For its 135th anniversary, the Moulin Rouge reveals what goes on behind the scenes

When we say Pigalle, French Cancan, dancing, and feathered costumes, you answer? Of course, Moulin Rouge: an institution that has been actively contributing to the enrichment of Parisian and French culture for nearly 135 years. Indeed, on October 6th, the world’s most famous cabaret will celebrate its 135th anniversary, and on this occasion, it will reveal behind-the-scenes secrets in an unprecedented way to a selected group of lucky guests. From September 20 to 27, it will be possible to enter an online contest, directly on the Moulin Rouge website, for a chance to win one of the 135 entrance tickets up for grabs, which will grant winners chosen at random in a draw, VIP access to the cabaret’s backstage. For the very first time, some visitors will have the chance to step behind the curtain, an area usually only accessible to the 90 dancers who set the stage alight every night, as well as the staff members. Six group tours will take place throughout the day on Sunday, October 6th, all led by a guide who will not only show visitors every little corner of the cabaret but also share juicy anecdotes about its members and history, and display the costumes that make the dancers shine every night.

The history of the legendary cabaret began in 1889, at the heart of the Belle Époque, when Catalan Joseph Oller and Charles Zidler, who already owned the Olympia, decided to join forces (and especially their financial resources) and opened this cabaret located on boulevard de Clichy in the 18th arrondissement of Paris, in the Pigalle district at the foot of Montmartre hill. In this context of peace, 100 years after the French Revolution, optimism due to industrial progress, and cultural evolution with the opening of the Expositions Universelles, the Moulin Rouge quickly achieved great success. Thanks to its strategic location and innovative, modern architecture, which allowed for quick set changes, it thrived and attracted a wealthy, trendy clientele always seeking entertainment. However, a fire in 1915 and the outbreak of World War I slowed down this popularity, and the institution was only rebuilt 10 years later. Its renaissance truly began in the 1950s.

Today, the venue is one of the must-see attractions in Paris and welcomes about 600,000 visitors from around the world every year. The «revues» (the name given to the shows held there) follow one another, the dancers keep performing, but the magic remains the same. This unique, possibly once-in-a-lifetime chance to witness this magic from an insider’s perspective should not be missed. Head straight to the Moulin Rouge website now for a chance to be one of the 135 lucky winners who will properly celebrate the Moulin Rouge’s 135th anniversary. May luck be on your side.