The Moulin Rouge exterior

Moulin Rouge auditions dancers in Canada

One of the most famous cabarets in the world is looking to expand its troupe of dancers. The Moulin Rouge holds auditions in three Canadian cities this month in hopes of finding classically trained performers who can also dazzle audiences with their mastery of the French Cancan.

Moulin Rouge French Cancan dance
French Cancan ©Moulin Rouge. Photo: Sandie Bertrand

Auditions take place in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver under the expert guidance of Janet Pharaoh, artistic director of the Moulin Rouge, assisted by resident choreographer Erik Sorensen. The artistic team is scouting out new talent in Canada for stage performances at the famous Moulin Rouge cabaret, which has been illuminating Paris since 1889. Their 130-year anniversary is on October 6.

In order to qualify, candidates should have “strong classical dance training as well as criteria specific to the Moulin Rouge: minimum height (5 feet 9 inches for girls and 6 foot 1 for boys), well-balanced figures but also, and mainly, the personality, the charisma and the capacity to assimilate choreographies with class and distinction. And for the boys, a well-proportioned muscled body.”

Dancers who are selected from the auditions will travel to Paris for a month of rehearsals and will join a team of 60 artists, from 14 different nationalities. The Moulin Rouge will welcome successful artists into the current show, Féerie

Audition details:

Vancouver
Sunday, Sept. 22, 2019 – 2 p.m.
The Dance Centre (Kraul studio)
Scotiabank Dance Centre
Level 6, 677 Davie St., Vancouver

Montreal
Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019 – 12 p.m.
Studio Bizz, Mont-Royal
551 Ave du Mont-Royal Est., Montreal

Toronto 
Sunday, Sept. 15, 2019 – 2­­ p.m.
Canada’s National Ballet School
400 Jarvis St., Toronto 

Féerie is an intricate, 1 hour 45 minute production with 1,000 costumes made of feathers, rhinestones and sequins, sumptuous settings in shimmering colours, a 60-ton aquarium, the famous French Cancan and an audience of more than 600,000 spectators from all over the world every year.


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