The history of the Moulin Rouge

One of the most popular landmarks in Paris – France, the Moulin Rouge has been a part of Parisian history since 1889. The history of the Moulin Rouge is a coloured one at best; however, today the Moulin Rouge is a place where Parisians and tourists like to visit for a great cabaret experience.

Founded by Joseph Oller and Charles Zidler, the Moulin Rouge created a place for entertainment that would appeal to a diverse crowd. However, if you know anything about the history of the Moulin Rouge, it quickly became known as an establishment for men to view the dance moves of young Parisians girls and calling it a “house of ill-repute” was definitely a name the Moulin Rouge acquired.

One of the most interesting and notable parts of the Moulin Rouge is its interesting exterior architecture. Built in the “red light district” of Paris, the façade of the Moulin Rouge was, and still is covered in glittering electric lights. However, during the late 1800s, these lights were a novelty and something that definitely made the Moulin Rouge stand out. The huge, red windmill fixed atop the entrance to the building is most certainly a very famous part of the history of the Moulin Rouge. The windmill is said to be indicative of the history of the Montmarte, the village of many windmills that stood in this then-rural part of Paris before it became developed. There were 44 windmills said to be in this area prior to its development and “all were welcome” in the windmill, which were said to double as brothels; hence, the original founders of the Moulin Rouge included a little history of this part of Paris by donning the windmill over the entrance.

During this time, the can-can dance was experiencing great popularly, and the Moulin Rouge was certainly not short of can-can dancers performing for their audience who were out for an extravagant and entertaining night in Paris. The elaborate décor, unconventional architecture and location in the “red light” district of Paris made the Moulin Rouge well-known quickly throughout the world.

The history of the Moulin Rouge has been riddled with transformations. After World War 1, the theatre continued to be a host to musicals and cabaret shows. However, after the owner’s death, the Moulin Rouge was turned into a cinema until the early 1950s when new owners, Georges France and Vince Auriol, revitalized the music hall into a dinner spectacular show, hoping to bring a true cabaret experience to the audience and attracted high-end clientele.

Through the years, the Moulin Rouge has changed from an unofficial brothel, to a frequented music hall. Though the adult appeal is still important to note, the over 100 performers wear extravagant costumes accented with feathers and rhinestones, performing under dazzling lights and colourful music.

Today, patrons from all over the world can see the history of the Moulin Rouge performed by the amazing performers each night at 10pm. The famous can-can is still executed to a packed audience and there does not seem to be any future changes to this iconic cabaret venue.

If you’d like to learn how to dance with flair like the Moulin Rouge performers, Ikin Dance Australia is the place to be. We specialise in lyrical, jazz, acrobatics, and so much more! Call us today on 5522 1863 and we can walk you through our timetable.