Venus at Ira Aldridge Theater

VENUS tells the story of Sartje Baartman, a young woman from Southern Africa who was brought to London in 1810. Baartman's ample backside was a feature considered desirable in her native society, but freakish to European eyes. Baartman was put on display and won fame as "The Venus Hottentot." She was taken to Paris where she died at the age of 24. Naturalists in Paris performed a complete dissection, preserving her skeleton, her brain, and her sexual organs which were said to be unique. In death as in life, the body of the Hottentot Venus was put on display. She remained in the Musée National d'Histoire Naturelle until April 2002 when her remains were returned to her native South Africa and buried with full national honors.

Authors

• Rachel Crothers
• Suzan Lori-Parks