The Harlem in Havana Story: Film Screening & Panel Discussion

Step behind the velvet curtain for the New York premiere of JIG SHOW | Leon Claxton’s Harlem in Havana, a documentary by filmmaker Leslie Cunningham. Dive into a sizzling, untold chapter of American entertainment—where Black brilliance, Cuban rhythm, and early burlesque lit up the big top and defied segregation. This three-part documentary takes viewers inside the legendary Harlem in Havana Revue, featuring Cunningham’s grandmother Shirley Bates, former lead exotic dancer, and her father John Cunningham, a San Diego musician raised on the show. Rare footage, never-before-digitized show photos, archival clips, and vibrant performances illuminate the rise and fall of Claxton’s troupe, while historians, burlesque artists, and musicians provide cultural context.

The Library for the Performing Arts screens JIG SHOW, which celebrates a legacy of resilience, artistry, and cultural bridges, urging audiences to reclaim this vibrant history and honor the entertainers who defied segregation with courage and creativity. In addition to the screening, the program features a special pop-up burlesque performance by The Doll of D.C.  Bebe Bardeaux, and a post-screening panel discussion with filmmaker Leslie Cunningham, burlesque historians Bebe Bardeaux and Chicava HoneyChild, and facilitated by NYC burlesque artist GiGi Holliday.