The past is not at rest
The Moulin Rouge is certainly the most archetypal French vaudeville, founded in 1889 at the height of the Belle Époque by Joseph Oller and Charles Zidler, and still offers its guests music, dance and drama. Initially, it was used for revues, operettas, and cinema performances, followed by shows that emulated circus performances. At the same time, acrobatics and clowning, along with showgirls and dancers, were part of the performances, which at first served only to entertain wealthy citizens, the founders of vaudeville. The can-can, in which the dancers perform high kicks, became a trademark of the Moulin Rouge. Jane Avril and La Goulue were two famous performers at the vaudeville in Montmartre who were particularly celebrated for their can-can, but over the years celebrities such as Edith Piaf, Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald also performed here.