Workshop 1: Breton dances from Trégor and surrounding areas with Mathieu Messager & Matthieu Foltête from War-Sav
Mathieu and Matthieu invite you to explore the sometimes-overlooked world of traditional dance from Trégor, a small corner of Lower Brittany where the group War-sav was born. The workshop will focus on the region’s signature dance suite and, if time allows, a few dances from neighbouring areas (Gavotte, Dañs Plin…)—perfect preparation for putting it all into practice at the evening fest-noz!
Workshop 2: Hurdy Gurdy with Trio REB’s Benoit Roblin
Technique, Accents, Groove, and Variations to play for dancing – For all gurdies
This workshop focuses on dance music from the regions of Poitou, Central France, and Gascony. We’ll learn melodies, fingerings, and then variations. We’ll also review trompette techniques and work on rhythm.
The aim is to find the underlying pulse of dance music and emphasise it through rhythmic dissociation, rhythmic variations, and left-hand playing techniques. The goal is to achieve a solid groove for each melody.
We may also work on a few ensemble music arrangements.
Level: All levels welcome, except complete beginners.
Capacity: Maximum 10 participants.
Workshop 3: Ensemble with Naragonia’s Toon Van Mierlo
Talking music with friends
We will not learn a tune :)… We will work with multi layered chord progressions and we will search to make an adventurous piece of music out of that. The aim is to listen to each other and to learn to find your own way in the group according to your playing. So let’s play, play, play and find our way to communicate via music.
All abilities & instruments welcome!
Workshop 4: Guitar with Liam Roudil from War-Sav
Liam invites guitarists to learn a dance tune, specifically a Gavotte Montagne, and explore its possible phrasing on the guitar. Participants will then work on a rhythmic and harmonic framework to enrich the tune, add colour, and enhance the joy of playing together.
Workshop 5: Melodeon Vendée repertoire with Julien Evain from Trio REB
This workshop focuses on exploring musical themes and variations suited to participants’ skill levels. Attendees will develop accompaniment, rhythmic and harmonic concepts on the accordion, and counter-melodies. Each piece will generally follow an Introduction, Development, optional Bridge or Chorus, and Conclusion format.
- Bring a recorder and note-taking materials.
- Individual autonomy is key for a productive environment.
- No beginners – sorry! Familiarity with your instrument is recommended, as we’ll learn by ear.
Workshop 6: Big Bourrées with Kerry Fletcher
You don’t need to bring a partner, just some enthusiasm and willingness to dance with a variety of people!
All workshops are mixed level.
Smooth soled shoes are best, if you have them.
We’ll be dancing some fun big group Bourrées from various regions of Central France. With traditional and newly composed dances in groups of 4, 6 and more, up to a fabulous 12 person dance called Monday Bourrée!
Workshop 7: Dances from Guérande to Noirmoutier Part I with Benoit Roblin from Trio REB
This dance workshop will immerse you in the rich repertoire offered by the Trio Roblin-Evain-Badeau.
From Guérande to the north of the Vendée, we will look at the steps, variations, posture as well as the personal and collective energy of the dances, mainly “rondes” accessible to all levels.
Workshop 8: Violin with War-Sav’s Elouan Le Couls
Elouan will share his personal interpretation of the fest-noz dance repertoire on the violin. Together, you’ll learn one or two tunes and explore their phrasing and bowing techniques adapted to the rhythm of the dance (Ronde de Loudéac or Dañs Plin). Ideally, participants should be able to learn the melody by ear.
Level: Intermediate and advanced.
Workshop 9: Ensemble Breton with Thomas Badeau from Trio REB
Join us for a dynamic workshop that delves into the vibrant traditional music and dance of Upper and Western Brittany, as well as Vendée. Discover how these ever-evolving repertoires come to life at balls, fest-noz, and jam sessions. We’ll focus on learning tunes by ear, exploring rhythmic elements and harmonisation, and building a repertoire of essential melodies. You’ll gain valuable tools for musical learning and experience performing in front of an audience.
All abilities and instruments welcome!
Workshop 10: Bagpipes with Naragonia’s Toon Van Mierlo
If you love the most beautiful instrument in the world, please feel more than welcome :). No tunes, but riffs and grooves, to learn to master the beast. Ornamentations, sound, listen to what you play… are the aim. Please come along for a drone-based session.
Please bring a bagpipe in G with half-closed fingering!
Workshop 11: Melodeon with Naragonia’s Pascale Rubens
“The end is the beginning“
Playing an easy tune, each time differently.
- Not for beginners
- D/G Melodeon preferred, G/C OK
Workshop 12: Waltzes time in different times with Kerry Fletcher
You don’t need to bring a partner, just some enthusiasm and willingness to dance with a variety of people!
All workshops are mixed level.
Smooth soled shoes are best, if you have them.
We’ll be dancing in partners in a ballroom hold to learn the classic 3, 5 and 8 time waltzes. We’ll also be exploring the variations of footwork within those rhythms – bring all your left feet too, you’ll need them!
Workshop 13: Dances from Guérande to Noirmoutier Part II with Benoit Roblin from Trio REB
This dance workshop will immerse you in the rich repertoire offered by the Trio Roblin- Evain-Badeau.
From Guérande to the north of the Vendée, we will look at the steps, variations, posture as well as the personal and collective energy of the dances, mainly “rondes” accessible to all levels.
Workshop 14: Hurdy Gurdy with Jon Loomes
Zen and the art of hurdy gurdy
Jon will explore and de-mystify many aspects of this fascinating instrument, contemplating the whys, whats, wheres, whens, and hows of hurdy gurdy playing, including a deceptively simple trompette exercise that will delight and confound beginner and expert alike.
Something for everyone, it will be mostly aimed at a broadly intermediate level, but open to everyone. Feel free to ask questions!
Workshop 15: Ensemble with War-Sav’s Matthieu Foltête
All abilities and instruments welcome!
Matthieu will guide participants in arranging a piece together, dividing roles between melody players and accompanists. Some will take on the role of lead musicians/melodists, while others will focus on harmony and rhythm. The goal is to create a dynamic and enjoyable arrangement to play together—one that will get people dancing!
Workshop 16: Singing for dancing with War-Sav’s Korentin Le Davay
Learn short songs from the Western Brittany tradition.
No language skills necessary.
Workshop 17: Melodeon with Naragonia’s Pascale Rubens
Discover the world of accompaniment, chords, inversions, rhythmic possibilities.
- D/G Melodeon preferred, G/C OK
- Not for beginners
Workshop 18: Everybody needs good neighbours with Kerry Fletcher
You don’t need to bring a partner, just some enthusiasm and willingness to dance with a variety of people!
All workshops are mixed level.
Smooth soled shoes are best, if you have them.
We’ll be learning two dances from neighbouring regions, Limousine & Poitou. The Bal Limousine, actually from Poitou, is a big circle dance with changing partners. Sautières is from Limousine and is a non-contact partner dance with room for improvisation. If you’re new to improvising, we’ll be leaning moves, steps, stamps and ideas for you to try out!
