Natacha Nattova, the famous Russian dancer, performing in “Playtime” at the Piccadilly Hotel, circa 1925. (Photo by James Abbe/General Photographic Agency/Getty Images) Mademoiselle Melsass, a Russian Folies Bergere dancer in Paris backstage before a performance, circa 1925. (Photo by General Photographic Agency/Getty Images) The Chorus line from a cabaret show at the Piccadilly Hotel in London, circa 1925. People mill around the doorway to a cabaret show in Germany, circa 1925. Indian dancer Mira Devi in costume for a cabaret show, circa 1925. (Photo by Topical Press Agency/Getty Images) The audience watches the grand finale of the first ever afternoon cabaret performance in Britain, which took place in Princes Restaurant. The stand advertises “Ices without ice” in four minutes. Leslie Henson serves an ice cream to Miss Dorothy Dickson of the Cabaret Follies, at the Daily Express Women's Exhibition at Olympia, London. (Photo by Henry Guttmann/Getty Images)Ī cabaret dancer wearing a fantastic butterfly costume at the Folies Bergere theatre, Paris, circa 1910. (Photo by General Photographic Agency/Getty Images)Ī Parisian cabaret artist, 1900. Mistinguett, singer and dancer Jeanne-Marie Bourgeois (1873–1956), at the Folies Bergere cabaret theatre in Paris, 1900. (Photo by Henry Guttmann/Getty Images)Ĭabaret artist Blanche Vaudon in costume, 1898. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)Ī cabaret artist lifting her skirts for the can-can dance, 1897. The word cabaret came to mean 'a restaurant or night club' by 1912.Ī high-kicking Parisian can-can dancer, 1895. It is derived from tavern probably from Middle Dutch cambret. In the United States striptease, burlesque, drag shows, or a solo vocalist with a pianist, as well as the venues which offer this entertainment, are often advertised as cabarets. The entertainment, as done by an ensemble of actors and according to its European origins, is often (but not always) oriented towards adult audiences and of a clearly underground nature. Performances are usually introduced by a master of ceremonies or MC.

The audience, often dining or drinking, does not typically dance but usually sits at tables.

It is mainly distinguished by the performance venue, which might be a pub, a restaurant or a nightclub with a stage for performances. Cabaret is a form of entertainment featuring music, song, dance, recitation, or drama.

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