Workshops | Balfolk Dansstage

Here you can find the workshop schedule for the Dansstage 2025.

Workshop descriptions (Choice modules)

Also check out the teachers that are coming!

Block 1: Friday 20:30 – 22:00

Jauziak–Sauts Basque – Dani (level 3)

A 1.5 hour immersion in the world of the ‘Jauziak’ (sauts basques, basque ‘jumps’). The famous ‘seven jumps’, so much played in balfolk jam sessions is only the funny little brother of a very big family of basque jumps’ suites. These suites are groovy, happy, funny, but also surprising, irregular and tricky!

But don’t fear! In this workshop we will learn and play around with about 10 vocabulary
steps and their main variations in order to master and be able to enjoy no matter which ‘Jauziak’ suite, by appealing to our body-learning and switching off our mind.

Musicality for dancers – Koen (level 3)

Want to discover the most common musical structures in folk tunes? Curious about musical phenomena and ready to explore their impact on your dancing?

Not afraid to (learn to) improvise on music? Then join this workshop! No musical knowledge required.

Slängpolska – Wim (level 3/4)

In almost all of Sweden, from about the middle to the far north, the slängpolska is danced.
It is a “walking dance” in a three-quarter rhythm, in which the couples move through the hall in dance direction (like a counterclockwise waltz). While walking, a variety of figures are done. Often these are turning figures. The leader decides which figures will be danced and if a couple has more experience they can improvise. This is a good dance form for dancers who want to get more experience in
leading and following.

Musical placement – Pierre (level 3/4)

In this workshop, you will discover my universal approach to musicality. We will explore the diversity of placement within rhythms, melodies, and all aspects of timing. This will open up a world of interpretation as you discover your own “tempotype” and learn how to control and modify it.

Frame games for Scottish & Mazurka – Elena (level 4)

In 2018, Elena started calling “frame games” a whole range of fun, but technically challenging, couple dance experiences that you can make happen during a dance. What they have in common is that they are all based on a good frame, connection and communication between two dance partners. Starting from there, there are most diverse games around rhythm, sharing – or not – the axis, subtle changes in the frame, direction, etc. Come and be surprised by Elena’s games or … maybe, by your own creativity!

Requirements: This workshop is for dancers who have a very good command of scottish and mazurka, and are ready to shake up their habits!

Block 2: Saturday morning 10:00 – 13:00

Fandango/Arin-arin – Dani (level 3)

We will dive into two of the most well-known Basque dances in the Balfolk environment: Fandango and Arin-arin. But time permitting, I would love to share a fast trip to Lantzeko Inauteriak (Carnaval de Lantz) and some of the hundreds of other dances that exist in our country!

The challenge for this workshop won’t be to retain hundreds of stylish variations but to integrate as much as possible a simple and solid basis of the mentioned dances…with a Basque flavour and having fun together!

Rondeaux en chaîne: Brush up your basics and variations – Elena (level 3/4)

Branle béarnaise (Branle d’Ossau) – Koen (level 3/4)

Yes, yes, it’s that chain dance that looks so simple… and then you realise that it’s not quite the case. A great challenge for intermediate and advanced dancers! This workshop is both for people who don’t know this dance from the Pyrenees yet, and for those who are ready for easy and difficult variations (off beats, padam, …).

Physical organisation – Pierre (level 3/4)

In this workshop, I will guide you through an exploration of different approaches to physical organization. Whether we’re addressing the origin of movement, diagonal dissociation, or the relationship between your weight and the ground beneath you, you will get an overview of different technical systems of physical organization.

Dances from the Poitou pt 1: Répertoire ile de Noirmoutier – Maxime (level 4)

Covering 50km2, the island of Noirmoutier is an incredible conservatory of traditional dances. Communes 10 km apart such as Barbâtre and l’Epine each have their own repertoire (often with the same generic names of “ronds” and “branles”), not to mention variations in dancers… a whole universe of dances in a pocket handkerchief, and also a lesson in geography! Dances that will be addressed include: Branle de Barbâtre, Branle de l’Epine (the one many people call “de Noirmoutier”), rond de Barbâtre, rond de l’Epine, demi-tour.

Requirements: Many dances will be taught during this workshop – please only join if you can competently pick up new steps and movements at high speed!

Block 3: Saturday afternoon 14:30 – 17:30

Smooth turns in Swedish dances – Koen (level 2b/3)

We’ll learn the basics of Shottis (the Swedish version of scottish) and polska, and will discover how to turn in a smooth way in both dances.

Contact impovisation – Loby (level 2b/3/4)

Join us in a workshop where we delve into a unique form of dance through contact and improvisation, discovering how to navigate movement for yourself and with others. Inspired by his ongoing practice in contact improvisation at Kahbam, we’ll explore principles through bite-size exercises. All levels are welcome to participate and apply these newfound skills in a small jamsession later on to blend the practice with movements you are familiar with Balfolk.

