Dancer makes leap from Brandon to Moulin Rouge

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This article was published 09/07/2025 (273 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

From a local dance studio in Brandon to the glittering lights of Paris, 21-year-old Alexa Case is living a dream that once seemed almost too big to imagine.

The Brandon-born dancer officially joined the iconic Moulin Rouge a few months ago, becoming one of only a handful of Canadians to perform with the world-renowned cabaret troupe.

Case’s journey to one of the most storied stages in entertainment began at the age of three, when her parents enrolled her in a dance class at Steppin’ Time Dance Studio in Brandon. Inspired by her older sister and driven by an early love for performance, she grew up nurtured by the tight-knit arts community in her hometown.

Growing up in Brandon played a role in the journey to Moulin Rouge, Case told the Sun.

“Even though it’s a smaller city, there was a real sense of community in the arts,” she said. “My teachers, my friends, my family, they all supported my dreams. That support gave me the confidence to pursue dance professionally and dream of stages far beyond Manitoba.”

After high school, Case moved to Toronto to train in a pre-professional dance program, gaining experience in TV, film and stage performances across Canada. But the Moulin Rouge was a dream that required a leap across the Atlantic. When she saw there were no auditions in Canada but one in Paris, she didn’t hesitate.

“The audition in Paris was five and a half hours long, with dancers from all over the world. I was nervous, of course, but being so far from home helped me focus. I had come all that way, and I knew I had to give it everything.”

A week later, while walking home from a dance class, Case received the email that would change her life.

“I had to stop in my tracks,” she recalled. “I was ecstatic. I could barely get the words out to my family on the phone. It felt completely surreal.”

Case made her Moulin Rouge debut on April 14, following an intense month of rehearsals.

“That moment the curtain rose, it was magical,” she said. “It felt like everything I’d worked for had led to that instant.”

The show, “Féerie,” runs twice nightly and draws thousands of international guests every night. It features more than 1,000 dazzling costumes, elaborate sets and the famous can-can dance — Case’s favourite, and the most physically demanding, number.

“The audience is so close. You feel their energy in every beat, every high kick.”

The accomplishment is both a personal and professional validation for Case.

“Joining the cast of the Moulin Rouge is the culmination of years of hard work and passion,” she said. “It’s not just a dream realized — it’s a doorway to more opportunities and continued artistic growth.”

Back in Brandon, the community is buzzing with pride. Former teachers, classmates and neighbours have reached out in support.

“It means so much to feel that pride from home,” she said.

“It reminds me of where I started.”

To young dancers and performers from small towns who dream of big stages, Case offers heartfelt advice: “Don’t let geography define your dreams. Work hard, stay curious, believe in yourself. You don’t have to be from a big city to make a big impact.”

» aodutola@brandonsun.com

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