Bubble Dancers (Web Site)

Bubble dancer. Restaurant slang for dishwasher, this peculiar nickname has its roots in WWII army bases, as soldiers did their dishes and joked about burlesque dancers. From origins, it now alludes to the rank dishwashers hold in restaurant hierarchy.

Bubble Dancers looks into the lives of ten modern foot soldiers slogging away in one of the industry’s toughest positions. It’s a daily grind that garners little, if any, respect. When the clean plates are stacked and the steam clears, we reveal the people who sweat it out in the dish pit.

This interactive experience was inspired by our creative team’s collective kitchen—some of us former dishwashers—and explores the humanity behind this so-called dead-end job.