Glamour and glitz in the city of lights! THE champagne corks pop and black-tie waiters glide between the tables carrying duck foie gras, lobster and pistachio blanc-mange. On the dance floor, couples sway cheek to cheek to the sultry tones of a blue-eyed blonde singing big band tunes.
Then the lights dim and I catch my breath as I anticipate the entrance of the Bluebell Girls who have dazzled audiences since 1948.
My jaw drops when the chorus line of tall elegant women and gorgeous men in eye-popping costumes shimmer on the stage in elegant nudity dressed up with striking haute-couture dresses, elaborate hats, dazzling feathers that fan out in 2m curves, amazing head-dresses and 9cm heels.
Scenes move from Paris to India. Cats prowl on Paris rooftops, shop windows turn into swirling fashion shows and a dazzling Indian set with a revolving temple, a palace, a seven-headed horse spouting water and a pool of lotus flowers transports me into a fantasy world of colour, music and sound.
Judging by the nightly queues, seeing a show at Lido de Paris is as popular as visiting the Eiffel Tower.
For Merindah Byrne, a 23-year-old Bluebell Girl from Yamba, NSW, dancing at Lido de Paris is a small-town girl's dream come true.
"I'm from a really small town in Australia. I always wanted to live in the big city and dance and experience the glamour," Byrne says.
The statuesque 183cm dancer studied ballet, tap and jazz. A ballet teacher at summer school suggested she try out for the Moulin Rouge.
"I flew to Melbourne to audition when I was 17. I was chosen in the final six but I was too young."
The minimum age for dancers in Paris is 18. One year later, Byrne left behind her job working in a surf shop in Yamba and packed her bags to take her spot in the chorus line in the Moulin Rouge.
"Dancing the cancan was really fun. At the Moulin Rouge I was a lot taller than most of the dancers. Moulin Rouge has a fun vibe but the Lido is classy," Byrne says.
A couple of years ago, she caught the eye of recruiters at Lido de Paris where Bluebell Girls are picked for their height (the minimum height requirement is 175cm) and elegant look.
Cabaret revues are not just for the tourists. They are woven into the fabric of Paris culture, with 55 per cent of the Lido's customers from France and the show attracts repeat customers such as wedding parties and business people.
Being a Bluebell Girl in Paris has given Byrne instant credibility. Heads turn when Byrne and her friends walk into their favourite nightclubs, Le Baron and L'Arc.
"It's very much part of French culture. When I meet people outside of work and they find out I dance at the Lido they are in awe, even if they are Parisian and have never seen the show," she says.
Each cabaret show in Paris is unique. Lido de Paris is upscale and elegant; Moulin Rouge is performed in an intimate room; Crazy Horse is about the art of nudity with sexy moves and dancers with flawless dancing technique.
Dancing in the same show twice a week, six nights a week, can be mentally and physically tiring.
"You have to transform when you're on stage no matter how you're feeling, whether you've had a bad day or feeling a little sick. As soon as I go on stage, I immediately feel happy and better," Byrne says.
Paris is everything Byrne dreamt of and more; an architecturally stunning 24-hour city with parties, lively clubs and lots of restaurants.
"I love being in Paris. It's a very easy city to settle into. You can go to some places and you feel like you're in some kind of book."
Byrne lives in a cute studio apartment with windows overlooking a beautiful Napoleon III-style garden in the 9th arrondissement. Working at night means Byrne is free during the day to lunch with friends, shop and explore Paris. A favourite spot for lunch is Hotel Amour, a boutique hotel with a fabulous terrace and wonderful food.
"On sunny days, I like to go to Jardin du Palais Royale. It has a big fountain and it's the best place to walk in summer."
Byrne says the gardens are undiscovered by tourists and the city's best-kept secret. Her favourite shopping street is Rue des Abbesses in the 18th arrondissement for "cute and individual French boutique stores".
Byrne's advice for Aussies: "Don't come in winter. Come in late spring. And don't be surprised that everyone isn't walking around in Chanel."
www.lido.fr
