High kicks, feathers, rhinestones and the sequins of the Moulin Rouge are part of everyday life for Dunedin cancan dancer Glendene Regan.
After passing tough auditions last summer in Sydney, Glendene, 24, says it's a dream come true to be dancing on the mythical stage of the most famous cabaret in the world.
After weeks of intensive rehearsal, she is performing 12 times a week in the current show Féerie! along with a cast of 70 artists who come from 14 different countries.
She performs six nights a week to up to 2000 people a night.
"It's just a dream come true I find myself just getting overwhelmed with emotion even thinking about it."
It was a long-held dream Glendene says who trained at the Bennett School of Ballet and Jazz in Dunedin, under director Shona Bennett.
Her audition for Moulin Rouge lasted for 7 hours, but even to get to that stage she needed flawless dance technique, to be at least 175 cm tall and have a high degree of professionalism.
"There was a four-month wait and then I got the magical email.
"My first time walking in the theatre I remember holding my friend's hand and shaking a little bit to be honest.
"The cancan is one of the hardest dances in the world and I'm lucky enough to perform it every night."
Glendene says it's not all work however and she gets to enjoy the city of light.
"We have the days free and I like to get up early and go for a walk in the park and see the beautiful sights of Paris."