Congos for 2, 4, or 8 dancers – Elena (level 3/4)

We will brush up on style, musicality, and basic steps which will serve us as much for the Congos as for other South-West dances. Then several congos, with 2, 4 or 8 dancers, of very different levels of difficulty, who you can all perform to the same kind of music. The fun and dynamic couple dance Congo de Sauveterre, the easy and elegant Congo du Passage d’Agen for four, the very amusing Congo de Sos which is danced either for 4 (good alternative if you don’t know or remember Captieux) or for 8 (giggles guaranteed). And of course no Congo workshop without the famous Congo of Captieux: we will automate the basic movements, and if time allows add a bunch of variations.

Connections – Pierre (level 3/4)

This workshop is an introductory exploration of all the different systems we use in dancing to create connection. From the multi-point system of the embrace to chain mechanisms, spatial symmetry, and body positions – what does it mean to communicate and connect in dancing, and what tools are available to us?

Breton dances – Clément (level 4)

Requirements: Many dances will be taught during this workshop – please only join if you can competently pick up new steps and movements at high speed!

Dances from the Poitou part 2: Répertoire ile d’yeu/Maraichine/Grand’Danse – Maxime (level 4)

On the Ile d’Yeu, at the time of the surveys, the only remaining dances were the “demi-rond” and the “rond”. Over on the mainland, the Maraîchine and Grand’danse are danced. The former has undergone significant evolution, notably with show dancing, while the latter has remained more discreet, with the bal folk preferring the paulaïe (a dance recreated and adapted for show use). Dances that will be addressed include: Demi-rond de l’ile d’Yeu, Rond de l’ile d’Yeu, Maraichine, Grand’danse, Mouvante.

Requirements: Many dances will be taught during this workshop – please only join if you can competently pick up new steps and movements at high speed!

Block 4: Saturday evening 19:30 – 20:30

Dances of Saintonge – Elena (all levels)

Come and discover a fun repertoire of – mainly collective – dances that are still danced in the balls in Saintonge (south of Poitou, around Saintes). In one hour, we’ll roll out the “grown-up” dances L’Entrée de Bal de Saintonge and Bal de Saintonge; and a series of “unserious” dances like Beurtoune, La Sauce aux Lumats, La Vrie aux Gorets, and the quite funny longway Brisquet, which you can also re-use in avant-deux of Poitou.

Body work/ warm up into the Ball – Loby (all levels)

Small workshop for all levels, a warm up with bodyworks (loosen up the body with massages) into the Ball. This workshop is provided by Loby from the Kahbam contactimprovisation workshop.

The dancing orgy – Rafael & Nele (all levels)

Extreme partnership dancing. It’s all about connection, use of space, musicality and improvisation. Most of all, it’s about having fun, dancing. By yourself. Or as a couple. Or as a tripple. Or even more… It’s also strictly not about sex (or is it?)

Block 5: Sunday morning 10:30 – 12:30

5t waltz – Fabien (level 3)

We will approach the waltz in 5 through listening to music, rhythmic games, as well as group exercises, alone and in pairs, for an in-depth understanding of this dance. The goal: to detach yourself from the mind, feel freer and express your creativity in connection with music!

Bourrée à 2 temps for two – Elena (level 3)

Sometimes we forget how much fun a couple bourrée can be ! How once you master the basic steps, musicality and groove, there are no limits to your creativity and excellency. We will dive back into the basic pleasure of “really good couple bourrée” on straight bourrées in 2 times, and also compare the groove to 3 times straight bourrée. Expect a wide range of figures and time enough to try out their specific technicity and groove. Depending on the group’s wishes, we may add in one or the other choreography for 4, 6 or all dancers.

Cultural analysis – Pierre (level 3/4)

The goal of this workshop is to introduce the concept of the “character of a dance.” What really makes one dance different from another? We will look at common examples to understand and value different dances for all the opportunities they offer. This is the key to a deeper folk practice and to enjoying these dances for much longer! (I have been in the folk world for 29 years… the content of this workshop is the only reason I am still around!)

Mazurka variations – Koen (level 3/4)

Rhythmical variations and improvisation techniques for mazurka.
We will also explore the connection with the music, and discover some interesting musical patterns.

Switch it up & move your butt – Saskia (level 4)

It’s Sunday morning and we’ve already danced and learned a lot. Are you ready for some more? We will focus on two theme’s and how we can combine these. Firstly, switching roles. We’ll explore several ways to do so. We will not explain the basics of either role, but really go more in depth into the concept of switching. Secondly, we will be moving in space. We will play with location, speed and travelling together in different ways. Then, we can use the general flow on the dancefloor to allow for variations in switching that work best while travelling. It is going to be fun! We look forward to seeing you there!

Requirements: Please be comfortable in your couple dances and have some experience in both roles to be ready to switch it up!