Folk'Ancy

Folk'Ancy: The trad dance that makes Ancy-le-Franc vibrate

In the heart of Burgundy, in the small village of Ancy-le-Franc (Yonne, 89160), a new evening has been born to celebrate traditional music and dances in all their vitality. Folk'Ancy is a folk dance that blends the popular roots of the French trad repertoire with contemporary sounds, inviting everyone—novice or experienced dancer—to discover or rediscover the pleasure of live dance.

Organized by SARL Menneret, based at Place Clermont-Tonnerre in Ancy-le-Franc, the event takes place in the village hall on Grande Rue, a warm space in the heart of the village. The event is supported by the Chablis Cure et Yonne Tonnerrois Tourist Office, which contributes to the cultural enhancement of this heritage-rich territory.

A program designed for everyone

The evening is divided into three complementary parts. As soon as the doors open at 5:30 PM, participants can gather for a relaxed atmosphere with a drink. At 6:00 PM, a folk dance discovery workshop is offered by one of the evening's groups: in one hour, the basics of the main traditional dances—bourrée, scottish, mazurka, circassienne—are taught with pedagogy and good humor. No fixed partner or special attire is needed to participate.

From 8:00 PM, the dance floor belongs to the musicians. Two groups perform one after the other to liven up the night:

• Amassà — a quartet weaving musical links between Gascony, Limousin, and Berry. Hurdy-gurdy, accordion, three-hole flute, and percussion create a sound journey through the heart of the Center and Southwest provinces, drawing from both ancient and living repertoires.
• Le Mange Bal — a flagship project of the French electro-folk scene, led by Théodore Lefeuvre and Nils Kassap. Mixing desk, accordion, clarinets, and analog synthesizers merge with dances from Occitanie, Auvergne, Poitou, and Brittany to create a trad dance spiced with beats and bass. A festive, danceable, and electrifying sound, accessible to novices and aficionados alike.

Ancy-le-Franc: An exceptional setting

The village of Ancy-le-Franc is more than just a geographical location. Nestled on the banks of the Armançon river and along the Burgundy Canal, it houses one of the jewels of French Renaissance: the Château d'Ancy-le-Franc, built from 1544 at the request of Antoine III de Clermont, brother-in-law of Diane de Poitiers. Designed by the Italian architect Sebastiano Serlio and decorated by Francesco Primaticcio, this palace preserves the largest collection of Renaissance paintings in situ in France.

This rich heritage inspires the village's cultural vocation, which hosts the Musicancy festival (classical and baroque music at the château) every summer. Folk'Ancy is part of this tradition of cultural excellence, but with a popular and participatory energy all its own: here, you don't just watch, you dance.

The tradition of folk dance in Burgundy

Folk dance has been experiencing a strong revival since the 2010s, especially among younger generations. These evenings, heirs to the peasant gatherings and guinguettes of yesteryear, offer a unique space for meeting and sharing, without hierarchy or mandatory virtuosity. Trad music—hurdy-gurdy, bagpipes, diatonic accordion, bombard—resonates in rural village halls with an assumed modernity, sometimes enriched with electronics, as practiced successfully by Le Mange Bal on stages across France.

Folk'Ancy fits perfectly into this trend, offering a quality event in a Burgundian village that combines architectural beauty and dynamic community life.

A friendly and accessible evening

The spirit of Folk'Ancy is above all about conviviality. A bar and light refreshments are available on-site. The introductory workshop ensures that no one is left on the sidelines. The musicians from both groups accompany the dancers by adapting their tempo, acting as dance leaders. Everyone is welcome, with family, friends, as a couple, or alone.