LEGEND: Shannon Doah

Shannon Doah: Featured legend of Red Hots Burlesque

This woman stuns us every time we get to see her at Burlesque Hall of Fame, and we were so happy to chat with her! Red Hots Burlesque presents our legend of the week…

SHANNON DOAH

Born in London, Shannon Doah spent her childhood admiring the actresses of the silver screen. Her parents had seen the Crazy Horse Saloon show the first year it opened in 1951, and as a child Shannon discovered the brochure from their trip in the garage, launching her dreams of becoming a showgirl. She began performing in North Beach in San Francisco in 1967 in front of audiences of rock stars and movie stars. She moved to Los Angeles and danced in Hollywood, and toured the U.S., Guam, Mexico, and Tahiti as a headlining burlesque artist. “Back in the free-love ’60’s and ’70’s, the general opinion of an exotic (striptease) dancer had nothing to do with being good!” Shannon told Red Hots Burlesque. “But my agent told me getting top billing as a headline burlesque striptease performer had everything to do with being good. Then one evening, during my performance, I overheard two men in the audience commenting on my act. One man said, ‘She’s good!’ The other said, ‘It has nothing to do with being good!'” Shannon, known for her Varga girl aesthetic and serene glamour, became known as the “Good Bad Girl.” She also has designed many of her own costumes, including her elaborate saloon girl costumes. This living legend of burlesque’s advice to today’s performers? “Be a class act,” says Shannon. “Strive to be the best and you won’t disappoint your audience.” Shannon continues dancing, regularly performing at the Burlesque Hall of Fame. She currently lives in San Diego, where she works with a program that helps get animals out of homes affected by domestic violence.