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Inside the Moulin Rouge Paris venue
From the moment you step inside Moulin Rouge Paris, you’ll feel like you’ve entered another world. The venue is intimate yet grand, with an 850-seat hall that’s perfect for getting up close to the action.
The layout
- Main room: 1000 m² of space filled with Belle Époque-inspired décor, complete with murals and Morris columns.
- Salon Toulouse-Lautrec: A more intimate space, perfect for those looking for a more exclusive experience.
The atmosphere
The venue’s iconic small red glowing lamps are everywhere, creating a cozy, inviting glow that makes the place feel warm and magical. Combined with the rich vintage décor, this sets the stage for an unforgettable night.
🔎With the stage set and the atmosphere perfected, let’s take a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into the performance itself.
Behind-the-curtains: The dancers preparing for the spotlight
The Moulin Rouge Paris dancers are at the heart of this iconic cabaret. Here’s what happens before the curtain rises:
A behind-the-scenes look
- Backstage at 7pm: A flurry of activity ensues as dancers prepare for the night’s performance, engaging in warm-ups, rehearsals, and final costume checks.
- Training and technique: Dancers are trained in classical dance, jazz, and hip-hop, ensuring a performance that blends both modern and traditional styles.
The performance
- French cancan: After three weeks of intense rehearsals, the dancers take the stage for the French Cancan, a high-energy performance that requires precision, strength, and endurance.
- Flawless execution: The dancers’ skill and commitment come to life as they bring the iconic dance to the stage, thrilling audiences night after night.
Now, let’s step into the world of costume creation, where every detail plays a vital role in bringing the performance to life.
The art of design: Everything that goes backstage
👗 Costume creation
Every performance at Moulin Rouge Paris is enhanced by the beautiful costumes designed for the dancers. The creation of these costumes is an art form in itself.
- Atelier de Création: In the heart of the Moulin Rouge Paris creative studios, 10 talented couturiers use innovative materials, pearls, and sequins to create costumes that shine on stage.
- Comfort and functionality: Each costume is designed with both aesthetic beauty and comfort in mind, ensuring that dancers can perform freely and elegantly.
🪶 The feathermaker
Feathers are a hallmark of Moulin Rouge Paris costumes, and their creation is entrusted to skilled artisans at Maison Février.
- Feathermakers: These artisans use natural feathers to create lavish, stunning designs that bring an added touch of luxury to the costumes. Their dexterous hands turn simple feathers into extravagant designs, elevating the performance with each dazzling creation.
✨ The embroiderer
Embroidery is another critical element that adds charm to the Moulin Rouge Paris costumes.
- Atelier Valentin: Located in the 9th arrondissement of Paris, this studio specializes in handcrafting exquisite embroidery using rhinestones, pearls, and sequins.
- Artisanal techniques: The embroiderers use techniques like Luneville embroidery to add detail and sparkle to every piece, ensuring that each costume is a work of art.
👠 The bootmaker
At Moulin Rouge Paris, the French Cancan boots are essential to the show’s success. Here’s how they’re made:
- Maison Clairvoy: Specializing in custom-made shoes, this studio has been creating the French Cancan boots for Moulin Rouge Paris for decades.
- Durability and comfort: These boots are designed to withstand the high-energy, acrobatic moves of the French Cancan, offering the perfect combination of comfort, style, and durability.
With the costumes ready, it’s time for the final touch—the impeccable service that ensures your experience is as extraordinary as the show itself.
Behind the service: How the dining brigade enhances your night
The service at Moulin Rouge Paris matches the excellence of the food and performances. The dining brigade, consisting of 120 professionals, ensures that every guest’s experience is flawless.
Behind-the-scenes excellence
- Service at its best: From the moment you arrive at 7 p.m., the maître d’s, head waiters, and commis chefs work in harmony to deliver exceptional service throughout the evening.
- Atmosphere: The service enhances the dining experience, allowing guests to relax and fully immerse themselves in the Moulin Rouge Paris magic.
You know what goes backstage. Ready for some on-stage action? Book here!
Frequently asked questions about Moulin Rouge Paris inside
Can I tour the Moulin Rouge backstage?
Moulin Rouge does not offer standard backstage tours for the public.
What role do the technical staff play behind the scenes?
The technical team is responsible for ensuring that lighting, sound, and special effects are perfectly synchronized with each performance. Starting from 7 PM, the team checks the equipment, rehearses light cues, and coordinates with the dancers to ensure flawless execution during the show.
What happens backstage before the show begins?
Backstage at Moulin Rouge is a hive of activity as dancers rehearse, finalize their costume fittings, and undergo hair and makeup sessions. The technical team ensures that lighting, sound, and special effects are perfectly synchronized with the choreography. It's a well-orchestrated flurry of preparation to bring the iconic show to life.
What happens before the show starts inside the theatre?
Guests are welcomed by ushers in tuxedos and led to candle-lit tables. If you arrive early, you’ll enjoy soft live music by a hidden jazz band, exclusive to the dinner show experience.
What are the acoustics like inside the theatre?
The space was acoustically redesigned in the 2000s to mimic opera house dynamics, ensuring the orchestra (if present) and backing tracks are crisp and immersive, even from the upper levels.
Is there a “wall of fame” backstage?
Yes. There’s a backstage hallway filled with autographed photos from every cast since 1950, including celebrities, guest artists, and former showgirls who went on to become stars.