Hi, dancers,
We're celebrating Women's History Month by recognizing women who have a place in the history of folk and international dancing, and on March 22, 2021, Tom has chosen France Bourque-Moreau.
France is a folk dance instructor from Montreal, Canada, the wife of instructor Yves Moreau who was featured in November, 2020 when we thanked instructors with a Detroit connection.
France has been very active teaching folk dancing to children, writing and giving seminars on teaching, and performing and choreographing for dance groups.
On one Friday night in the spring of 2003, France visited the Detroit Folk Dance Club in Royal Oak and then went to the Old World Dance Club in Ferndale. France did not teach that evening, but while she was in Royal Oak, we did a dance that she had introduced, An Dro Retournée.
An Dro Retournée Brittany, France
We use the musical version of An Dro Retournée from Sproriad, a CD, by Talitha MacKenzie, a New Yorker of Scottish origin, self-taught in Celtic Gaelic.
“An Dro” is Celtic Breton, and it designates a specific
in and out dance step that is used in this dance.
“Retournée” means “Return” in French.
The lyrics are in a call and repeat format.
(The leader sings)
J’ai neuf ou dix moutons dans mon ménage en haut.
Je neuf ou dix moutons dans mon ménage en bas.
(The dancers repeat the leader.)
I have nine or ten sheep in my household upstairs
I have nine or ten sheep in my household downstairs
Dans mon ménage en haut.
Dans mon ménage en bas.
(Repeat)
In my household upstairs.
In my household downstairs.
Changerais-tu, Madeline, Madeleine?
Changerais-tu, Madeleine, dors-tu?
(Repeat)
Would you change, Madeleine, or are you sleeping?
Note: Some versions write the future tense: Changeras-tu...
Will you change (maybe change to the second figure in the dance)
or are you sleeping (maybe not paying attention to the change).
The number of the moutons (sheep) changes as the singer counts down: I have X or Y sheep.
J'ai neuf ou dix moutons... (9 or 10)
J’ai sept ou huit moutons… (7 or 8)
J’ai cinque ou six moutons… (5 or 6)
J’ai trois ou quatre moutons…(3 or 4)
J’ai un des moutons…. I have one of the sheep...
Note: Some hear "un ou deux moutons" I have one or two of the sheep, not wanting to leave out sheep #2.
Unan, dau, tri, pevar (counting in Breton)
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Before the pandemic, our real life Monday dances were held weekly in the Mahany Meininger Senior Community Center in Royal Oak, MI.
Please note that the video content of our
online dances does not originate with our
group, is always credited to its sources, and
is for educational purposes only. We also credit explanatory information from outside sources.
Mask Up, Michigan; please stay safe and vigilant.
From The New York Times for Saturday 3/20/2021
New cases 3326 (total cases 690,929)
Weekly average 3030
Deaths 49 (total 16,897)
Hospitalizations 1287
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Compared to two weeks ago:
Cases +101 percent
Hospitalizations +47 percent
Deaths -7 percent
