Brown Skin Showgirls: Leon Claxton’s Harlem in Havana Revue, 1930s–1960s, explores the mesmerizing world of Harlem in Havana, a long-running show that blended Afro-Cuban music with electrifying burlesque performance in the mid-twentieth century. This photo exhibition was created in partnership with Durham-based artist and documentarian Leslie Cunningham, featuring photographs, video footage, and more to tell the story of this groundbreaking show.

From 1935 to 1967, Leon Claxton’s productions captured audiences across North America with its singular display of Black excellence, becoming a symbol of pride and resilience for Black and Latine communities and reshaping entertainment during the Jim Crow era. Among these trailblazing performers were Cunningham’s foremothers, The Bates Sisters, and her grandfather, Leon Claxton, one of Tampa, Florida’s beloved showmen and first Black millionaires. Claxton transformed entertainment by promoting diversity and celebrating the intersections of Black and Cuban culture.

“Harlem in Havana is a story of resilience, cultural pride, and the power of performance to challenge societal barriers,” says Cunningham. “This exhibit is a tribute to the Black and Cuban artists who shaped American culture and whose contributions continue to inspire.”

Brown Skin Showgirls will run through November, 2025. This exhibition is included in the price of admission.

A special presentation will take place on Sunday, June 8, 2025, from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. during the annual Burlesque Hall of Fame Weekender, featuring a conversation with Leslie Cunningham plus live performances from some of today’s top brown skin showgirls. Access to this special event is included with the day-of price of admission.