The Return of the Can-Can
France is seeing the revival of its once world-renowned dance
The can-can is a dance that will forever be associated with the French, even though it has now been performed in many different countries. It first became popular in music halls in and around Paris during the 1840s. The physically demanding dance was originally performed by dancers of both sexes. One of the first can-can dance groups to tour abroad was the all-male Quadrille des Clodoches who took their routine to London in 1870.
It soon became a dance that was dominated by women and although very popular, there was a certain element of society who were scandalized by such lewd behavior.
In part, this may have been because in the early 19th century, women wore what were know as pantalettes which had an open crotch. With the dance demanding high energy kicks, splits and cartwheels, more was being revealed than was socially acceptable.
Efforts were made to get the performances banned but the dance not only survived, it thrived.
In 1867, the can-can first crossed the Atlantic and was performed in Boston’s Theatre Comique. It became an instant success although it again created controversy among more conservative members of high society. From Boston, it spread out across the US, especially in gold…
