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Bleuniadur Folk Arts Ensemble, Brittany, France
Bleuniadur Leon Folk Arts and Dance Ensemble hails from Saint-Pol-de-Leon, on the seaside in the Northwest of Brittany, in the West of France. Our county is called “Finistère” or in Breton “Penn ar Bed,” which means “land’s end.”
Breton culture is specific, very far from French culture. Celtic roots are present in every aspect of our culture: music, dance, costumes, traditions. We feel much closer to the Irish and the Scots than the French, even if we are French citizens.
Bleuniadur formed in 1977 in Saint-Pol-de-Léon. In 1984, the group developed by creating a dancing school. We began to take part in international festivals in 1996.
The group play a mix of traditional instruments (accordion, drums, flute, pipe) and modern ones (guitar and keyboard). We have two instruments that are unique to Brittany: the binioù and the bombard. The bombard is a folk oboe and the binioù is a high-pitching bagpipe. They must be played together. The sound is very particular — very high and very loud. It is made to be played outside and to be heard by everyone.
Bleuniadur has one of the largest repertoire of traditional dances 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 groups 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.
The group’s repertoire includes all the dances from two areas called Leon and Tregor in the Finistere county - areas of some of the oldest folk traditions in France.
Bleuniadur is also renowned for its costumes - composed of authentic or recreated pieces, its wardrobe is one of the best stocked in Brittany.
