©Fest-Noz Interlycées 2018 Mezv Dall|Myriam Jegat

Immersion in the heart of a fest-nozambiance 100% breizh

My first fest-noz in Brittany

Brittany, its magical landscapes, its kouign-amann, its bilingual signs… and its festoù-noz! We couldn’t end our week’s vacation on the Côte de Granit Rose without experiencing one of these “night festivals”, listed as an intangible cultural heritage site. A true tradition in Brittany! So, on this Friday at the end of summer, we’re off to the quays of Lannion for a marathon of frenzied dancing at the heart of the Tardives fest-noz.

Breton fest-noz, kézako?

Celtic festival fans beware: the fest-noz is a true cultural rendezvous of traditional music during any stay in Brittany! The event took root in Lower Brittany in the 1950s. The aim? To recreate the peasant gatherings that used to take place during days of hard work in the fields. Today, the infectious good humor of fest-noz has won the hearts of the whole of Brittany, as well as visitors on vacation here! Singers and musicians perform in concert to get the crowd dancing to Breton songs. All you have to do is learn a few dance steps!

©Fest-Noz Interlycées 2018 Drask |Myriam Jegat

Fest-deiz: party all day long…
of the day!

Whether you’re a night owl or a day owl, Brittany has the party for you! Festoù-deiz take place during the day. The principle is the same as for festoù-noz: dance to Breton tunes! Festoù-deiz includes the same dances as festoù-noz, with the difference that the music is played for a little less time. Perfect for catching your breath!

Want to learn Breton?

Fest-noz literally means night party, and is in direct opposition to the Breton term fest-deiz, which means day party.

The call of Breton dance

The first notes of the ringers resound, seeming to call the dancers across Lannion. Small groups merrily approach the stage and floor. Children, parents, elders, everyone is there. Not a Breton headdress or vest in sight, just a few sailors… It’s a far cry from a folk show!

©Léguer En Fête|Yoan Brière - La lanterne

Ringers start the dance

Biniou and bombarde intone a rhythmic, repetitive tune. The dancers start arm-in-arm, pounding the floor: “c’est un plinn” (“it’s a plinn”) can be heard in the crowd.

The buvette, the nerve center of the fest-noz

For our part, we settle down at the buvette to get a feel for the atmosphere. With a beer from a local microbrewery in hand, we talk about everything and anything, all the while observing this traditional spectacle. It’s amazing to see everyone mingling and dancing to the same beat! It’s easy to spot the initiates, who don’t hesitate to open their arms to beginners, letting them join in the dance and share a piece of their culture. And yes, fest-noz is all about sharing!

©Philomenn Brasserie Touken|Yann Josselin

Plinn, gavotte, fisel: get into the dance!

Carried away by the rhythm and the good-natured atmosphere, we venture with our girlfriends into the human chain. The guys prefer to stay at the counter. With my arms tucked under those of my Breton neighbors, I let myself be carried along by the movement, concentrating solely on my feet. One-two, one-two-three, one-two, one-two-three… I close my eyes, guided by the bounce of the floor and the frenzied rhythm of the musicians.

Immersion in the heart of Breton culture

After a few an-dro (the famous finger chain) and hanter-dro, the ringers give way to a group of youngsters. Alongside the diatonic accordion and wooden transverse flute, sax, guitar and drums mingle with traditional tunes in a festive rock tone. Gavottes and circus circles follow one another in a joyful intergenerational mishmash. We even manage to lure the boys into a wild scottish!

A moment of festive sharing

Our steps are not very academic, but what an incredible feeling to be carried along by the music and the enthusiasm of the dancers all around us. A unique, high-energy human experience we’ll remember for a long time to come!

Getting into the rhythm of the dances isn’t that complicated. And it’s even better than a good step session!

An experience

100% Breizh

all year round

Fest-noz :
a moment of Breton heritage

A symbol of Breton culture, fest-noz joined the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2012. Proof that it’s a veritable institution in Brittany!

Arm in arm
The Breton dances of fest-noz

Fest-noz is the perfect place to mingle with Breton dancers! Whether you’re dancing in the round or as a couple, we’ve listed all the dances you can expect to see at your next festival:

Les gavottes: this can be in the round or in a chain, long or short, in quadrettes or in a procession of couples. The musical accompaniment is usually a song in the form of kan ha diskan, or a pair of ringers.
L’an dro: danced in the round, in open chains or in couples, in procession. Male and female dancers hold each other’s little fingers!
L’hanter dro: dancers hold each other tightly and perform a foot dance.
Le laridé: this dance takes the form of a round dance, traditionally sung in Breton or French.
Le plinn: male and female dancers form a circle, turning to the left and holding each other by the forearms.

Some Breton fest-noz music…

Wondering what kind of music will get you dancing at a festoù-noz? There are 3 types of Breton music at a fest-noz:

a cappella singing called Kan ha Diskan (singing and non-singing), traditionally performed by two or sometimes three people. The kaner or kanerez sings a verse, then the diskaner(s) take it up, starting on the last syllables.
Accompanied singing
purely instrumental music

On stage, trends vary according to the music group, from rock to jazz to punk. And there’s just as much dancing to discover!

How does a fest-noz take place?

The advantage of a fest-noz is that it can take place in a variety of venues, especially in the summer season, from classical concert halls to chapel cupboards. Bands, singers and musicians take turns on stage, performing for between 30 and 45 minutes.

A few tips for fest-noz neophytes

Don’t hesitate to get started! At fest-noz, regulars are happy to share their culture.

Breton dances are fairly repetitive, so you’ll have plenty of time to observe the movements before entering the circle or chain.
When you decide to enter the dance, ideally arrange to have a woman on the left and a man on the right. This will avoid separating a couple!
After that, it’s best to let yourself be guided! Keep your arms supple and concentrate on the rhythm of your feet.