Harlem in Havana was built by extraordinary artists, visionaries, and performers who shaped a groundbreaking era of Black entertainment.
- Leon Claxton – A pioneering producer and showman, Leon Claxton created Harlem in Havana, a traveling revue that blended Black and Afro-Cuban music, dance, and comedy while breaking racial barriers across North America. Read more.
- Gwendolyn Claxton – A former performer and essential partner, Gwendolyn Claxton helped manage the revue and its growing business operations, playing a key role in sustaining its success and legacy. Read more.
- Shirley Bates – Lead dancer and one of the famed Bates Sisters, Shirley Bates brought glamour, talent, and star power to the stage as one of the revue’s standout performers.
- Mercedes ValdĂ©s & The Cuban Dancing Dolls – Cuban singer Mercedes ValdĂ©s and the dazzling Cuban Dancing Dolls brought Afro-Cuban rhythms, rumba, salsa, and Havana nightlife energy to the revue during the 1950s, helping make Harlem in Havana an unforgettable multicultural spectacle. Read more.
- Click to view our growing list of performers and troupe members
HARLEM IN HAVANA PROJECT 