Dream job as dancer selected for Moulin Rouge

A ballet dancer said she had landed her "ultimate dream job" after being selected to star in the Moulin Rouge cabaret in Paris.

Amelia Cook, 21, said two days after attending the audition in France, she was in shock after being told she would be part of the 60-strong dance troupe.

Cook, of Stratford-upon-Avon, began her journey with ballet as a young child and went on to train at Elmhurst Ballet School in Birmingham, before becoming a corps de ballet member with Barcelona Ballet in Spain.

She made her debut on the Moulin Rouge stage, adorned in feathers in November and now dances twice a night, six days a week for thousands of spectators from all over the world.

To join the Moulin Rouge dance troupe, candidates must demonstrate a strong foundation in both classical and contemporary dance and must meet strict height requirements.

Female dancers must be at least 175 cm tall and male dancers must be 185cm.

Cook said: "I was nervous in the days leading up to the audition as this was my ultimate dream job, but on the day I was surprisingly relaxed.

"It was different from other auditions I had done before - it was a very positive experience and environment.

"Everyone auditioning was super nice and supportive of each other. It was honestly the most fun I've ever had at an audition."

Founded in 1889, the Moulin Rouge will celebrate its 137th anniversary this year.

Every evening at 21:00 and 23:00 GMT, the lights go down for Féerie - a two-hour revue featuring 1,000 costumes adorned with feathers and sequins, dazzling sets, and original music.

Cook said: "The dance world is incredibly demanding, and carving out your place is never easy.

"Being able to join such a renowned and iconic institution, one that celebrates women, particularly tall dancers, was deeply important to me."

She had to train for one month to learn the show's famous choreographies - including the French Can-can.

"After a month of intense rehearsals, my premiere on stage was such a surreal experience.

"I couldn't believe it was happening! I was very proud of myself and the other new dancers for working so hard to get to this point.

"The French Can-can is such an iconic piece. It's the hardest dance in the show, especially in terms of stamina - but it's also the most rewarding when you see the audience's reactions."

Speaking about her favourite moment of the show, she said it was performing while wearing the cabaret's iconic red feathers and jewels.

"[They] are so emblematic of the Moulin Rouge, and the arm movements have a beautiful balletic quality that I love.

"It's the number that, whenever I perform it, makes me think: wow - I'm truly a dancer at the Moulin Rouge."

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