And while it was raining........ and while I was cooking up a storm in the kitchen on the weekend.... the rest of France was still celebrating their journées du patrimoine -- and what a feast they offered right across the country for everyone-- young and old, to ensure that every soul appreciates their rich and colourful heritage! I cannot imagine that anywhere in the world is a country that offers more culturally to their citizens than this country. And not just a plethora of art exhibitions of every style, music performances of every kind, book launches --and readings and discussions and literary festivals, traditional events where ancient arts and crafts are not only kept alive, but celebrated, but events that are innovative and different, fascinating and fun, educational and informative ---------
Ah! Am I gushing? But how can I not? Where else in the world are people so justifiably proud of such a rich heritage?
Two of the events that happened this weekend have become part and parcel of the French culture. The first is a biennial event and is modern, -- very avant-garde and quirky in fact, whilst the second event is a tradition as old as time itself.
The "Danse la Ville" was founded in Lyon in 1984 -- in an attempt to support choreographic art, to use venues other than the 'normal' - and of course to stage more dance. The event has through the years been through major phases to educate people in contemporary dance while showcasing all genres and so building a strong bond with the public. The idea has been so successful in Lyon, that it has been taken up in other centres as well, and on the weekend thousands 'participated' in the performances. The 'dancing' takes place everywhere in the city -- in shop windows, on building ledges, under bridges, in the windows of office blocks, on islands in the streets, in water fountains, in squares and shopping plaza's -- in fact, anywhere where someone can move, they do!More than 50% of the world's population is now urban, says Guy Darmet, the founder of this brilliant idea. It therefore makes sense to bring this joyful activity into the cities -- everywhere into the cities! This year the four main themes of Danse la Villeare urban dance, cities where dance is all-pervasive, the relationship between contemporary choreography and architecture, and dance in the public space. Through dance the spectator can regain a spontaneity, vitality and generosity that old Europe lacks, continues Guy Darmet. The spectator comes in search of humanity embodied by dance, whatever its origins.
Should you be in any of the French cities during this month, do not be perturbed when you see someone doing strange rhythmic things in a window or on a balcony --- stop and look -and enjoy; you are experiencing the magic of Dancing in the French City!
The second special event this past weekend was the Dieppe International Kite Festival -- an event that I have already booked for next year -- as I want to be there in person to experience this for myself!
Spread over eight hectares of lawns and flat white sandy beaches between the town and the sea, the kites' village is a wonderful setting and forms a kind of natural amphitheatre. On these green and white spaces, one finds the colourful and amazing creations of 37 different countries.
Two sections of this area are devoted to the flights of the official delegations. The other ones are devoted to sport kites, giant kites, to the participant kite flyers for free flights and then there is also a section which is devoted to activities for children.
One of the main characteristics of Dieppe International Kite Festival is its international character. During 9 days of the festival, each delegation appropriates a reserved area and presents its kites, its cultural and culinary specialities and many others interests.
The guest of honour this year was New Zealand and the Maori kites were spectacular, fitting in very well with the theme this year, which was "Our Planet: Stroll Between Flora and Fauna." Maori kite traditions are thoroughly linked to “Matariki” (small beam of stars, also called the Pleiades). They are historically synonymous. In the Maori culture, kites are considered as the link between earth and sky. From the thousands of kites decorated with shells, feathers, leaves, handmade objects and sculptures, which were flying at the beginning of the colonialist area, there is almost nothing left nowadays, and the wonderful collections of kites from the tribes disappeared and – with them – the most important time of their year -- the time that was dedicated to kite making and kite technology. But, more recently, the expertise of kite making was found to be still alive in different tribes, amongst the written and oral recollections and in traditional writings, and the return of traditional Maori kites had an additional impulse when the Maori New Years' Day and the Matariki celebrations also recovered a place of honour. The sky of New Zealand welcomes again the colour and splendour of traditional Maori kite flying.
Kite flying is a sound, environment friendly activity. At the Kite festival, guest kite flyers from all over the world explain how they make kites and demonstrate their respect for the environment -- and thus use kite festivals as educational workshops.
Between the 9th to the 17th of September this year in Dieppe, the demonstrations included flights of the official delegations with commentary from 37 countries, demonstrations of the guests of honour, ----taking flights of giant kites, taking flight of Maoris traditional kites, Kapa Haka and Waiata shows.
There was also the creators' workshops, demonstration and creation of artistic kites, spectacular stunt kites ballets and demonstrations by the international teams.
To add some more fun there were demonstrations of Buggy and Kite Jumping, Kite Fights with international champions, the official kite schools in stunt kite, fighting kite, photography and aerial video; as well as wind corridors: Aeolian music and structures, discovery of the kite world for the disabled people, the Challenge for the Earth, supported by the Hulot Foundation for Nature and Mankind, the Fighting kite World Cup, the Creative Kite Contest and of course the spectacular Night flight -- the sound and light show.
And if that did not satisfy you, there were exhibitions of Kites of the world, the “Kite Wind Generator”, the Kite in India , the Philately of Kites, and continuous entertainment for everyone -- on stilts, jugglers, theatre, parade, concerts.
Most definitely not to be missed next year! See you there!
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