Dancing in the streets in Amélie

Created in 1935 by Jean Trescases, founder of the ‘Danseurs Catalans d’Amélie’, the yearly Festival Folklorique in Amélie les Bains is the oldest in the Pyrénées-Orientales.

Originally a national festival, it quickly attracted international attention, first from other Mediterranean countries, and then from Eastern Europe, at a time when the Cold War and governmental controls made trips out of these countries a virtual impossibility. It didn’t stop them!

Now in its 79th year, the 2022 festival has been renamed Festival Danses et Musiques du Monde and will see hundreds of dancers lighting up Amélie. Taking us on a journey through dance cultures and traditions, both local and further afield, hundreds of dancers come together in a kaleidoscope of colour and rhythm.

With groups representing Argentina, Brasil, Mexico and Ukraine along with the local Roussillon and Southern Catalan groups, there’s LOADS going on over the course of the week.

Check out the programme here.