Raphaël
24 years of collaboration, what a lovely performance! Tell us about your beginnings at Crazy Horse Paris.
Back then, Crazy Horse Paris was working with the famous wigmaker Poulain who had just retired. Sophie Bernardin was therefore looking for a successor. I simply introduced myself to her.
The first thing Sophie Bernardin asked of me was to conceive straight, bob-cut wigs of several colors, 15 in all. It’s important to note that the wigs are made of synthetic fibers and have been dyed in the mass, which reduces the amount of colors they can be made in. If the color were to be added to the wigs after they were already made, they would fade away quite quickly when washed. Yet I was still able to honor the request since the wigs were meant to be worn only for the making of the Taboo DVD and not on stage.
The first day of shooting, Sophie Bernardin said my wigs were “to die for” and that the Crazy Girls had to have them for the shows. It was a real challenge! Together with my manufacturer, I had to create a whole new fibre that could be dyed in the mass… that way I was able to make the wigs that had been asked of me.
How did you make the iconic Crazy bob yours?
Ah, that bob… do you know that in my salon they ask me for the Crazy haircut? It’s much more than a bob, it’s a true signature, a hallmark. It immediately reminds one of Crazy Horse Paris, you don’t even have to mention the cabaret’s name. It means adopting, with this mythical wig, the very DNA and values of Crazy Horse Paris. Everything is perfectly controlled and carries a vision of femininity as sublime as it is uninhibited at Crazy Horse Paris and with the wigs I create, I take part in the cabaret’s wonderfully beautiful identity.
The lengths, colors, fringes, geometry of the Crazy bob are practically unchangeable. I carry out the technical specifications with rigor, precision and passion. Sometimes, the bob takes liberties, as in the Glamazones act. That blue wig with the convex bangs and the short neckline, has also become part of Crazy Horse Paris artistic codes.
Outside of Crazy Horse Paris, how do you decline your art of the wig?
I am very proud of having created 126 wigs for a Zizi Jeanmaire revue at Casino de Paris, with costumes by Yves Saint-Laurent. I actually worked for him later on by making 50s style wigs which the famous designer found “divine”. I also produced all the wigs for the exposition dedicated to his muse, Betty Catroux, which is still being held at the Yves Saint-Laurent museum. I also make historical wigs, à la Marie-Antoinette, around 35 centimeters high!
But my wigs have also been worn by women who, due to illness, have lost their hair. I am a member of EREEL, who, with Souffle de Violette, have accompanied women who have cancer. A commitment that I take to heart and, as with the Crazy Horse Paris, do with passion.
One of our exquisite Crazy Girls will guide you on a very private VIP tour for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the world-famous cabaret and its legendary dance troupe. Unexpected and immersive, this Crazy Experience has many a surprise in store for you!
The Crazy Experience: a VIP tour with one of the Crazy Girls
Follow the Crazy Girl’s dizzyingly high stilettos as she leads you on a private behind-the-scenes tour of the mythical Parisian cabaret. Guiding you along VIP booths and discreet lounges, she will reveal the venue’s fascinating history and some of its most extraordinary anecdotes. After this surprise-filled and immersive experience, you will see the show through the eyes of an insider. It’s now up to you to keep these secrets to yourself…
An exclusive moment of sharing with a Crazy Girl
Behind the elegant silhouette of the Crazy Girl acting as your guide, you will discover a passionate and fascinating artist. The venue is her setting, the stage her playground, the dance troupe her family. She will reveal all the secrets and disclose step by velvety step what goes on backstage, a realm otherwise hidden from the audience.
An exceptional experience right at the heart of Glamour
Another hour and a half before the curtain is drawn. You are greeted in a completely redesigned Crazy Horse, more elegant and playful than ever, where every detail is a tribute to the venue’s artistic legacy. You enter through the powdery pink entrance hall, tread on the plush, red and kiss-spangled carpet and, sparkling mirrors on either side, descend steps to the Crazy Horse’s antechamber. The Crazy Experience is about to start with one of the iconic Crazy Girls. Surprises galore: Ring ring, that phone booth intrigues you! Peek-a-boo, this peeping wall is hiding hitherto unseen videos! Oh, the Pop Art bathroom where you can make out Lova Moor’s (the founder, Alain Bernardin’s muse) silhouette… Your curiosity piqued, you dive into the vibrant and crimson atmosphere of the small venue. From the lip-shaped seats, to the private Lova-Lova and Rita Cadillac alcoves, or the Polly Underground bar, your imagination will abound with the history of the most glamorous cabaret of the French capital.
