Page 10 - fdo_5dec15

Léa Chauvigné and Arnaud Dubra:
Folk Dancing in Western Europe and Canada

by Stefania Szlek Miller
Léa Chauvigné, from Brittany, has been dancing with the
Hamilton international folk dance club since 2013 when
she began doctoral studies in neurosciences at McMaster
University. Professor Steven Brown, her PhD supervisor,
introduced her to our group. Léa uses MRI imaging to
investigate the effects on the brain of dancing - it is no
surprise to us that dancing is good for you. Arnaud Dubra,
also from France but residing in Switzerland, joined Léa in
Hamilton to pursue studies in accounting. It is a pleasure
to dance with two young people who love dancing and
who contribute to Hamilton’s dance repertoire by teaching some of the
regional dances of France. Léa and Arnaud have also attended some OFDA
events, are enthusiastic participants at French folk fests in Toronto, and
have demonstrated dances at Karen Bennett’s 2014 French workshop in
Guelph.

They obviously like “international” folk dancing – as we know it in OFDA
circles - since they are regular participants. They find our choreographed
repertoire and emphasis on footwork in line and circle dances challenging,
but pick up very quickly and this includes exotic Balkan rhythms. Arnaud
could do “Pousteno” on his first try just by watching the lead dancer. It
is a joy to watch a beautiful and graceful couple dancing to an energetic
choreographed Tarantella or a more stately Regency long line dance.

While they are pleased that we have some French and other West European Photo: James Thomas.
dances in our international repertoire, they miss live music that normally
accompanies dancers at European workshops and festivals.
One suspects that they find some of our recorded music to
be somewhat staid or dated. They have introduced to our
group music from a 2014 camp in France that is more lively
and fresh. Europeans are not afraid of experimenting with
new music - this was also evident with Roberto Bagnoli’s
choice of music for some of the dances that he taught at
the 2015 Ontario Folk Dance Camp in Waterloo.

While there are differences between international folk Lea and Arnaud at Hamilton’s
dancing as we know it in Ontario compared to Western March 2015 Regency Ball.
Europe, the common thread is the friendly comradeship
of people who love to dance. “It is about allowing
oneself to be transported by the music and the dance,
adopting a universal language of smile and gesture.”
(Quote from the Festival Charter, Grands Bals de L’Europe,
www.gennetines.org ).

Folk Dancer Online — 10 R e t u r n t o T able of Conte nts www.ofda.ca