The iconic Parisian cabaret Crazy Horse is preparing to make its debut in the United Arab Emirates, bringing a modified, more covered-up version of its world-famous performance to Dubai. Staged at the luxury Jumeirah Zabeel Saray hotel, the new production has been specifically tailored to align with local cultural expectations while maintaining the cabaret's recognized artistic identity.
Although the dancers will wear more attire than in the traditional French showcase, organizers emphasize that the show preserves the essence of the original brand. The production incorporates specially designed costumes developed in direct collaboration with the Paris team, alongside the cabaret's familiar stage setup, specialized choreography, and signature lighting effects.
Andree Deissenberg, Chief Creative and Brand Officer of Crazy Horse Paris, detailed how the creative team adjusted the performance without sacrificing its heritage. "It's a 100 percent Crazy Horse," Deissenberg said. "You keep our signature, you have the lights, you have our little signature stage, we have the dancers, which are trained in a very special way, have a very special choreography. So, Crazy Horse has a lot of elements that make the signature Crazy Horse Paris recognisable, and we played inside of that to adapt it."
Addressing the key visual adjustment, Deissenberg noted that the Dubai staging alters the balance between wardrobe and projection. "Here, they are dressed in costumes, which they have in Paris too, but in Paris, for example, they will be more dressed in lights, and here they have more costumes, the same lighting," Deissenberg explained.
Deissenberg also reflected on the broader context surrounding the decision to move forward with the project during regional conflict, highlighting the imperative to maintain cultural life. "It's very paradoxical, it's very contrary, but at the same time, I think it's maybe people in regions of war that say you need to live," Deissenberg observed.
For dancer Brio Mindset, participating in the Dubai venture represented an opportunity to share the Parisian cabaret's identity with a new audience. Mindset acknowledged initial uncertainties regarding the project's sustainability but noted its successful progress. "It’s true that there was a question about the project: how would it come to be and continue in the long term? Personally, I’ve always wanted to be part of the project, and so we saw here that anything was possible and that everything was moving forward," Mindset said.
