From starring in celebrity music videos to dancing in the world’s most famous cabaret show, Richard Rennie has been living the showbiz dream.
Now, the 30-year-old from Aberdeen has bigger ambitions to fulfil – and has stateside in his sights.
The former Grammar School pupil moved from the north-east at the age of just 18 to join the cast at Disneyland Paris.
Inspired by the buzz of performing, he moved to London, securing a place at the Doreen Bird School of Dance.
“I would travel into London to watch all the shows and was inspired by the performers on stage,” he said.
“I just knew it was what I wanted to do.”
After graduating from the showbiz school in 2008, Richard was signed up by modelling and commercial agencies and was quickly recruited by brands like River Island, and appeared in videos for artists like Duffy and Florence & the Machine.
“It’s a job where you usually have to work in a bar or as a waiter to get by, but I was lucky to get enough of the performing jobs that I really wanted to do,” he said.
“When you start out in the business, it feels like noone wants to give you that first chance. Once you get it though and prove that you can do it, there’s nothing stopping you.”
As his career took off, Richard was offered a place as a dancer in the world-famous Moulin Rouge in Paris.
Producers scour the world looking for performers who are the exact height and dimensions, and who can keep up with the energetic and complicated performances.
But he was enjoying life so much in London that he turned the opportunity down.
A year later, he was tracked down again and asked if he would reconsider.
For the past five years, Richard has performed to more than 2,000 people each night on what is arguably the most glamorous stage in the world.
“There’s something very special about working there, the whole building is steeped in history,” he said.
“All the dancers need to have something special about them too.”
Richard has also been signed up for numerous lucrative contracts, including becoming the face of a popular teeth whitening brand in France and underwear brand, and even choreographing a major Schwarzkopf show.
He loves life in Paris, but says it is now time to achieve more of his dreams.
He has already secured sponsorship from the MCA Inc agency in LA, which works with superstars like Rihanna and Madonna.
“I’ve fallen in love with Paris, but there are so many more opportunities out there,” he said.
“Take LA – it’s a place where dreams are made of and a place where anything is possible.
“Everyone is always on the go and always striving for something – it’s where you need to be.”