centenary falls next month, and a special tour (details at blackparisdivas.com ) has been devised in celebration of a remarkable life.

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Baker, later nicknamed "the Black Venus," left the U.S. for France while still a teen, seeking the relative racial freedom of the Parisian stage. Her sensual style of dance quickly won over the city and made her a star. During the late 1920s, she was said to be the highest-paid entertainer in...