Friday, August 22, 2008

La Bourrée, A Traditional Auvergnat Dance

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Postcard from 1910







I was lucky enough this summer to see a performance of the traditional Auvergnat dance called 'La Bourrée'. This couples dance first appeared in the Auvergne in the XVI century. It is believed that the dance got its name from the small logs that were burned on the fire around which the dancers twirled.
The bourrée is a happy dance. Since it was traditionally performed in wooden shoes, the steps involve a lot of stomping of the feet and allowed men to show their strength.
The songs which accompanied the dance were mostly sung in the Auvergnat language, which is a dialect of 'occitan' a romance language.
I hope , dear reader, that you don't mind my little history lesson. There is just so much about the Auvergne that I love.
Below are lyrics from a traditional Bourrée.


La borrèia auvernhata

La borrèia en Auvernha

La borrèia li va plan

Escotam la cabreta

Del païs limosin.

Lentament en plaça

Dançam-la per dos

Dançam-la per quatre

Et totjorn de son mièlhs.

………………………

Refrain

Per bien la cantar

Viva la limosina !

Per bien la dançar

Viva les Auvernhats !

……………………

La borrèia auvernhata

Es la flor del païs

Se dança per quatre

Se dança per sièis

A Brioda sèm dotze

E quaranta à Sant-Flor

Les espos et les esposas

Li tờrnan totjorn.




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