Émilie, passionate about folk dancing

My name is Émilie, I am 44 years old, I live in Lorraine near Nancy, and I am the mother of two teenagers aged 14 and 16… and an old dog!

Folk dancing consists of many traditional dances from different regions of France and even other countries. Many people are familiar with Breton dances, where dancers hold each other’s little fingers, but there is much more variety than that.
Originally, these were popular dances that our ancestors used to perform. Today, they have been brought back into fashion: there are no more traditional costumes, we dance in light clothing because we move around a lot… and we get hot quickly!
The atmosphere is great: all ages are represented, from teenagers to the elderly. This mix is what I love about folk: you meet very different people, and it creates a real richness.

Not at all! It’s a 100% passion. I go at least every Saturday night to dance, sometimes several times a week.
I discovered it when I was 18, so it’s been quite a few years now!

When I was 18, my mother and I were looking for something to do together. We went to a community fair and came across a booth for folk dancing in costume. We tried it and really liked it.
A little later, we even took part in an exchange in England with another folk dance group. It was an amazing experience! The dances where you change partners and everyone is a little lost… it was really funny and very human.
Then one day, I saw a poster advertising “folk dancing.” I thought it must be similar to what we were doing. I went along… and I never left!
It’s a world that people don’t necessarily know about, it’s a bit hidden: you have to know someone, or come across the right information at the right time. There’s a real network around folk dancing, but you need to be a bit curious to discover it.

Not really. They are dances, accompanied by live musicians. At first, I started with workshops, but in Savoie there weren’t many events: one dance a month, one workshop every three months… so it was hard to progress.
When I arrived in Lorraine, I discovered that there were many more opportunities: workshops every evening, dances on weekends… it was paradise! I took full advantage of it at the time and really improved.
Today, after more than 20 years of practice, I no longer do workshops. I learn new dances “on the job” as they come up.

I tried ballroom dancing, but I find it too repetitive. There are only a few different moves, it’s not varied enough for me.
My boyfriend and I tried salsa. I’ve got the basic steps down, but again, I find it less interesting than folk dancing. In folk dancing, you dance in pairs, in lines, solo… there’s a real diversity that I like.

For everyone! That’s what’s magical about folk dancing: there are people of all ages and from all walks of life.
All you need is the desire to move your feet (laughs)!
The atmosphere is very welcoming. Even if you’ve never danced before, you quickly feel part of the group. People accompany you, explain the steps, and everything is done in a friendly atmosphere.
It’s very welcoming and warm.

Yes: dress lightly! We move around a lot, so you get hot quickly. I always wear a skirt, and my boyfriend wears shorts. And above all, remember to bring a bottle of water! It’s more physical than you might think (smiles).