Drag superstar Violet Chachki has been a fan of the Crazy Horse cabaret in Paris since the mid-2000s. When she first started doing drag performance in her native Atlanta, Chachki recalls stumbling upon videos of performers like Dita Von Teese commanding the Crazy Horse stage—which, today, is known as one of the most glamorous and elevated cabarets in the world. (Even Beyoncé .
) “I started ripping off the show completely, and putting it in my track numbers in Atlanta,” says Chachki. “I’m now calling it a respectful homage.” It’s only fitting, then, that Chachki is now at Crazy Horse herself.
From June 24 to June 28, the drag star was invited to perform 10 exclusive shows at the iconic venue. For Chachki, it was a dream come true, given she’s been a longtime fan of its dancers and choreography. “I don’t even know how many times I’ve been—I always come whenever I’m in Paris,” she tells , adding that she wanted to bring something unique to the show.
“Crazy Horse is a celebration of glamour and sexuality. I wanted to start with the old-school drag vibe that I grew up with, and then the rest of the show is me becoming a Crazy Horse girl—putting my own remixes on their classic numbers.” Among the Crazy Horse acts Chachki reinvented for her short residency? The performer put her twist on its famous acts such as “ ,” which involves dancers in and around twirling rings.
“It’s a little shocking because not only is there one male-bodied person .
