Bleuniadur
Encyclopedia
The Bleuniadur Ensemble is a regional ballet founded in Saint-Pol-de-Léon
(Brittany
, France
) in 1978. Bleuniadur means "blossom" in the Breton language
. The word exactly describes the dynamic movement of the flower when it opens ("flowering").
shows based on the elements that had been found.
1984 marks the beginning of a second period of development for Bleuniadur. The group extended its activities (dancing school for children, adults beginners class, monitors training, intensive courses on singing, music and costumes, lectures on folklore), which have established the group as a regional ballet federating various Leon towns
. Progressively, these developments led the group to evolve its policy towards dancing shows. Bleuniadur wanted to be closer to the traditional expression in order to highlight the Breton spirit in its most authentic and entrancing character.
It began to take part in international festivals in 1996. Bleuniadur has three groups: one of children, one of youngsters and the "elite" group. The group is mostly young with an average of 22 year old. The group tries at the same time to have strong and deep roots and to be modern. The main challenge is to keep the folk dance and music alive with their particularities.
The group won major prizes in Brittany, France and Europe : winner in 2000 of the Bagadañs Trophee of the best Breton Ensemble, won many times the French National Championship (2001, 2007, 2008, 2009), prizes in Strzegom, in Kolobrzeg, at the Zakopane International Folklore Competition... Bleuniadur took part in major CIOFF
festivals in France and Europe (Germany
, England
, Italy
, Switzerland
, Belgium
, Austria
, Czechoslovakia
, Wales
, Paraguay
, Czech Republic
, Poland
, Romania
...). It has organized an U.S. tour in 2006 and participated at Folkmoot USA festival
(North Carolina
).
in Brittany. It presents both dances from upper Brittany (French-speaking culture) and western Brittany (Breton-speaking culture). It is one of the very rare group mastering at the same time dances from the early twentieth century, which are commonly danced in Brittany, and the steps and forms of mid-nineteenth century dances.
Its wardrobe, composed of authentic or recreated pieces, is one of the best stocked in Brittany. The Bleuniadur collection is rich of more than a two thousand costumes in the clothing custom of Leon and Cornouaille. The group presents the evolution of the four customs in Saint-Pol-de-Léon
over about 150 years.
The traditional musics
accompanying are interpreted as in the traditional setting initial.
"In Bleuniadur’s performances, audiences are sure to be thrilled with the opportunity to experience the Celtic traditions of Brittany, which are very distinct from the folklore of other regions of France." CIOFF
Saint-Pol-de-Léon
Saint-Pol-de-Léon is a commune in the Finistère department in Bretange in northwestern France, located on the coast.It is famous for its 13th-century cathedral on the site of the original founded by Saint Paul Aurelian in the 6th century. It has kept a unique architecture, such as Notre-Dame du...
(Brittany
Brittany
Brittany is a cultural and administrative region in the north-west of France. Previously a kingdom and then a duchy, Brittany was united to the Kingdom of France in 1532 as a province. Brittany has also been referred to as Less, Lesser or Little Britain...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
) in 1978. Bleuniadur means "blossom" in the Breton language
Breton language
Breton is a Celtic language spoken in Brittany , France. Breton is a Brythonic language, descended from the Celtic British language brought from Great Britain to Armorica by migrating Britons during the Early Middle Ages. Like the other Brythonic languages, Welsh and Cornish, it is classified as...
. The word exactly describes the dynamic movement of the flower when it opens ("flowering").
Presentation
At first it orientated its cultural development policy on the research of tunes and dances of its area and the production of Breton dancingBreton dance
-Overview:In Brittany, music an dancing have always been an expression of identity for the folk society. They were a particular moment favouring the expression of individuals who fused together through a happy time. They followed the different stages of life and structured its organisation. Yet the...
shows based on the elements that had been found.
