a lil’ bit about DSV..

Danielle Saint Velvet

 a vision of vice and virtue

Danielle is not only an international showgirl SIN-sation, she is a published pin up, salon owner, costumier, burlesque dance instructor AND co-producer of the 4th annual Empire Burlesque Festival in Ithaca, NY.

Born and bred for the stage in New Jersey, she started her dance training at age 3. She earned her chops in ballet, pointe, jazz and gymnastics at Thelma Hundermark’s School of Dance. By age 15 she could be found atop the piano bar singing, accompanied by her music teacher, Lenny B. It was around this time when Danielle’s grandmother, Joan O’Shields (see picture below), began to show her how to pose and embrace the camera with flattering angles. O’Shields was a New York City published pin-up model during the 1940’s and 1950’s. Joan Kearns (Kevon Cornell)  is still a living legend at 85. 

Performing is in Danielle’s bloodline, her father is a trained percussionist, her late mother a classically trained ballerina and her great grandmother, Margaret Cameron danced in the elaborate theatrical production The Ziegfeld Follies.  Danielle has pure showgirl pumping thru her veins. 

Joan O'Sheilds (Kevon Cornell) is pictured below in a "saran wrap" bikini. Photograph by the legendary model and photographer, Linnea Eleanor "Bunny" Yeager

In 2007, Danielle began developing the professional art of striptease. 3 years later she moved on from her club dancing roots and her career blossomed into rhinestones and glamorous burlesque. Her burlesque AND hair career started to rise and Danielle was highlighted in 2012 professional hair industry magazine “Behind the Chair.”

Later Danielle collaborated with other local creatives, soon to become the “Finger Lakes Finest” and established the first and only burlesque revue in central New York - Whiskey Tango Sideshow. Danielle regularly directs and choreographs performances, designs intricate costumes and produces shows in the spirit of classic burlesque revival. In 2016 Danielle put the pedal to the metal and designed and opened her very own, modern pin up, beauty lounge “Hare and Bristle.” Tucked away upstairs inside curated vintage boutique Petrune in Ithaca, NY.

 Danielle draws on her years of experience to create unique, classic acts that indulge the art of tease and titillation, grace and beauty. Danielle currently performs regularly with the Whiskey Tango Sideshow (WTS) in Ithaca. WTS toured the Midwest where they had the privilege of meeting and working in Red Hot Annie’s production Vaudezilla, voted Chicago’s “Best in Burlesque 2010 & 2014.” Danielle also appeared with cohort “Erin the Axe” in award winning film short “The Chanticleer“, directed by Becky Lane of Nice Girl Films. Danielle also works semi regularly in Calamity Chang’s production of “Spanking the Lower East Side” at Nurse Bettie and Hotel Chantelle’s Friday night burlesque show in Manhattan, New York City. She has toured her burlesque acts in 7 states and internationally debuted at the prestigious Toronto Burlesque Festival. Since her Canadian debut Danielle has toured regularly through Ontario.

When she is not touring, producing burlesque, designing, styling or dancing she can be found relaxing in her 155 year old farmhouse alongside her beloved son, Elijah and cat companions Egg & Mouse and two very spoiled Brussels Griffon’s Pepita and Fig.