What does it take to move across the world, dance in Paris at the Moulin Rouge, become a content creator, and start a small business? Allie Goodbun can tell you, and if you follow her on social media, she probably already has.
The 25-year-old Canadian consistently goes viral for her honest, intimate vlogs chronicling daily life as a Moulin Rouge dancer. She brings an almost shockingly down-to-earth angle to one of the most glamorous jobs imaginable with her warm personality and encouraging rhetoric.
Dance Spirit caught up with Goodbun to talk creativity, Moulin–audition tips, and cartwheels in high heels.
Getting Started
Goodbun took her first jazz dance class at age 5, partly due to her and her mother’s shared love of Shania Twain’s music. Dancing at a local studio, she soon made her way into the convention circuit, traveling to bigger cities to compete. “It opened my eyes to a lot of dance opportunities,” she says.
Around the age of 13, Goodbun got serious about dance and began to attend auditions in Toronto. One of her earliest experiences auditioning was for Team Canada’s hip-hop team, which she became a member of. Through this experience, she worked with new choreographers, networked, and represented the team as a soloist in Denmark. “That’s kind of what boosted my confidence in the (dance) world.” Her next big break came at age 15 when she was cast on “The Next Step,” a Canadian teen drama series about a dance troupe.
On the Audition Process
At six feet, Goodbun knew early on that certain styles would be more practical than others for her career path. She used the internet to her advantage, and during her time studying kinesiology at the University of Toronto, she fell down an online rabbit hole about the Moulin Rouge. It turned out that the dance company was touring Canada looking for dancers at the time, and they had no maximum height. A week later, Goodbun was flying across the country to Vancouver for the company audition.
The audition itself was a full day of dancing. “I remember just giving it my all. I didn’t know anybody in the room, so I didn’t care what anyone was thinking. I was just kind of in my own world.” The dancers worked through multiple styles at the audition: ballet, jazz, and across the floor with can-can elements. After each section, cuts were made, and the group shrank from 200 to 100 to about 20. At this point, artistic director Janet Pharaoh sat down to have a conversation with the remaining dancers. “That (was) so smart of her,” says Goodbun. “She wasn’t necessarily just hiring for the talent. She was picking people that had talent, but also had something to offer that was unique.”
Allie Goodbun in Moulin Rouge. Photo by Philippe Wojazer, courtesy Goodbun.
Second Family
Walking into the Moulin Rouge (after making the final cut), Goodbun wasn’t sure what to expect socially. In some performance spaces, there can be elements of competition and cattiness. However, she was pleasantly surprised to find the exact opposite. “The work environment they’ve created at Moulin is incredible. Everybody gets along so well.” She credits this in part to the number of dancers from different countries who work alongside each other. “We’re all kind of in the same boat—we’re away from our families, we’re away from our partners, and we’re kind of experiencing life abroad together.” Because of this commonality, the dancers have formed a supportive and loving second family. Goodbun says that her fellow dancers have encouraged her content creation from the start.
Striking a Balance
How did Goodbun’s content-creation career begin? Once she had settled into life in Paris, she says that she felt a creative vacuum: “I found that I was missing this sense of creative purpose.” She recalls being intrigued by a day-in-the-life TikTok video of a garbage man and realizing that people might be just as curious about her unique profession. Her first vlog went viral overnight, and she hasn’t stopped posting since. “It’s definitely turned into a second job, which is crazy to think and something I didn’t plan on.” But Goodbun maintains a balance with social media so that it continues to feel fresh; some days, she feels inspired to film, and other days, she lets herself rest.
“The overall response is super-positive, supportive, and uplifting. It’s almost created this community (…) I think people follow along for all different reasons—they’re a fan of the Moulin Rouge, a fan of Paris, a traveler, an aspiring dancer.”
Allie Goodbun getting ready backstage. Photo by Sandie Bertrand, courtesy Goodbun.
Her Advice for Dancers
Know what you’re good at, she says. “I knew I wasn’t a prima ballerina (…) You have to do the research to understand where you fit into the industry.” She stresses taking the styles and spaces that you already excel in to the professional level. One vital part of this process is conducting research. With social media as a valuable tool, dancers today can explore the everyday lives of ballerinas, backup dancers, pro cheerleaders, aerialists, and others. That’s what Goodbun’s missing piece was, she says, that could have sped along her journey to the Moulin Rouge. “I knew I wanted to do it, but I wasn’t sure what it looked like (…) Just following along with people who inspire you and don’t intimidate you is so important.”
To dancers considering moving across the world for a job, Goodbun stresses doing research, seeking out opportunities, and then taking those opportunities. “Contracts don’t just land in your lap.” She sought out the audition for the Moulin Rouge without the help of a team or an agent, and she encourages dancers who are interested in moving overseas to do the same. “It’s a huge commitment and huge adventure (…) You have to forfeit so much, but there’s so much good that comes from it.”
Quickfire Questions
Preshow snack? Goodbun’s pre- (and mid- and post-) show snack is an apple cut into pieces. It’s her absolute comfort food.
Preshow ritual? Five minutes before the show begins, Goodbun goes behind the curtain to the center mark and stands in a bevel. She looks to the front, left, and right. Then, she takes a deep breath and does a few high kicks.
Warm-up song? A die-hard Shania Twain fan, Goodbun often puts one of her albums on repeat while she warms up. Her other go-to artists are Taylor Swift, Tate McRae, and Sabrina Carpenter.
Top Moulin Rouge audition tip? You may already be practicing your cartwheels, but make sure to practice them wearing high heels. This can change the balance of the movement, and it’s better to experiment with that feeling during training than in an audition.
Favorite thing to do in Paris? Goodbun loves to bike around on her free days to explore new pockets of the city. “I’m that girl that’s at the stop sign playing her music out loud.”
Favorite costume in the show? The iconic red-feather costume is Goodbun’s favorite. “It’s to die for (…) You feel like you are the Moulin Rouge when you wear it.”
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