1984 marks the beginning of a second period of development for Bleuniadur. The group extended its activities (dancing school for children, adults beginners class, monitors training, intensive courses on singing, music and costumes, lectures on folklore), which have established the group as a regional ballet federating various Leon towns
Canton of Saint-Pol-de-Léon
The Canton of Saint-Pol-de-Léon is a French canton, located in the arrondissement of Morlaix, in the Finistère département .-Municipalities:The canton includes the following 8 communes:* Île-de-Batz* Mespaul* Plouénan...
. Progressively, these developments led the group to evolve its policy towards dancing shows. Bleuniadur wanted to be closer to the traditional expression in order to highlight the Breton spirit in its most authentic and entrancing character.
It began to take part in international festivals in 1996. Bleuniadur has three groups: one of children, one of youngsters and the "elite" group. The group is mostly young with an average of 22 year old. The group tries at the same time to have strong and deep roots and to be modern. The main challenge is to keep the folk dance and music alive with their particularities.
The group won major prizes in Brittany, France and Europe : winner in 2000 of the Bagadañs Trophee of the best Breton Ensemble, won many times the French National Championship (2001, 2007, 2008, 2009), prizes in Strzegom, in Kolobrzeg, at the Zakopane International Folklore Competition... Bleuniadur took part in major CIOFF
CIOFF
The International Council of Organizations of Folklore Festivals and Folk Art , is an International Nongovernmental Organization in formal consultative relation with UNESCO. CIOFF has 65 full members, 5 associate members and 18 corresponding members worldwide...
festivals in France and Europe (Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, Paraguay
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
, Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
...). It has organized an U.S. tour in 2006 and participated at Folkmoot USA festival
Folkmoot USA
Folkmoot USA, The State International Festival of North Carolina, is an international folk festival held since 1984 in Waynesville, North Carolina and surrounding communities. During its history, the two-week event has featured around 200 groups from approximately 100 countries. The Southeast...
(North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
).
Show
It masters one of the largest repertoire of traditional dancesBreton dance
-Overview:In Brittany, music an dancing have always been an expression of identity for the folk society. They were a particular moment favouring the expression of individuals who fused together through a happy time. They followed the different stages of life and structured its organisation. Yet the...
in Brittany. It presents both dances from upper Brittany (French-speaking culture) and western Brittany (Breton-speaking culture). It is one of the very rare group mastering at the same time dances from the early twentieth century, which are commonly danced in Brittany, and the steps and forms of mid-nineteenth century dances.
Its wardrobe, composed of authentic or recreated pieces, is one of the best stocked in Brittany. The Bleuniadur collection is rich of more than a two thousand costumes in the clothing custom of Leon and Cornouaille. The group presents the evolution of the four customs in Saint-Pol-de-Léon
Saint-Pol-de-Léon
Saint-Pol-de-Léon is a commune in the Finistère department in Bretange in northwestern France, located on the coast.It is famous for its 13th-century cathedral on the site of the original founded by Saint Paul Aurelian in the 6th century. It has kept a unique architecture, such as Notre-Dame du...
over about 150 years.
The traditional musics
Music of Brittany
Since the early 1970s, Brittany has experienced a tremendous revival of its folk music. Along with flourishing traditional forms such as the bombard-binou pair and fest-noz ensembles incorporating other additional instruments, it has also branched out into numerous sub-genres...
accompanying are interpreted as in the traditional setting initial.
"In Bleuniadur’s performances, audiences are sure to be thrilled with the opportunity to experience the Celtic traditions of Brittany, which are very distinct from the folklore of other regions of France." CIOFF
CIOFF
The International Council of Organizations of Folklore Festivals and Folk Art , is an International Nongovernmental Organization in formal consultative relation with UNESCO. CIOFF has 65 full members, 5 associate members and 18 corresponding members worldwide...
Discography (DVD)
- 2006 : Ololé (onomatopoeia used by shepherds)
- 2007 : Lusk ha lamm (Rhythm and jump), creation of the celtic circle and bagad Plougastell
- 2008 : Kala Maé (Kalends of May)