His performance as a true Moulin Rouge character named Valentin le Désossé earned him a place at the famous cabaret. Adonis Kosmadakis was born on Crete and took his first lesson at Kleri’s Gouvanaki school when he was 18- a relatively old age for a dancer. He was, however, already accomplished in gymnastics, which he had practiced for 12 years. As he discloses to ellines.com, it all happened due to a twist of fate: A friend suggested that he should take up dancing seminars. During the seminars, he was acquainted with Parisian choreographer Bruno Agati, who encouraged him to move to France and audition for a state dancing school at Montpelier.

Adonis Kosmadakis followed this advice and- partly thanks to his experience in gymnastics-, succeeded in securing a scholarship offered to only  three students. By the time he finished his studies he was working at Disneyland as a dancer. He later got a job at Paradis Latin, a cabaret in Lido, while during the same period he participated in several opera shows, including “The Merry Widow”, “La vie Parisienne” and “ Faust”.

His performance as a true Moulin Rouge character named Valentin le Désossé- meaning “boneless”-, earned him a place at the famous cabaret.  Valentin is depicted on several paintings by  Toulouse Lautrec, as well as posters of his time. Andonis Kosmadakis” solo is three minutes long and includes dancing, acrobatics and flexibility exercises. In 2011 the Greek dancer earned a place on Guinness Book of World Records for a moved called “serpillere”- spinning splits.

In 2014, the Moulin Rouge soloist won a world record by high-kicking behind his head 30 times in 30 seconds, one of the most complex moves of the French Cancan dance.

When asked what Greece means to him, he replies without hesitation: “Greece is my home. My family. I try to visit once a year. It is not much, but I try to be there as often as possible. Greece means sea, good food…everything.”.