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Wednesday, December 28, 2022
Sunday, August 7, 2022
RVA Screening at The Art of Tease, Aug 28!
Check out a screening of the film JIG SHOW | Leon Claxton's Harlem in Havana, a documentary film by Leslie Cunningham - Sunday, August 28, 2022 at 7:00pm. Part of The Art of Tease, Richmond, VA, Gallery 5.
Wednesday, June 29, 2022
Harlem in Havana Project: Burlesque Education Series
Girl Shows!
My Grandma Was An Exotic Dancer!?
Burlesque Bloodlines: How I Documented My Family’s History
Saturday, May 28, 2022
About the Filmmaker
Get your copy of the book BROWN SKIN SHOWGIRLS!
BROWN SKIN SHOWGIRLS is a black and white photographic celebration of the many brave African American and Cuban women who performed exotic, rumba, salsa, calypso, striptease and much more on Leon Claxton's Harlem in Havana Revue during the heyday of burlesque. This book is guaranteed to expand your knowledge of these performers who helped shape American entertainment and popular culture as we know it today. Many of them have transitioned or their whereabouts are unknown. All attempt have been made to verify the names of the individuals appearing in this book. Thanks to this special collector’s edition, they will never be forgotten. Get ready to be titillated! Learn more at harleminhavana.com.
Saturday, March 26, 2022
Watch the film!
Step right up, folks! The last remaining great troupers are finally telling their stories about Harlem in Havana, one of America's most successful traveling shows that broke carnival records from the U.S. to Western Canada, birthed music icons like Rufus Thomas, Fontella Bass and Mercedes Valdés and significantly impacted Black entertainment during the era of Jim Crow. Also unearthed is the legend of Tampa’s beloved showman Leon Claxton, the award-winning producer who left an extraordinary entertainment legacy despite the insurmountable odds against him and his dreams.
Wednesday, March 9, 2022
Duke dance professor Thomas F. DeFrantz talks about JIG SHOW
Tuesday, February 22, 2022
Celebrating Black History: Watch the full film free online!
Saturday, September 25, 2021
TWO HAYTI BLACK FILMMAKERS COLLECTIVE DRIVE-INS / SCREENINGS OCTOBER 2021
The Passing On synopsis
Three professions ushered Black former slaves from poverty to the American dream: preacher, teacher, and undertaker. Lewis Funeral Home has functioned within this tradition as a pillar of the Black community in San Antonio, Texas since 1909. While Black funeral homes close across America as a result of the loss of Black neighborhoods and gentrification, Lewis’ current chief embalmer James Bryant cares deeply about this institution after a career of preparing over 10,000 bodies. And he’s damn good at it, having been named the National Embalmer of the Year in 2016. Now, James puts his faith in a new generation to continue this vanishing legacy. He’s met with resistance from his young intern, Clarence Pierre, who himself is conflicted about his commitment due to the judgment he feels from the Black community as a queer, Christian man. https://thepassingonmovie.com
JIG SHOW | Leon Claxton’s Harlem in Havana synopsis
A magical journey into the complexities of American entertainment, race history and family, JIG SHOW | Leon Claxton's Harlem in Havana is a compelling documentary produced by director Leslie Cunningham who shines a spotlight on her family's Black and Cuban traveling revue- a so-called “Jig Show" that endures racism, segregation and immigration laws to become popular in the 1940s through the 1960s. Also unearthed is the legend of producer Leon Claxton, a brave African-American showman who left an extraordinary entertainment legacy despite the insurmountable odds against him and his dreams. https://www.jigshow.com/Visit jigshow.com
Both filmmakers will be in attendance. The JIG SHOW drive-in will also have a pre-screening “tease” of the type of entertainment that would have been presented at Leon Claxton’s Harlem in Havana!
Buy your tickets for both films at HaytiFilmNextLevelOctober.eventive.org. This event is sponsored by The Forest at Duke, ABC-11 WTVD, and Lincoln Community Health Center.
Wednesday, August 25, 2021
Slippage @ Duke University Fall Series presents a special student screening JIG SHOW | Leon Claxton's Harlem in Havana
Monday, August 23, 2021
Burlesque artist Bebe Bardeaux featured!
In August of 2020, the New York School of Burlesque Book Club held an online event hosted by Bebe Bardeaux where filmmaker Leslie Cunningham talks about the history of Harlem in Havana, her family's legacy and the Brown Skin Showgirls book. Parts of the virtual interview will be featured in the JIG SHOW film series showing online now.
Affectionately known as "The Doll of D.C.,"Bebe Bardeaux", is an award-winning burlesque performer who has wowed audiences all across the nation from coast to coast! Bebe took home the 2019 Golden Smile Award at the Golden Legends Champion Challenge and the #1 top prize at the 2018 Washington D.C. Burlypicks competition. She was nominated for the 2018 New York Burlesque Festival's Hottest Freshman Award and the 2018 Best of Gay DC Best Burlesque Performer Award.
BEBE brings her critical perspective to the film project. She is a published burlesque historian and author of the forthcoming book SHAKE QUEENS, and has been featured in several leading pinup magazines.
A special thank you to Bebe Bardeaux, the New York School of Burlesque and headmistress Jo Weldon for creating the platform to share the legacy of Harlem in Havana, an important part of the the history of Black Burlesque!
Saturday, August 21, 2021
Meet the indy artists behind JIG SHOW
Thursday, February 25, 2021
View the HARLEM IN HAVANA Collectors edition online!
Wednesday, November 25, 2020
Supporting SUSO-NC
We're donating $1 from every order online to SUSO!
Supporting Stand Up Speak Out - NC (SUSO) - SUSO aims to empower individuals they serve by providing advocacy and therapeutic support through Art Therapy for children and teens who are victims or witnesses to domestic violence and sexual abuse. Read more now.
Tuesday, September 1, 2020
Musician Jeremy Johnson signs on as Executive Producer

Sunday, August 2, 2020
New York School of Burlesque Book Club Show presents "Brown Skin Showgirls"
August 5, 6 pm-730 pm EST on Zoom/Facebook Live.
Join the New York School of Burlesque Book club show for an hour of books and burlesque! Burlesque Historian Bebe Bardot will guest host, interviewing author/filmmaker Leslie Cunningham about her book Brown Skin Showgirls.
Learn more now.
Wednesday, May 1, 2019
2019 Grant Recipient of "Filmed in NC"
Read more.
Tuesday, September 25, 2018
Don't wait for the film! See the BROWN SKIN Showgirls!
Monday, November 6, 2017
2017 SDF Grant Recipient
