©Sandie Bertrand/Moulin Rouge
Like adorned fairies bringing a touch of magic into the lives of spectators, the members of the Moulin Rouge teams diligently work every day for 135 years to ensure that each show is flawless and meets the expectations of an audience for whom the legendary Parisian cabaret evokes dreams. Performed twice every evening, 365 days a year, the revue Féerie brings together 60 dancers on stage. But behind the curtain, there are many more working to transform this cabaret into a timeless universe. Come along, let's uncover the best-kept secrets of the Moulin Rouge.
More than just a performance, it's a travela perfection des costumes qui font la renommée du Moulin Rouge.The magnificence of the costumes.
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©Philippe Wojazer/Moulin Rouge
It's a perfectly timed ballet
All these little world follows a perfectly precise schedule. Every day at 8am, the seamstresses arrive at the Moulin and pick up a batch of costumes indicating what needs to be fixed. Sequining, adjusting, repairing a zipper, a loose seam or a detached ruffle from a cancan skirt, they use a variety of techniques to make the stage outfits look like new. Meanwhile, the feather workers check the costumes while the shoemaker maintains the different pairs of shoes.
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©Philippe Wojazer/Moulin Rouge
Three to four times a month, the dancers who have performed until 1:15 in the morning gather at the Moulin around 1 pm for rehearsals or a dance class given by the artistic director. In addition to the dancers and craftsmen, there is also an entire technical team that meticulously checks the condition of the stage and set to ensure that everything is working well.
Cabaret of freedom
Only two criteria are imposed on the Moulin dancers: wearing false eyelashes and red lipstick. For the rest of their makeup, they have complete freedom and can thus let their personality and creativity shine. They are also free to warm up according to their needs. The essential part is for them to feel comfortable and confident on stage.
She is ready to take the stage at 9pm for the first show of the evening!
©Philippe Wojazer/Moulin Rouge
A show open to children from 6 years old
It is not well known, but the cabaret is also ready to put magic in the eyes of the little ones. Its four acts - The Moulin Rouge today and yesterday, The Pirates, At the Circus, The Moulin Rouge of 1900 à… - take spectators of all ages into dreamlike worlds, beyond all earthly or temporal boundaries.
©Philippe Wojazer/Moulin Rouge
A French institution, an international troupe
If the Moulin Rouge is one of those institutions that have become true symbols of French culture internationally, the artists who perform there are recruited from all over the world. The 90 dancers hail from 18 different nationalities. The women start in the cancan line and can, over time, climb the ranks by learning the roles of the topless line, soloists, and singers.
©Sandie Bertrand/Moulin Rouge
Bonus: The Moulin Rouge, the largest private consumer of champagne!
Revealing the secrets of the Moulin Rouge couldn't be done without sharing a quirky little anecdote: with 260,000 bottles opened each year, the cabaret is the largest private consumer of champagne! A few bubbles to accompany a most sparkling show, to be enjoyed in moderation.
Moulin Rouge
82, boulevard de Clichy - 18th
Dinner-show every day at 7 pm
Show every day at 9 pm and 11 pm
More information