The dance: CANCAN

Where to see it: Paris

Sexy factor: Like ripe strawberries topped with Grand Marnier, then set on fire

The moves: It's not a coincidence that cancan means "scandal." Born in mid-19th-century Parisian music halls, the cancan showcased scantily clad ladies performing cartwheels, splits, and the impossible-looking port d'armes (grasping one leg and pointing it to the ceiling while turning on the other). Some of the dancers enticed with more than just suggestive moves—many were also courtesans.

The stage: You'll still see the cancan in many burlesque shows. The most famous venue is the Moulin Rouge in the Parisian red-light district of Pigalle, which has been in operation since 1889. The current show has clowns, acrobats, singers, mini ponies, an aquatic tank with huge live snakes (yes, really), and mais oui, topless dancing girls.

Do a little dance: It's not quite Paris, but Montreal has brought the French flair for cancan to North America. Mademoiselle Oui Oui Encore (is that a Bond-girl name or what?), the enticing co-founder of the Blue Light Burlesque troupe, teaches the finer points of burlesque on Tuesday evenings. The cancan is pretty advanced, but you'll get an idea. C'est bon!

Moulin Rouge
Tel: 33 153 098 282

Blue Light Burlesque
Six lessons for $120