The Moulin Rouge has announced it will rename its dance company in honour of Janet Pharaoh, the British artistic director credited with revitalizing the renowned Parisian cabaret. The troupe’s 95 dancers will now be known as the Janet Pharaoh Dance Company, recognizing Pharaoh’s lasting impact on the institution until her death last year at age 65.

Pharaoh, who was originally from Lancashire and raised near Leeds, joined the Moulin Rouge in 1980 as one of the Doriss Girls, a dance troupe named after Doris Haug, the German ballet mistress. After retiring from performing in 1997, she succeeded Haug as ballet mistress and later became the artistic director, responsible for choreography, recruitment, and training.

Her appointment to management coincided with a financial crisis for the cabaret, which declared bankruptcy at the time. Pharaoh played a key role in the venue’s recovery by developing a new show that helped revive its fortunes. International attention from Baz Luhrmann’s 2001 film "Moulin Rouge!," starring Nicole Kidman, also contributed to the cabaret’s renewed popularity.

Throughout her 30-year tenure, Pharaoh was known for her exacting standards and creative vision. She was instrumental in scouting talent worldwide for the company, which currently comprises dancers from 18 different nationalities. Pharaoh’s unique blend of Yorkshire-accented French and English instructions, including exhortations to “kick higher,” endeared her to many performers, particularly those from Britain and Australia.

Jean-Jacques Clerico, the Moulin Rouge’s chief executive and Pharaoh’s partner, praised her as “the beating heart of the Moulin Rouge,” noting her influence on the company’s artistic direction and global reputation. Together, they had a son named Jason.

The renaming of the dance company serves as a tribute to Pharaoh’s enduring legacy in shaping the Moulin Rouge into a modern cultural icon while preserving its historic charm and excellence.