Cabaret de Paris: the showgirl must go on
InReview
Burlesque audiences are mostly women who aspire to the French cabaret ideal of feminine perfection, says Australian-born former Moulin Rouge star Marissa Burgess.
“They come to see the ostrich feathers, the eyelashes, the Swarovski jewels, the beauty of the female form and the way the girls move.
“My father likens French burlesque to Ferraris – prestigious girls with a grooming and finish you don’t see in Australia. It’s Parisian glamour, pure fantasy.”
Burgess, who stars in burlesque show Cabaret de Paris, which opens in Adelaide this Saturday, is an expert in French cabaret, having been the longest-serving principal dancer at the legendary Moulin Rouge in Paris, performing 12 times a week for 17 years.
Marissa Burgess.
So how does a “mining kid”, born in Darwin and raised in Newcastle, become the star of the world’s most famous cabaret revue?
“People know Newcastle as an old steely city, but it’s actually a really artsy town,” says Burgess.
“An amazing amount of talent comes out of Newcastle; it has one of the best dance schools in Australia.”
Growing up there, she trained in “heavy duty” classical ballet, jazz and tap under Tessa Maunder.
“When I was 14, I saw my sister working in a Lido show in Paris. She was a principal dancer there. The girls were dripping in jewellery, elegant, tall and glorious. I wanted to be part of that.”
At the age of 17, Burgess’s talent was recognised by the Moulin Rouge, where she honed her craft. French cabaret, she says, comes with a deep tradition of costume, choreography and “unashamed opulence”.
“The performers have a very high skill level, portraying grace and beauty with ease.
“You don’t see the physical effort of the dancers or the work that goes into every tiny little detail, from the quality of the feathers and jewels down to the perfect G-string line and eyelashes. You just see gorgeous Parisian luxe.”
In 2003, Burgess returned to Australia to open a new show for Jupiter’s Casino on the Gold Coast and settle down with her husband Ben Hur Nicolodi, also a performer. Together they have built an internationally recognised production company, with each dancer trained and mentored under Burgess’s expert eye.
Their latest project she describes as Australia’s first true “feather show” since 1985, with a troupe of 15 of the best showgirls from around the world, who happen to be mostly Australian.
“There is no difficulty finding talent with French cabaret experience,” says Burgess. “A lot of Australians have worked overseas; you can hear their accents backstage at the Moulin and the Lido.”
The difference between burlesque as Adelaide knows it, and French cabaret, says Burgess, is that feather routines (performed by a group of chorus dancers) are a supporting act in a variety show mixed in with musical theatre and magic shows.
“In Cabaret de Paris, we’re concentrating on the quintessential feather show. We have other supporting acts, such as Melbourne comic acrobat Justin Case, adagio duo Angela and Cyriaque Kinkingnehun and Australia’s Got Talent finalist, illusionist Michael Boyd, but the dancers are at the top of the billing, because they deserve to be.”
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Cabaret de Paris has been choreographed by Adelaide-born Todd Patrick, also a former Lido performer.
“The choreography is extremely taxing and the dancers will showcasing that skill,” Burgess says.
She will also be showcasing her skill as the star of the burlesque extravaganza.
“Cabaret de Paris is everything that I am and everything that I do,” she says. “It’s what I’m made for; I have grown up in this role as the quintessential Paris showgirl.”
Cabaret de Paris will be showing at Her Majesty’s Theatre on Saturday, September 19 and Sunday, September 20.
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