Danses bretonnes [transmission 2023]

Breton Dances

Choreographic extracts remodelled by the perfomers coming from the groups as part of the “Danse en amateur et repertoire” programme 2022/2023 (a programme created to assist and promote amateur dancing).

Transmission by Solenn Boënnec, Michel Guillerme, Morvan Jégou. 

Musicians Mike James, Konogan an Habask, François Guillou. 

Presented on 4 June 2023, Le Triangle, Cité de la danse, in Rennes.

CHAIN DANCE FROM THE AURAY REGION WITH MORVAN JÉGOU – THE LARIDÉ DE LA CÔTE

Dance and song from the Pays d’Auray region in Brittany are marked by the dual nature of its geography, encompassing both land and sea. The region is composed of an inland territory with a diversity of local traditions, and a coastline open to the outside world and other cultures. Over the centuries, these contrasting influences have combined to develop a rich repertoire that is both anchored in tradition and open to contemporary trends, thus ensuring the longevity of the region’s dance and vocal heritage. Both of these aspects of intangible cultural heritage were fundamental to the development of popular circle dances. Here we bring them together, with a song in Vannetais and a Laridé: an iconic dance that has long formed an integral part of traditional Breton culture. 

PROCESSION DANCE FROM THE BIGOUDEN REGION WITH SOLENN BOËNNEC – THE GAVOTTE BIGOUDÈNE  

The traditional dance of this small territory in southern Finisterre in Brittany stands out for its form, rather than its steps, which are those of the Gavotte: part of Brittany’s long tradition of dance. In the mid-19th century, the Bigouden people broke out of the circle – the ancestral form of dance in lower Brittany – to enjoy dancing in pairs. Since then, dance in the region has been characterised both by its roots in the history of Breton dance, but also by its openness to other forms of dance, such as French contradances. While the typical musical accompaniment – the biniou (a kind of bagpipe) and the bombarde (a reed instrument) – is considered traditional, in fact, in the 19th century Bigouden musicians played whatever was to hand, largely abandoning the old songs for more popular airs then fashionable in France. Bigouden song and dance is an excellent example of syncretism: a mix of contemporary and ancient practices. 

For the 2023 edition, the dancers worked on these Breton dances.