History of Can Can

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POLESTARS, the world's largest pole dancing school for fun and fitness has brought confidence to women all over the UK with their fabulous pole dancing lessons and burlesque classes. And now they're out to get them fit with the all new POLESTARS Can-Can!

Can-Can began in France in the 1820s. To begin with, it was primarily a dance for couples or individuals. It started as the final feature in another style of the French dance called the quadrille. The name comes from the French word cancan which can mean either 'scandal' or 'edge' (as the performers often danced very close to the edge of the stage).

The can-can was often danced by men in the 19th century, but the female performers were better known and eventually less and less men participated in the dance.

As the dance spread to the UK and USA, it was performed more often by groups of women in a line. However, it remained a dance performed by individuals in France until the 1920s when the line style was imported to entertain tourists.

The dance was deemed risque because of the bare legs that were shown between the top of the stockings and the frilly knickers. Eventually the dancers started adopting a burlesque-style costume with fishnet stockings, bustiers, high heels, feathers and frilly skirts.

The can-can has been depicted in a number of plays and films over the years, the most well known being Baz Luhrmann's Moulin Rouge in 2001. This film captured the colourful and chaotic spirit of this high-energy dance.

POLESTARS Can-Can is available as a taster, course and hen party and will be launching across the UK in early April. It makes a fantastic fitness class and an incredibly fun bonding activity for a group of friends. Discover the dance of the Moulin Rouge for yourself by booking a class or party today! Visit http://www.polestars.net for further information.

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