You will savor the opportunity to have the entire place all to yourself for this very special moment. During your visit your special guide will reveal everything you’ve always wanted to know: what a day in the life of a dancer looks like, how they are recruited, how big the stage is, if the dancers can see the audience during the show… you’ll see, she’s passionate about sharing “her” Crazy Horse with you!
Hippy Bang Bang, dancer: “Our cabaret was founded in 1951 and has a unique history, full of surprising and fascinating anecdotes. By sharing them with the public, I’m sharing the dream!”
Behind the scenes chic at Crazy Horse Paris
Hidden from view behind the bar, a door leads backstage where delicious amuse-bouches and exceptional champagne await! You are in the former office of the Crazy Horse’s founder, the “Salon Bernardin”, covered in mirrors, red velvet and echoes from the past. It is here that the most emblematic acts were conceived and legends crossed paths.
The show starts in fifteen minutes! It’s time for your special guide to vanish from sight, only to reappear again later on stage. In a moment, in an instant, she will be there, dressed in light… will you be able to recognize her? In the meantime, you will be brought to your VIP seat where a half bottle of Laurent Perrier champagne (champagne Laurent Perrier) awaits. Your mind replete with golden bubbles and giddy musings, it’s time for the "Totally Crazy" show to begin!
Mika Do, dancer: “The Crazy Experience is an original way of connecting us to the audience and of unleashing its imagination before the show.”
Svetlana Konstantinova, stage and production manager: “The Crazy Experience provides depth and understanding. Those who have experienced it will see the show with completely new eyes!”
Your Crazy Experience
The Crazy Experience starts 1h30 before the curtain call:
- For the 8pm show, the visit starts at 6:30pm
- For the 7pm show, the visit starts at 5:30pm
- VIP welcome for groups of up to 14 people
- Guided tour of the cabaret by one of the dancers followed by 2 glasses of champagne, as well as a selection of amuse-bouche
- VIP seats and a ½ bottle of Laurent Perrier champagne and a Crazy gift !
Price per person: 295€
The Crazy Experience is also available for private tours 7 days a week. Please contact our box office at: reservation@lecrazyhorseparis.com or +33(0)1.47.23.32.32 for further information.
Our “Crazy Experience” available in French every Friday and Saturday, every Sunday in English.
Backstage at Crazy Horse Paris : meet the nimble-fingered ladies of the costume departement. Their names are Roselyne, Amélie and Céline and they are responsible for the fabulous creations that show the Crazy Girls at their very best. We chatted to these amazing women at work in their studio. One of the Crazy’s best kept secrets!
How did you come to be making costumes at Crazy Horse Paris?
Roselyne: I have been in charge of the Crazy Horse Paris costume department for 16 years. I had always wanted to work at this legendary club because I like things on a small-scale: grand opera costumes are just not my cup of tea! The materials and techniques are quite different: here at Crazy Horse Paris I work with leather, diamante, beading… it’s very delicate and minutely detailed.
Céline: I joined the team at Crazy Horse Paris permanently after working on a number of the club’s shows. Like Roselyne, I like making things on a small scale and Crazy Horse Paris is a cosy and friendly place to work.
Amélie: Before I became Roselyne’s assistant 8 years ago, I had worked in the fashion industry, including haute couture. What I especially like about Crazy Horse Paris are the techniques, the huge variety of pieces we create and the materials we use. It’s a complete process, with plenty of great projects that require rigour down to the minutest detail.
How do the costumers contribute to the glamour that’s in Crazy Horse Paris DNA?
