Watch this high-energy performance to see the signature high kicks and skirt work in action: The cancan, France's signature dance CBS Sunday Morning YouTube• Oct 11, 2015
The tune most universally associated with the dance is the from Jacques Offenbach's 1858 operetta Orpheus in the Underworld .
The dance is characterized by its high intensity, requiring significant flexibility and stamina. Can Can
The (or cancan) is a high-energy, acrobatic dance that originated in the working-class ballrooms of Paris around 1830. Originally a couple's dance derived from the quadrille , it is now most famous as a choreographed stage performance by a chorus line of women. Key Performance Features
: Performers execute cartwheels, flips, and the celebrated grand écart (jumping splits). Watch this high-energy performance to see the signature
: Notable moves include the port d'armes (holding one leg vertically by the ankle while turning) and the corkscrew (side kicks combined with a twisting torso). Music and Cultural Context
: Dancers rhythmically lift, shake, and swirl their long, ruffled petticoats. Originally a couple's dance derived from the quadrille
: It is common for dancers to emit high-pitched screams and yelps throughout the routine.