Legend: Ellion Ness

Ellion Ness: Featured Legend of Red Hots Burlesque

We are so enamored with one of Red Hots Burlesque’s favorite legends! We can’t wait for our journey to BHOF this year to see her heat up the stage once more!

ELLION NESS
b. May 10

“In my mind I wasn’t behaving badly,” says Ellion Ness, known as The Untouchable. Ellion Ness became known as “The Thinking Man’s Redhead” performing on the stages of Minsky’s. “I had the biggest smile on stage the first time I did a strip tease dance,” Ellion Ness told Red Hots via e-mail. Her first performance was years in the making, considering she was known for dancing around her house naked as soon as she was old enough to walk. Ellion Ness would use her mother’s fancy curtains to make her entrance. Fresh out of Catholic school, Ellion Ness took to the stage as a dancing girl in the footsteps of her favorite mentor Lili St. Cyr: “Lily St Cyr said when she (was) not performing and between tours she studied ballet. It is great for keeping you in shape and being graceful. She was beauty and grace on stage and always.” Ellion Ness, who performed just last year at Burlesque Hall of Fame’s Titans of Tease showcase, has plenty of advice for up and coming burlesque performers. “Go to the ballet or see shows on PBS… There are some bedroom scenes that will make your mouth water. Wherever you get inspired, take the move and rehearse it to music that moves you, until you feel it as your move! Never stop learning,” says Ness. “My best advice would have to be follow your bliss always.”