Belle Davis (April 28, 1874 – in or after 1938) was an American choreographer, dancer and singer who became famous in the United Kingdom prior to World War I.

She was in a group called the "Octoroons" in America and moved to Great Britain in 1902, where she toured accompanied by young African American boys.

[5] Through the years, other black boys joined her troupe, including Walter Humphrey, Louis Douglas, and Archie Ware, some of which went on to become stars themselves.

Davis was applauded by audiences for performing popular songs by imitating a white singer who mimicked Black stereotypes.

[2] In the early 19th century, European audiences projected racist, over-sexualized imaginings of Black people onto performers, and some entertainers used this to their advantage.

From 1899 up until the start of World War II, hundreds of African-American artists were able to find full-time work in Europe that was not available to black Americans in the US.

Black performers also discovered less refined limits that the racist rules of American theater and film had put on them.

[7] The language used at the time in regard to Davis' troupe, song titles, and performance style exposes white audiences' desire to engage with racist caricatures for entertainment.