Vagina Chorus

Vagina Chorus is a 4-month socially engaged art project that debuted as a live performance at Philadelphia’s Barnes Foundation in November 2021. Four local Philadelphian women, aged 22 to 53, co-authored and performed in the piece, guided by a team including Choral Conductor Kendra Balmer, Pelvic Floor PT Molly Scheumann, and Sex Educator Al Vernacchio. Meeting weekly, the women explored the questions, “If our vagina had a voice, what would it sound like? What would it say?” Each participant crafted a personal narrative, and these reflections inspired a collaborative composition with musician Bianca Sheng.

Using a smartphone-enabled Kegel exerciser provided by Perifit, the women practiced contracting and releasing pelvic muscles to create musical harmony. Initially challenging, the exercises allowed participants to gain comfort, control, and “vocalize” through their bodies over time.

During the premiere, ten audience members were invited on stage to learn pelvic floor exercises, encouraging collective engagement with the performance. Vagina Chorus fosters new ways for communities, with and without vaginas, to interact and connect with this part of the body. The project offers a unique form of world-building through conversation, music, and embodied practice, challenging traditional narratives and enriching participants’ relationships with their bodies.