Dare to be different in Paris: choose the Crazy Horse cabaret instead of the (currently windmill-less) Moulin Rouge.

Anna Richards, a travel journalist based in France, recognizes the charm of the Moulin Rouge and why it might be your go-to for cabaret in Paris—yet she encourages you to consider the Crazy Horse instead.

Cabaret performer Lola Kashmir keeps her “real” name a secret from me.

When dancers debut at the Crazy Horse in Paris, they receive a “Crazy Girls” name. This name, chosen for them based on personal style, background, and dance technique, becomes so deeply integrated that even on nights out with fellow dancers, Kashmir never reveals her stage identity.

This sense of illusion and mystery is precisely what defines the Crazy Horse experience.

You've likely heard of the Moulin Rouge, where dancers perform high kicks in petticoats and tights. In contrast, the Crazy Horse features artists who grace the stage adorned only in light and shadows.

While the Moulin Rouge provides the quintessential French cabaret experience in Paris...

The renowned Moulin Rouge opened its doors in 1889. Its cultural significance—having inspired not only Baz Luhrmann’s 2001 film but also John Huston’s 1952 musical—has made the theater and its famous illuminated red windmill globally recognized. (Despite the recent collapse of the windmill’s sails under mysterious circumstances, the show continues as new sails are being installed.)

In France and around the world, many cabaret clubs replicate the classic format popularized by the Moulin Rouge: scantily clad performers (both women and men) entertain diners with a series of dances. The highlight is the French cancan, an exuberant display of leg kicks, swirling petticoats, and spirited cheers.

Like the Moulin Rouge itself, the cancan originated in Montmartre, created by 19th-century washerwomen. Fed up with their husbands' demands, they turned their mundane chores into lively dance moves. Many signature cancan routines reflect these domestic tasks: serving drinks to parched partners, scrubbing laundry, and even preparing condiments. To this day, cabaret dancers perform moves like le tire-bouchon (corkscrew), le lavoir (washhouse), and la mayonnaise.

However, you won't see such routines at the Crazy Horse, which made its debut in the French cabaret scene 60 years after its more famous counterpart.

…but here’s why the Crazy Horse is worth your time instead

“The dance style at the Crazy Horse is distinct and entirely unique,” explains Kashmir. “It’s a blend of cabaret and burlesque.”

When Alain Bernardin launched the Crazy Horse in 1951, he sought every opportunity to set it apart from its rival in the 18th arrondissement. The Moulin Rouge thrived in the eclectic, artsy Montmartre, alive with bohemians, radicals, and bon vivants (not to mention its share of adult shops). In contrast, the Crazy Horse is located on Avenue George V, just steps from the Champs Élysées, across from the YSL flagship store and next to Balenciaga. With a cozier capacity of 220 seats, compared to over 800 at the Moulin Rouge, the Crazy Horse offers a more intimate experience. In 1968, when full nudity became legal on stage, Bernardin further emphasized this distinction.

From that moment, his performers would take the stage naked, adorned only with minimal accessories and the artful play of shadows and light.

Among the 20 or so routines in the Crazy Horse's repertoire, some have been part of the lineup since the '50s, while others are freshly choreographed each year. Even patrons who attend two shows in one day won’t witness the same performance. Each program showcases a troupe of 15 full-time and 20 part-time Crazy Girls, along with guest performances by various hip-hop dancers, singers, and contortionists.

The process of mastering new routines is both intense and immersive. For the act “God Save Our Bareskin” – inspired by the guards at Buckingham Palace – one of Queen Elizabeth II’s guards traveled from London to Paris to teach the Crazy Girls how to walk, stomp, and salute like true royal sentinels.

While the Moulin Rouge has hosted legends like Elton John, Edith Piaf, and Ella Fitzgerald, the Crazy Horse has also welcomed its fair share of celebrity guests, including Pamela Anderson, Conchita Wurst, and Dita von Teese. The latter choreographed one of the most iconic performances in the 90-minute Crazy Horse show, titled “Undress to Kill.”

For Kashmir, the Crazy Horse’s unconventional style opened the door to the cabaret scene. Back in her native New Zealand, cabaret and burlesque were almost nonexistent. Although she trained as a contemporary dancer, she never felt that style truly represented her. Determined to find her place, she saved up to fly to Paris and audition for the Crazy Horse.

Her leap of faith paid off, and she commenced her training in 2019. With the Crazy Horse's choreography and dance techniques being entirely distinct from those found in other cabaret venues, Kashmir wasn’t alone in starting from scratch; none of her fellow dancers had previous experience in this style either.

'As a performer from New Zealand, I feel privileged to take the stage in such a historic venue at the heart of cabaret,' shares Kashmir. 'Above all, performing at the Crazy Horse, dressed only in light, is an empowering experience.'

How to get involved

The Crazy Horse hosts two shows each evening, with an additional performance on Saturdays. Tickets can be reserved online, starting at €135, which includes a bottle of rosé.