| Moulin Rouge celebrates 120th anniversary |
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07/10/2009 10:49 (45 Day 12:06 minutes ago) | |||||
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The FINANCIAL -- PARIS, The world-famous Moulin Rouge cabaret in Paris celebrates its 120th anniversary on October 6.
The Moulin Rouge was opened in Paris on October 6, 1889, by Catalan-born impresario Joseph Oller. The cabaret, with the famous red windmill on its roof, has since become known across the world as the birthplace of the traditional French can-can, which is still performed there.
In its early years, Britain's Prince of Wales, who became King Edward VII in 1901, was among the cabaret's frequent visitors, and today it is one of the main tourist attractions in Paris, offering musical dance entertainment for adult visitors from around the world.
The cabaret's head, Jean-Jacques Clerico, said the 100-strong troupe includes dancers from 17 countries, with Australia the best-represented. Competition to join the cabaret is fierce, and three Russians are currently performing at the club.
"Girls come here because it is prestigious," said Marina Lotnik, who has been working at the cabaret since 2000. "Performing here even for half a year or a year is a huge advantage for your future career, if you want it to be connected with dance, choreography or show business."
She added that when she started dancing in the cabaret, there were 15 Russians in the show.
One of her two remaining compatriots, Leonid Glushchenko, has been performing at the cabaret for more than five years. He previously danced at the State Music Hall in Russia's second city of St. Petersburg, and felt incredibly lucky to be taken on at the Moulin Rouge after his first audition.
"It was my dream... I arrived in Paris to take part in a casting, and I turned out to be lucky - I was accepted from my first attempt. Some dancers come here for four or five times, and remain empty-handed," the dancer said.
"It is not easy to become a dancer at the Moulin Rouge - only true professionals are welcomed," Clerico said. "Special choreographic and performing skills are required; our dancers go through training that is recognized by [dance] institutions across the world."
"Some 150 people usually take part in our castings, but we take on only three, four or five of them at most," Clerico said.
The current cabaret's revue, which has been performed at the Moulin Rouge stage for 10 years, is named Feerie.
The show includes dancers, acrobats, magicians and clowns, and will run for another couple of years, with a new revue expected to be staged by 2012, according to Clerico.
"We have no more competitors," he said. "During the 1980s there were dozens of cabarets, and all of them were overcrowded, but now the Moulin Rouge is the only cabaret which enjoys such wide popularity."
With next year officially declared the Year of Russia in France and the Year of France in Russia, Clerico said he did not exclude the possibility of a Moulin Rouge show in Russia.
"If somebody asks us to come to Russia to take part in celebrations, and if the offer is prestigious and specific, we will certainly come," he said.
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