Joan Baez dances the Dancing Queen

For eighty-five years, Joan Baez has been many things: a singer, author, activist, poet, and artist. Yet, above all these accolades, she is, simply, a dancing queen. This is the secret joy that defines her remarkable life. When asked about her true calling, Baez confirms that while she was given the mandate to sing and advocate for political change, the real reason she was put on earth is to dance.

This lifelong passion found a vibrant stage recently at the Newport Folk Festival. Having launched her into public consciousness during the festival’s inaugural event in 1959, Baez returned decades later to share her energy and presence. She joined a stellar lineup including Nathaniel Rateliff, Mavis Staples, and Brandi Carlile for a closing performance of America the Beautiful. But it was her impromptu dancing with Dave Matthews that truly captivated the audience.

More than six decades after those early performances, Baez embraced a new kind of spectacle in her involvement with The Soiled Dove, an immersive circus-style event that blurs the lines between vaudeville, burlesque, drag, and high art. As Paloma Blanca, she embodies a fascinating blend of roles, showcasing a playful yet profound command on stage.

In this show, Baez is not just performing; she is exploring themes of liberation. She notes that participating in the circus environment—with its bare skin, acrobats, and theatrical flair—is itself an act of resistance, a pure expression of joy and pleasure. This exploration allows her to engage with other forms of artistic expression, demonstrating that acts of delight can be powerful statements.

The buzz surrounding Baez’s recent visibility has been amplified by the release of the biopic A Complete Unknown, which brought renewed focus to her place in folk history. She remains a significant figure, inspiring a new generation of artists, from Taylor Swift and Hozier to Carlile and Maggie Rogers.

Beyond the stage, Baez has channeled her experience into meaningful activism. She is deeply committed to ensuring representation for vulnerable communities, particularly immigrant children, finding fulfillment in supporting their causes. This dedication highlights her belief that while large-scale change can feel daunting, focusing on specific goals and taking calculated risks—cultivating hope like a muscle—is how progress is made.

Baez’s philosophy centers on the idea that hope is a muscle that requires work. She acknowledges that surviving through the challenges of the modern era demands not just endurance but intentional joy, reminding us all that finding and nurturing happiness is an essential form of resistance.