About

About Harlem in Havana®: Winner of the “Uncovering History Award”, ” by Dancinema!

Harlem in Havana® began with a family archive, a grandfather’s remarkable life, and a simple question: How could a story this extraordinary have almost disappeared from history?

Created by filmmaker, artist, and cultural historian Leslie Cunningham, Harlem in Havana® uncovers the remarkable legacy of Leon Claxton and his groundbreaking Black and Cuban revue that traveled across North America during the era of Jim Crow. At a time when opportunities for Black performers were limited, Harlem in Havana created a stage where dancers, musicians, comedians, singers, and entertainers captivated audiences from coast to coast, leaving a cultural impact that has largely gone unrecognized.

Today, Harlem in Havana® is an ongoing journey to preserve, celebrate, and share the lives of the artists whose talent, resilience, and creativity helped shape American entertainment.
Through films, books, photography, exhibitions, live performances, educational programs, and digital storytelling, we’re reconnecting audiences with a vibrant chapter of history that deserves to be seen, heard, and remembered.

Discover the Story Your Way:

Whether you’re here for the first time or returning to explore more, there’s more than one way to experience Harlem in Havana®.

  • Watch: Discover the documentary films and video series that bring this hidden history to life.
  • Read: Explore essays, stories, and research that reveal the people, places, and performances behind Harlem in Havana®.
  • Experience: Join us for live screenings, exhibitions, and Brown Skin Showgirls performances that transform history into a shared experience.
  • Listen: Enjoy music and curated playlists inspired by the sounds, rhythms, and spirit of the Harlem in Havana era.
  • Explore: Browse photographs, archival treasures, and stories that continue to grow as new discoveries are made.

Making an Impact, Reigniting a Movement

From festival honors to museum exhibits, from educational scholarships to international recognition, This multimedia project is a cultural rebirth and living history. It’s time the world knew this story. Harlem in Havana Project creator Leslie Cunningham has been honored as Guest of Honor, keynote speaker, and educator at:

  • BurlyCon (2022)
  • The International Booklover’s Burlesque Festival (2023)
  • The Rose Academy of Burlesque (2023)
  • The Atlanta School for Burlesque (2024)
  • Burlesque Hall of Fame (2025)
  • The Raleigh School of Burlesque (2025)
  • The New York Public Library of Performing Arts (2026)
  • The David Atrium Lincoln Center (2026)

Each invitation is another opportunity to bring these remarkable stories into the public conversation—where they have always belonged.

Brown Skin Showgirls

History doesn’t belong only in books or museums. Sometimes it belongs on a stage. Presented by Harlem in Havana®, Brown Skin Showgirls is a live performance experience inspired by the extraordinary women whose artistry helped define Harlem in Havana. Combining dance, music, archival photography, film, and storytelling, each performance honors the performers who came before while celebrating the artists carrying that legacy forward today. Learn more.

Whether you’re watching a film, visiting an exhibition, reading an essay, attending a performance, or simply discovering these stories for the first time, you’re becoming part of a community that believes forgotten history deserves a place in our shared memory.

Thank you for being here. Welcome to Harlem in Havana®.