LOUS TCHANCAYRES
The Landes region is a huge plain in the south-west of France. This territory is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the west, by the banks of the Adour to the south and by those of the Garonne to the northeast. It now houses the largest forest in Europe, consisting mainly of pine trees planted in the mid-19th century, under the impetus of Napoleon III.
Stilts, used since ancient times as a means of circulation in wetlands, were adopted by the Landes shepherds at the beginning of the 18th century. They were better for monitoring sheep herds and protecting themselves from wolves. The planting of pines has been the great forest but has reduced the space needed to keep sheep. This is how the Landes shepherds abandoned their stilts and converted to coniferous. They started using them for games and also mixed in with the dances of other villagers. Today, the waders of Landes amaze the world in folk shows and surprising exploits.
The folk group of «Lous Tchancayres», created in Mont de Marsan, in the heart of the Landes, is the guarantor of this tradition. The musicians play accordion, violin, cello and flute. The ground couples, dancers and dancers are dressed as were the old Landes the day after their wedding. As for the waders, they are perched on their stilts dressed in their traditional Landes shepherds' outfits.
The dances are performed alternately between the couples on the ground and the waders, which allows a more original show to be performed. “Polka”, “Congo”, “Scottisch”, “Mazurka”, “Quadrille”, “Bourdeou”, all these choreographies are traditional Landes dances. The "Congo" was very popular. Probably from the contraband, it is interpreted by four couples, two opposite each other. Polkas, waltzes and mazurkas are more recent in the Gascon tradition (around 1850). Undoubtedly brought back to France by the Napoleonic campaigns and widely practiced in cities, they were integrated into their repertoire by the Landes villagers.
As for the traditional instruments of the orchestra, we find the violin, played in Béarn since the 17th century, and which is more recent introduction in the Landes. The flute is made of boxwood with a whistle and three holes. This instrument has been used in the region for many years. The old wheel, played in the whole Europe, was used for balls and weddings in the Landes especially between the two wars. The diatonic accordion, which was widespread in the region from the end of the 19th century and was mainly used for dance, became very popular very quickly.
It is with real enthusiasm, which he will share with you, that the folk group of «Lous Tchancayres» proudly perpetuates the traditional Landa dances inherited by the ancients.
