Real Danding Action Dana doll

Real Danding Action Dana doll Doll, Barbie, white skinned

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Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Doll, Barbie, white skinned
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Real Dancing Action Dana doll, from the Barbie and the Rock Stars range. She is white skinned with black hair, wearing her original outfit of silver dungarees, a blue top with pink and silver details, and the words "Rock Star" across the chest in pink. This range of dolls was known as Barbie and the Rockers in the USA - a fictional rock band. Other members of The Rockers group were Barbie, Ken, Diva, Dee Dee, and Derek - each sold separately. This version of the Dana doll was advertised as the dancing version, which meant her arm and leg joints coult move.

Barbie and the Rockers (known as Barbie and The Rock Stars in parts of Europe) was released by Mattel in 1985 to compete with Hasbro's Jem and her band, the Holograms. Mattel's stronghold over retailers meant that the Barbie toys had more room in toyshops than the Jem range, as well as a much larger back catalogue of clothing and accessories for children to play with. Combined with a large marketing campaign, which included appearances at both 1986 and 1987 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parades, Barbie continued to outsell Jem significantly.

Designer Carlyle Nuera, the Lead Designer for Barbie Signature at Mattel, re-designed Barbie and The Rockers for the American chain Target in 2017, featuring a similar line up. The line also included clothing for children and adults featuring the fictional band, and played on the nostalgia of a generation of shoppers who had been children when Barbie and The Rockers were released along with several singles and music videos.

Details

Category:
Materials Science Gallery
Object Number:
2000-366
Materials:
plastic (unidentified), synthetic textile and synthetic fibre
Measurements:
overall: 305 mm x 100 mm x 45 mm, , .12kg
type:
character doll
credit:
Christie's South Kensington Limited