Festival Voix & Danses

A festival born from a beautiful merger

The Festival Voix & Danses was born in 2022 from the merger of two historic events in the Bocage Bressuirais: the Festival Terre de Danses, dedicated to world and traditional dances, and the Festival Éclats de Voix, dedicated to singing and vocal music. This alliance gave birth to a new kind of festival, exploring the links between the voice and the moving body, two fundamental modes of human expression.

From its very first edition in 2022, the festival found its audience: over 3,000 participants across 9 towns, with around 150 invited artists and 300 amateurs involved. This immediate success confirmed the relevance of an ambitious cultural event in a rural area of northern Deux-Sèvres.

A touring festival close to the residents

The strength of Voix & Danses lies in its touring nature. For three weeks in October, the festival travels from town to town in the Bocage Bressuirais: Bressuire, Mauléon, Cerizay, Nueil-les-Aubiers, Moncoutant-sur-Sèvre, La Chapelle-Saint-Laurent, Combrand, and other surrounding villages. Each location hosts performances adapted to its spaces: intimate concerts in restored barns, dance performances in public squares, shows in municipal halls.

This touring approach allows for deep connections with local communities and reaches audiences who do not always have access to diverse cultural offerings. Residents become active participants in the festival through practical workshops, participatory projects, and culture-health collaborations.

A rich and committed program

The Festival Voix & Danses offers an eclectic and demanding program that blends professional artists and amateur practices. On the agenda: choral and polyphonic singing concerts, contemporary and traditional dance performances, creations combining voice and movement, musical theater, documentary screenings, singing workshops, dance masterclasses, yoga and relaxation sessions, and events dedicated to the young audience.

The festival also stands out for its culture-health collaborations, an original dimension that offers artistic actions in conjunction with care and support structures, convinced of the therapeutic and social power of voice and dance.

A commitment to all audiences

True to its motto — “For all tastes and all ages” — the Festival Voix & Danses appeals to both discerning music lovers and families, teenagers and the elderly. Parent-child workshops, youth performances, and rural events contribute to making this event a truly popular and unifying festival in the Bocage Bressuirais.