Design Archi Seb
It’s the 7th anniversary revue of the Cabaret des Filles de Joie at the Bellevilloise this weekend and it’s going to be a hoot. Artistic director of the cabaret, Juliette Dragon tells Ruby TV why.
What is the flavour of this cabaret?
This 7th anniversary revue is a kind of ‘best of’ with our two favourite themes:
- 1880 Moulin Rouge- feathers, corsets, French cancan, typically retro French numbers;
- a tribute to the roaring twenties and famous musicals such as Cabaret & Chicago, with Bob Fosse style choreography, Lisa Minelli characters, tap dancing, charleston, flappers, …
Who is involved?
All the team will be there- about 30 people, stage managers, compares, djs, and we’re gonna be 25 artists on stage: burlesque dancers, performers, live musicians and actors…
Our special guests are Rachel Gardner Smith and her two Fille de Joie characters: Panthera Sauvage, the great Vegas Diva and Minou d’égoûts, the cabaret starlet. Rachel played with the cabaret back in the beginning. She left two years ago to pursue a solo career. A great artist, dancer and singer, she’s back for this performance and it’s a great honour! We have also two famous and skilled tap dancers: Jazmin Baret (Australia) and Marion Sandner (Germany).
How has the cabaret evolved since its debut?
We started small and became bigger and bigger! Seven years ago, nobody in France was talking about “Burlesque”, the fashion was more art performance. When I founded the Cabaret des Filles de Joie, people told me “what a strange idea. Cabaret is so old fashioned! It’s out!” But the audience came more and more crowded, smiling and joyful. And now, well…
What is the biggest challenge of your job?
My goal is to entertain the people, make them forget their problems (especially during this F***ing economic recession), showing a new Woman Embodiment- just normal women with their normal shapes (ie small tits, big ass and so what?!) All women are beautiful. They just have to feel self confident, proud of themselves and happy to be women. This is beauty- watching happy faces of women having fun on stage together. No rivalry but sisterhood, solidarity and glamour!
What will happen in the next seven years of the Cabaret??
Héhé! Who knows?! I hope we’ll open a burlesque theatre. We have started a burlesque school (every Saturday at the Bellevilloise) and look to open daily classes.
We are also in the process of organising some international tours with the some of the girls from the cabaret.
The last few monthly cabarets have seen up to 200 disappointed guests each cabaret who have been turned away with the Bellevilloise reaching capacity in just minutes. So, for the first time, advance booking tickets are available on digitick.
More info on the facebook event here for the anniversary show that plays the 17th and 18th April at La Bellevilloise.
