Elyse Elaine began performing burlesque professionally in San Francisco 2011 and is now successfully established in Las Vegas since 2016. She’s co-produced Womanopoly with Sgt. Die Wies since 2012, and other credits include a residency with Usher at Caesar’s Palace, Miss Behave’s Mavericks LV, and the long running Hubba Hubba Revue in SF. Elyse also won 1st Runner Up at the Panama Burlesque Festival 2023, and Grand Duchess at the Sin City Burlesque Festival 2025.
Here’s her 21.
1. How would you define yourself in three words?
Authentic, interactive, erotic.
2. Who would play you in a movie about your life?
My niece Marley. She would be perfect.
3. What is your biggest strength?
My bounce back. Knocked down nine times, get up ten.
4. What is your biggest weakness?
My love. It’s really hard for me to give up on people.
5. When are you most happy and inspired?
Sitting in the audience after I perform, watching the rest of the show and cheering for my cast mates.
6. What is your favourite on-screen burlesque moment from film or TV?
Jessica Rabbit in Who Framed Roger Rabbit. Her slow and confident saunter… the mystery of her hair hiding her face. Iconic.
7. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received?
‘If you had fun you did it right.’ My Dad.
8. If you could switch lives with one person for a day, who would it be?
Honestly, I’d switch lives with an animal before I’d switch lives with another person, like an affluent cat or something!
9. What’s the biggest myth or misconception about burlesque?
That it’s leisurely. Like we sit around drinking champagne all day waiting for the show to start. It’s a hustle, a constant grind that never stops.
10. If you could only perform to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
As a resident performer I’ve had to perform to one song for two years, so I know the feeling! If I had to choose one… I’d say Green Onions. It got me my titles and I know it like the back of my hand.
11. What surprisingly useful things do you have in your show case?
Febreze spray, because perfume doesn’t always cut it, lol.
12. Do you have a backstage ritual?
I freestyle to the music of the act before me or the intermission music, whatever is playing while I’m on deck. Just warming up my body and getting the vibes going.
13. What advice would you give to new performers starting out today?
Try every idea. Just throw stuff against the wall and see what sticks. Secondly, don’t just perform for the audience, entertain them.
14. What is your proudest achievement?
Being the opening act for the 2025 BHoF Competition.
Last month I was an exhibition liaison, installation production team member, featured performer and host for ‘Everybody Wants To Be A Showgirl’, curated by Aquarius Moon. It was an absolute honor and a huge undertaking.
15. What is your biggest regret?
Not taking a chance on myself sooner. I really held myself back. Imposter syndrome is so real.
16. What is the biggest challenge facing today’s burlesque scene?
Entitlement. There’s this idea that if you enter the scene and look the part you will get booked, and that’s just not the case. It’s a job – a superficial one at times. Showbiz doesn’t owe anyone anything and it doesn’t play fair. It’s super hard, consistent work that we make look really fun and easy.
17. If you could go back and tell yourself one thing when you started out in burlesque, what would it be?
I would tell myself to steady the course. It doesn’t seem like it’s coming together, but it is in ways you can’t even imagine.
18. What is a cause or issue that’s very important to you?
Body autonomy. Our bodies belong to us and we should have control over it in all aspects, without question. My body, my choice. Violations of body autonomy include deep-rooted gender inequality, patriarchal norms, legal restrictions like anti-abortion laws, medical coercion, and systematic discrimination against people with disabilities.
19. What are you currently reading, watching, and listening to?
Reading The Mastery of Love by Don Miguel Ruiz; watching Fire Force (Anime) and Sandman (Netflix); listening to Olivia Dean and KenTheMan (in pure Gemini fashion!).
20. If you could share a dressing room with one performer for the rest of your career, who would it be?
My Phish, Sgt. Die Wies. There would so much laughter and shenanigans.
21. What would you like your life and career to look like in 10 years time?
In ten years I hope to be teaching and mentoring still. Sharing stories and history. Making sure the newbies have a soft place to land. Hopefully still performing here and there if Auntie’s knees are still good, lol.
Follow Elyse Elaine on Instagram, and sign up for BEHIND THE SCENES: A Virtual Workshop on Stage Production.