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Indulge in Old-Time Parisian Kitsch at the Moulin Rouge
Published by Amanda Wenek, Writer
Country: France 
The Experience
The most famous twilight cabaret, the Moulin Rouge, was born during a time of cultural profusion in Paris. Situated in the historic Montmartre district, the Moulin Rouge resides among the seediest nightclubs in Paris—a diamond among gems.
Although the Moulin Rouge may not be the seediest of its peer group, it is the oldest and the most kitsch. It recently celebrated its 120th birthday; and while the prices are steep (starting at €90), I couldn't pass up the opportunity to share in a 120-year-old Parisian tradition.
The Can-Can was born at the Moulin Rouge, and during the performance cabaret dancers wear traditional "frou-frou" (a long dress with bunches of frills sewn to the inside of it). As time went on, the dancers realized how shorter skirts meant bigger audiences. A few went even further and removed their underwear. The vice police were then created to monitor the length of skirts and to make sure all the dancers were wearing underwear. It was a very coveted job. Nowadays, the Moulin Rouge dancers routinely wear underwear, which is on display all night long as the frou-frou skirts are donned only for the Can-Can performance. The costumes are basically absent of any upper part, and naked breasts are the accessory of choice.
We got through the doors around 11:30 p.m. and were seated fairly quickly close to the stage. A bottle of cheap champagne was included in our ticket price. The Moulin Rouge show, entitled “Féerie,” lasted for about an hour and a half. It featured a troupe of a hundred artists and dancers, a thousand costumes of feathers, rhinestones and sequins all made in Parisian workshops, and lavish shimmering sets designed by Italian artists. The outstanding international acts included jugglers, ventriloquists, tumblers, miniature ponies, and a giant snake aquarium. Enraptured? Absolutely!
The Moulin Rouge show ended with the famed Can-Can routine, and frou-frou skirts in red, white and blue engulfed the stage. The men took their turn among the women: kicking their legs into the air and doing back flips and the splits while howling the Can-Can signature shriek. The intense finale lasted for what felt like twenty minutes, but being happily engrossed, it could have gone on all night.
Leaving the illustrious red windmill of the Moulin Rouge behind, we felt like glamorous cabaret patrons of old time Paris. As a cab pulled up to the curb the driver crudely asked us if we liked sex. This quickly reminded us of our decadent surroundings, and was a proper end to an improper evening at the notorious Moulin Rouge.
Although the Moulin Rouge may not be the seediest of its peer group, it is the oldest and the most kitsch. It recently celebrated its 120th birthday; and while the prices are steep (starting at €90), I couldn't pass up the opportunity to share in a 120-year-old Parisian tradition.
The Can-Can was born at the Moulin Rouge, and during the performance cabaret dancers wear traditional "frou-frou" (a long dress with bunches of frills sewn to the inside of it). As time went on, the dancers realized how shorter skirts meant bigger audiences. A few went even further and removed their underwear. The vice police were then created to monitor the length of skirts and to make sure all the dancers were wearing underwear. It was a very coveted job. Nowadays, the Moulin Rouge dancers routinely wear underwear, which is on display all night long as the frou-frou skirts are donned only for the Can-Can performance. The costumes are basically absent of any upper part, and naked breasts are the accessory of choice.
We got through the doors around 11:30 p.m. and were seated fairly quickly close to the stage. A bottle of cheap champagne was included in our ticket price. The Moulin Rouge show, entitled “Féerie,” lasted for about an hour and a half. It featured a troupe of a hundred artists and dancers, a thousand costumes of feathers, rhinestones and sequins all made in Parisian workshops, and lavish shimmering sets designed by Italian artists. The outstanding international acts included jugglers, ventriloquists, tumblers, miniature ponies, and a giant snake aquarium. Enraptured? Absolutely!
The Moulin Rouge show ended with the famed Can-Can routine, and frou-frou skirts in red, white and blue engulfed the stage. The men took their turn among the women: kicking their legs into the air and doing back flips and the splits while howling the Can-Can signature shriek. The intense finale lasted for what felt like twenty minutes, but being happily engrossed, it could have gone on all night.
Leaving the illustrious red windmill of the Moulin Rouge behind, we felt like glamorous cabaret patrons of old time Paris. As a cab pulled up to the curb the driver crudely asked us if we liked sex. This quickly reminded us of our decadent surroundings, and was a proper end to an improper evening at the notorious Moulin Rouge.
When to Go to Moulin Rouge
Odds n' Ends
The Moulin Rouge does require "elegant attire" in order to get into the show, but there were many people in jeans and a t-shirt among the audience.
You can pay upwards of €130 for dinner and a show earlier in the evening, and a minimum of €90 if you opt for the 11 p.m. show with two drinks of your choice or a bottle of champagne included.
There is quite a bit of female nudity in the Moulin Rouge show. The costumes are no more than thong bodysuits with a skirt over the top, and many of the costumes are topless.
There are also animal rights considerations in the Moulin Rouge show. Miniature ponies are paraded around stage, and a naked woman dives into a giant pool full of large snakes, frolicking among them and holding up snakes for the audience.
You can pay upwards of €130 for dinner and a show earlier in the evening, and a minimum of €90 if you opt for the 11 p.m. show with two drinks of your choice or a bottle of champagne included.
There is quite a bit of female nudity in the Moulin Rouge show. The costumes are no more than thong bodysuits with a skirt over the top, and many of the costumes are topless.
There are also animal rights considerations in the Moulin Rouge show. Miniature ponies are paraded around stage, and a naked woman dives into a giant pool full of large snakes, frolicking among them and holding up snakes for the audience.
Places to Stay Nearby
Search over 900,000 global hotel deals from over 30 merchants. Book via Expedia, Travelocity, Hotels.com, Booking.com, Priceline and the websites of popular hotel chains.
All the hotel GOLDHOTEL team offers quality service 24h24, welcomes you warmly, and will be able responds to all your requests. Stalwart of the Parisian ... 0 miles away
$59 EUR+
Located in a 19th-century building in Montmartre, just 30 metres from the Moulin Rouge and the famous Cafe des Deux Moulins where the film Amelie ... 0 miles away
$135 EUR+
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Books and DVDs
Elsewhere on the Web
Media References
- Paris Nightlife Moulin Rouge - NYTimes.com (newspaper)
- Paris Is Still Kicking - NYTimes.com (newspaper)
- Moulin Rouge celebrates 120th anniversary - Sify.com (blog)
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