Alexis Kleshik (She/Her)
Based in Brooklyn, NYC
This photo series captures the lives of dancers at a Brooklyn strip club, where I have become an embedded documentarian – both behind the camera and as a dancer. Unlike many New York clubs with rigid beauty standards, this club embraces diversity, allowing dancers to express themselves through alternative styles. What defines the environment is the performers’ agency, self-expression, and the supportive community they’ve built – an atmosphere where authenticity and fantasy coexist on their own terms. This project serves as an intervention to dismantle the deep-seated cultural stigma and misrepresentation surrounding strippers. My dual role has given me a deep understanding of this dynamic, and the series’ staged portraits give dancers control over how they are represented, highlighting their unique identities and celebrating vibrant queerness within a culture rooted in individuality and mutual respect.
