She comes out of the bath, laughing, her small breast uncovered.
"It's Candida, one of the first emblematic dancers of Crazy", smiles Sylvia, who works in the cabaret, in front of the black and white photograph hanging on the wall.
A devilishly naive image: a woman washing herself… on stage.
All in simplicity and eroticism.
A signature that is imprinted on the retina for a long time.
The Crazy Horse reopened Thursday, October 1 after long months of closure linked to Covid-19.
The emblematic cabaret in the Champs-Elysées district, avenue George-V, in the 8th arrondissement of Paris, is also celebrating its 69th anniversary, a date that sounds like a tasty thumbs up, with its “Totally Crazy” show in limited capacity.
With, on stage, this silhouette which magnetizes: red lips, stiletto heels and, of course, this very particular arch.
September 30, on the eve of the reopening, time for the last rehearsals for the dancers./LP/Fred Dugit
In the dark, Andrée Deissenberg, who has headed this institution since 2006, sails in a black suit under the mirror balls.
She slipped into the office of Alain Bernardin, the founder, who died in 1994. In this narrow room, he received the dancers one by one to work on the numbers.
"They came out through a small door in case Lova Moor, a magazine leader who had become his wife, showed up unexpectedly," she whispers.
There are many legends here.
Strolling under the low ceiling, we quickly realize that an aura of mystery covers this sensual place.
Like the shadows that hide the private parts of the dancers.
In this cozy atmosphere, Andrée takes hold of a photo album with familiar faces from Jean-Paul Belmondo to Philippe Sollers, including Maria Callas.
Sitting on a sofa, the owner recalls the story of this red cocoon filled with mirrors where a ballet of silhouettes is reflected.
Strippers in a saloon setting
We have to go back to the post-war era.
At that time when young people wore jeans and chewed gum.
Alain Bernardin, child of a good family, dreams of creating his café-theater.
In 1951, he came across an old coal cellar in the Champs district.
The artist, passionate about the United States, launches his sign with a saloon decor.
"Cowboys greeted customers," Andrée ignites.
But the 1950s also brought the explosion of striptease.
A wave of charm swept over Europe and Bernardin seized the opportunity.
"He creates numbers that mark the spirits, like a widow who wriggles on the coffin of her husband or a nun who takes off, lists Andrée.
He also launches the strippers, dancers with more elaborate services, like Miss Candida and her bath.
An issue taken up by Dita Von Teese in 2006. »
A time clock for dancers
In the dressing rooms, we come across hairbrushes, a dozen flashy wigs and ... a television.
“Once, girls missed a final because they watched football,” laughs Venus, a dancer with almond eyes.
During the Bernardin period, some were just as heads in the air.
One evening, his principal dancers, including his wife, go clubbing on the Champs-Elysées between two acts and forget… to come back.
Oops.
Mad with rage, Bernardin decides to set up a time clock.
"With a drain on their wages in case of delay!"
», Explains Sylvia.
On the dressing room side, a red cocoon for the dancers./LP/Fred Dugit
Now is not the time for fun.
Reigning supreme, Alain Bernardin leads his room with an iron fist.
Before a performance, a latecomer dancer, frightened by this payroll deduction, tumbles down the road at full speed.
A policeman signals him to stop, without success.
Imagine the scene: the beauty casually throws her identity card at him, shouting "Find me at Crazy" and continues her mad race.
The policeman therefore… found himself in the cabaret queue!
Johnny, Polnareff, Prince ... under the spell
Others turn their customers' heads instead.
Turning the pages, a photograph intrigues: Johnny Hallyday, tanned, laughing with a young brunette woman.
The singer was infatuated with Rosa Fumetto, an Italian sculptural with a fiery gaze in the 1970s. “Her act consisted of undressing in front of an erupting volcano,” Andrée recounts.
He even asked for it in engagement.
She left him.
"
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In another photo, a young man surrounded by women in scanty clothes denotes with his white glasses: it is Michel Polnareff.
Very much in love with a dancer during his debut in music, he proposed to her.
"She told him:
no, I want an Elvis Presley
", laughs Andrée.