Roselyne: When you make a costume for Crazy Horse Paris, your aim is always to show the Crazy Girls at their very best. To achieve this, the approach is the complete opposite of a standard costume: you have to explore and highlight the body’s shapes and curves, which means hours of work to produce the perfect result.
What specialist skills do you need in your work at Crazy Horse Paris?
Roselyne: My daily challenge is to find the right concepts and techniques to ensure the outfits are hard-wearing with the minimum of material, as well as chic and beautiful. The movements and dancing in the shows really put the costumes to the test. Comfort is also essential: if the Crazy Girl feels good in her outfit and as if she’s wearing nothing, then we have done our job properly, without leaving anything to chance.
CĂ©line: At Crazy Horse Paris I have really learned how to work with leather: its suppleness requires specific techniques. I think my specialist skills are demonstrated by the costumes themselves, which look so delicate and yet are designed to wear well and to last.
What is it like working with the designers?
Roselyne: It’s a special time, when the designer’s creative vision has to be adapted to the Crazy Horse Paris style. We start with a sketch, moving on to a more finished design used for the prototype. The designer is with us every step of the way, and it’s at this point we see if the costume is right. This artisanal approach is essential: we are creating a fantasy that has to work with the body shape and movements of each dancer.
How long does it take to make a costume?
Roselyne: From the design phase to the point when a costume is worn on stage, it can take anything from a week to several months! And when you’re designing for the group numbers, you are making quite a few: up to twenty dancers may be involved. And each outfit is unique, adapted to the Crazy Girl who wears it.
Each stage outfit requires between 35 and 40 hours’ work. It depends on a number of parameters, principally the availability of materials. The most complex outfits, that take the longest to make, are the ones for the numbers “Attitude”, “U Turn Me On”, and of course “God Save our Bareskin”.
What are the qualities that make a good Crazy Horse Paris costumer?
Roselyne: Crazy Horse Paris is a living world, in constant movement. To get the most out of working here, you have to allow the place and its soul to permeate your spirit, that’s essential! And you must also be able to deal with stress: when the outfit you have created and made is worn on stage for the first time, we all get a knot in our stomach, because it absolutely must not move! But naturally, we focus all our professionalism and minute attention to detail on making sure that never happens.
Amélie: A costumer at Crazy Horse Paris has to be patient, meticulous and precise, and understand what is beyond explanation: the atmosphere, the place, the spirit. And of course they must be completely in tune with Crazy Horse Paris DNA.
CĂ©line: Our daily life is made up of a multitude of little jobs, of details to sort out. You have to be very adaptable and reactive.
Which is your favourite costume?
Roselyne: I rather like the one for the “Glamazones”, designed by Antoine Kruk for the “Désirs” show. This costume transforms the Crazy Girl into a magnificent Amazon: a surprising, striking, very contemporary outfit.
And the outfit that Amélie, Céline and I like best of all, because it’s legendary and because we love making it, is of course the British guardsman costume from the famous opening number “God Save our Bareskin”!
Experience the full impact of our amazing costume department by coming to see our show “Totally Crazy”!
The legendary locale of Parisian nightlife, a temple to beauty and femininity…
Founded in 1951, Crazy Horse Paris is a jewel-like setting that has crystallized the artistic and creative vibrations of the fashionable of Paris for decades. A hotspot of femininity, the cabaret has developed a true identity thanks to the unique artistic signature of its founder, Alain Bernardin.
This heritage is seen and felt wherever you look: from the mythical staircase to the quotes adorning each wall, from the red velvet that lines the room to the emblematic arched backs of the dancers, Crazy Horse Paris has a soul that gets hearts racing.
THE HEART AND ESSENCE OF CRAZY HORSE PARIS, JUST FOR YOU!
Seeing a Crazy Horse Paris show in itself is already an unforgettable experience. But on the occasion of the European Heritage Days, it is an invitation to approach the myth even more closely than usual. This exclusive “Crazy Experience” takes you into the cabaret’s most secret backstage areas, normally inaccessible to the public. You are personally welcomed by the room manager, and a dancer from the legendary Crazy Horse Paris troupe guide you throughout your visit.
