Moulin Rouge's Doriss Girls celebrates Singapore's 50th anniversary

In celebration of the 50th founding anniversary of Singapore, 14 of Moulin Rouge's signature Doriss Girls have arrived in the island nation to fire up the audiences with "A Taste of Moulin Rouge" show slated for Saturday evening.

Doriss Girls are the lively signature dancers of Moulin Rouge, the 125-year-old cabaret in Paris, and this is their first time to perform in Southeast Asia.

"As one of Paris's most renowned cultural treasures, we hope the audience will be able to enjoy a nostalgic and thrilling night filled with Parisian charms," said Jean-Jacques Clerico, president of the Moulin Rouge ahead of the performance.

Moulin Rouge's Doriss Girls are recruited from around the world such as Australia, Britain, France and the Philippines. This time, they are bringing 14 excellent performers to impress local audiences with "the Moulin Rouge style".

Established in 1889, Moulin Rouge, the spiritual birthplace of the modern form of the French can-can dance, has won its reputation as "the palace of the dance and women" and is highly- known for its extravagance: 1,000 costumes made of feathers, rhinestones and sequins, 800 pairs of hand custom-made shoes of size 37 to 46, lavish settings with shining colors and unique designs made by Italian artists.

All these luxurious settings are the backdrop of the famous Doriss Girls, the role Nicole Kidman has played in the movie adaptation of "Moulin Rouge." The dancers are named after Miss Doriss, the famous choreographer who originally choreographed the show.

Although called "Doriss Girls," the whole troupe is in fact made up of dancers from both sexes. To get qualified for Doriss Girls is no easy feat. Some say it's as hard as making it to the Olympics. All the girls must be at least 1.75 meters tall and boys must be over 1.85 meters. They must have astounding figures and superb dancing skills to leave the spectators spellbound during the entire show.

The criteria, in Artistic Director Janet Pharaoh's words, include "good dancing techniques, lots of energy and stamina."

"They must be excellent dancers. They must have been trained in classical dancing and, of course, you have to be able to kick your leg here (to the face) and do the splits... And you have to have the courage and determination to perform with excellence," Pharaoh said.

Twenty-six-year-old Australian Stacey Kenealy has been with the troupe for five years. She said Moulin Rouge goes to Australia for audition once a year, and it usually lasts the whole day.

"The last time, hundreds of girls went for audition in Australia. It went for six-seven hours, and we learn a little bit of everything from the show, the French CanCan, the quadrille and at the end of the day you get to know whether you may or may not be able to get the contract," Kenealy said.

According to Kenealy, being a part of the troupe is just the beginning.

"High standards to keep the physical condition of the members of the troupe are strictly required and artistic directors pay particular attention to it every day. Losing or gaining weight is strictly controlled to less than 2 kilograms, cutting or dying one 's hair is strictly monitored, and for male dancers, they have to work out every day to keep their bodies trim and prim all the time, " Kenealy said.

This sounds harsh but Kenealy thinks otherwise. "Doing two shows every night definitely helps because it keeps your body very trim and fit. And when we work so hard at night we burn a lot of energy," she said.

Since it opened in Paris over a quarter and a century ago, Moulin Rouge has been welcoming audiences round the clock. The Moulin Rouge cast will be in Singapore as part of the celebration for the island-nation's 50th founding anniversary.

When asked why Moulin Rouge shows have been appealing to audiences from around the world for more than a century, Pharaoh explained "It's not a show with a meaning or a reason for being. This is a show where a guest can come in, have a good meal, drink champagne, just sit, relax and enjoy the show. Everybody loves to look at pretty things, pretty costumes and pretty girls. These appeal to anybody with some taste for the finer things in life." Endi