Bad luck: he becomes a star and she ends up with… Elvis Presley's driver.
“That's what's being said here anyway!
"
In the 1990s, it was Prince's turn to vibrate for Tallulah, a dancer of Iranian origin.
Except that the rule was clear: no connection with the dancers.
Never mind, the king of pop, clever, designs a number for the Crazy and in exchange gets his favorite to dance in his video "The Greatest Women Ever Sold".
So many stories that continue to untie languages between two shows.
Even today, the dancers each have their own anecdotes.
"Johnny Depp kissed me surreptitiously after a show a year ago", slips one of them.
Memories with famous men, but not only.
The actress and model "Cara Delevingne often comes to have fun with friends," notes the owner.
DISCOVER: behind the scenes of Beyoncé's music video
Sometimes Andrée Deissenberg, the owner, receives unusual phone calls.
One day, he is asked for a privatization for a shoot, two days before the deadline.
Some dancers are then called illico presto.
When they arrive, they discover on stage… Beyoncé!
Gloria, a smiling brunette who has worked at Crazy Horse Paris for 15 years, had the privilege of dancing with the American singer.
“At first, we couldn't approach her, then gradually she cheered up.
She learns very quickly.
We understand why she has come to this: she knows what she wants, “livens up the young woman who still cannot believe having rubbed shoulders with the star.
In the music video for "Partition", some backs are those of the cabaret dancers, including that of Gloria.
And Beyoncé was largely inspired by the numbers of Crazy for the choreography of her video.
WE MEET… Alain Bernardin, the facetious founder
Alain Bernardin was born on January 9, 1916 in Dijon (Côte-d'Or).
He enrolled in the Grande Chaumière drawing school near Montparnasse.
“Subsequently, he was also a second-hand dealer,” adds Andrée.
The artist frequents friends who founded Tabou, a legendary cellar in the Saint-Germain district where Boris Vian, Juliette Gréco and their gang flock.
“He was a cultivated man, passionate about optical art, hence these light effects with illusions on stage.
"
The men's toilets at Crazy Horse Paris, just like the creator's fantasy.
/ LP / Frédéric Dugit
He decides to name his establishment "Crazy Horse" in reference to an Amerindian chief who fought during the War of Independence.
It is also found in a pinned newspaper article ... in the men's bathroom.
The owner was strict, but not devoid of humor.
Just read the plaque on the bar: “Forbidden for Swedes over 2.10 m.
A fantasy that played tricks on him.
"He also scored: if a basketball team from Japan comes, it will be open bar," laughs a dancer.
And imagine ... she came!
In 1985, Alain Bernardin married his magazine leader Lova Moor.
“It was a young woman from the countryside that he spotted in the street.
She was always put forward with Rosa Fumetto.
A blonde and a brunette on stage, ”says Andrée.
But the epic ends sadly.
The prince of the Parisian nights puts an end to his days, on September 15, 1994, in the office of Crazy Horse between two acts.
We take this opportunity to ...
… Attend an auction at the Marcel Dassault Artcurial hotel, listed as a historic monument.
The building, built in the 1940s, was called the Eysperant Hotel.
Since 2002, this mansion has hosted the French auction house Artcurial.
Between two sales, do not hesitate to read in the art library, stroll in the gallery or sit down at the café.
7, Rond-Point des Champs-Elysées Marcel-Dassault (8th arrondissement).
… Celebrate the Fête de la science at the Palais de la Découverte.
Throughout the weekend, the museum is celebrating the 29th edition of the Fête de la science with a nice multi-thematic program, from the environment to chemistry.
On the menu for these two days: demonstrations, theatrical mediations, shows, mini-conferences and interactive activities.
Discovery Palace, avenue Franklin-Delano-Roosevelt (8th century).
… Stroll along the quays and the Alexandre III bridge.
The image often grabs us: the Seine lights up below under the rays of the sun.
Few of the Parisians have not fallen under the spell of this work, inaugurated in 1900 during the Universal Exhibition.
And if walking is not your thing, let yourself be seduced by a mini-riverboat cruise to admire the City of Lights like never before.