To make up for lack of genuine Can Can in the blockbuster Moulin Rouge, which refreshed people's memories of the 300-year-old performance genre, Can Can de Paris is coming to Taiwan to show their version of the sensuous French dance style. The burgeoning group of 14 American and French dancers had just had their first tour of the US in January before bringing their interesting mix of dance shows here.
Claire Duport, the group's choreographer, studied and worked in classical ballet before her enthusiasm for Can Can won out. Her previous choreography work can be seen in the 1997 French movie Lautrec, based on the life of French painter Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, who found his inspiration in Can Can dancers. Duport often tries to show the exquisiteness of French culture through exclusive use of music by French composers in her choreography pieces. Despite Can Can's ancient role as the entertainment for the working class, Duport strived to make it a refined art form.
The show will not confine itself to Can Can but will be interspersed with stunt shows by Tina Clay, a stunt performer with Cirque de Soleil and Holiday on Ice, and other dances like quadrille, waltz and tango. Dancers will also perform a piece of zany ballet, in which male dancers in female ballet costumes provide some light-hearted humor.
Can Can de Paris is going to perform Sept. 17 at Taipei's Chungshan Hall. The show is moving on to Yuanlin the next day, back to Taipei at the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall on Sept. 19, 20 and 21. After that, the show is moving to Chungli, Hsinchu, Nantou, Tainan and Kaohsiung on Sept. 24 to Sept. 27 and the weekend of Sept. 28 respectively. Tickets ranging from NT$300 to NT$2,000 are available at ERA ticketing outlets. For detailed information and ticket booking, go to www.kham.com.tw or call (07) 7403466.
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