So it will be in the company of one of those who proudly wear the colors of Crazy Horse Paris every night, displaying femininity in all its fascination that you discover the history of the cabaret and its stories. In the backstage spaces, in the private room of the founder of Crazy Horse Paris, Alain Bernardin, you will enter into a universe of creativity and voluptuousness. If you listen very closely, you will hear the echo of the celebrities who have experienced moments here, as precious as they were secret…
In this cozy atmosphere, our Crazy Girl will share with you her everyday life as a dancer: beauty secrets, preparation for the show, rehearsals, and more… This guided tour will surely whet your appetite –as an expert connoisseur – for the show Totally Crazy…
Crazy Horse and Purgatoire-54 Paradis, an exhibition and events space for contemporary arts and new ideas in cooking, have great pleasure in presenting, in April 2014, « The Fabulous Crazy Horse : a look behind the lights ».
This events presents an exceptional exhibition of photographs celebrating femininity and glamour, a unique artistic collaboration between Riccardo Tinelli and the Crazy Horse.
His first experience working with the famous Paris cabaret left Riccardo under the charming spell of this landmark of Parisian nightlife, fascinated by the atmosphere and ambience he found there.
Hoping to penetrate its enchanting mysteries, Riccardo extended his stay to explore the Crazy Horse and bring us an artist’s vision of this special place.
Glamorous and original, the Crazy Horse shows touch our sensuality and our imagination.
Capture some unique and privileged moments
Riccardo Tinelli has sought to capture some unique and privileged moments to show us the dancers as they truly are. Their natural sensuality and spontaneity hide the complexity and rigour required of a professional dancer. With the photographer’s lens as their accomplice, they play along with the camera to reveal some rare and intimate moments.
Behind the lights, the Crazy Horse girls reveal a world of fantasy and myth. Sparkling bodies in impossible poses. Beautiful and elegant costumes. Enigmatic expressions and impish smiles. Mischievous and seductive… In his photographs, Riccardo Tinelli reveals the fascinating characters of these dancers, totally committed to their passion: dance. Much more than a passion, it is an ever-present obsession, a vector of creativity and a means of communication. Visitors to the exhibition will get a chance to see “behind the lights” and discover the soul of this celebrated Paris cabaret.
Riccardo Tinelli, professional fashion photographer
Riccardo Tinelli was born in Treviso, Italy. He is a professional fashion photographer. Riccardo bought his first camera at the age of 17. He has been photographing continuously ever since, drawing inspiration from everyday life.
His work shows a dynamic world of smooth and colorful shapes and exotic landscapes. He divides his time between New York and the 10th arrondissement of Paris.
The Crazy Horse and his artistic signature
The original Crazy Horse cabaret – also commonly referred to as Le Crazy – was founded in 1951 in Paris by Alain Bernardin, an avant-garde artist, passionate admirer of women and the female form. Fascinated by American show girls and the United States in general, he was driven by a single idea: to make artistic creation and women the focus of his cabaret.
Over the years, Bernardin developed a unique and highly recognizable artistic signature. Each of his acts was conceived as a tableau with its own storyline, combining classically trained dancers with perfect, arched bodies dressed primarily in lights, with original choreography, sets, projections, and the latest musical and fashion trends. This artistic signature was rapidly appraised among artists as well as the general public – pleasing women and men alike.
Still today Le Crazy’s rich artistic legacy is recognized and celebrated among artists and designers, with many of whom Le Crazy has collaborated on numerous shows and creative projects, including: Christian Louboutin, Swizz Beatz, Beyoncé, David Lynch, Bob Sinclar, Roberto Cavalli, Ellen von Unwerth, Paco Rabanne, Karl Lagerfeld, Emmanuel Ungaro, César, Kylie Minogue, Azzedine Alaia, Christina Aguilera, Philippe Decouflé, Ali Mahdavi, etc.
After more than sixty years since its inception, Le Crazy continues to reinvent itself and the inexhaustible subject of women and femininity. The cabaret company has diversified its activities and developed its unique brand and know-how far beyond France.
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