Les Ptibals

A friendly folk festival in the heart of Lagrasse

Created in 2015 by the Bol d'Air association, the Les Ptibals festival has established itself as a must-attend event for folk dancing in the south of France. Located in the village of Lagrasse, one of the most beautiful villages in France, the festival takes over the multipurpose hall for the main evening dances and the Étiroirs space for daytime activities, offering a warm and intimate setting conducive to dancing and meeting people.

Folk dances and an eclectic musical program

The heart of the festival lies in its grand folk dances organized on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings from 9 p.m. at the Lagrasse multipurpose hall. The musical program alternates between traditional repertoires (bourrées, scottishes, waltzes, mazurkas) and neo-traditional creations, with groups and musicians from all over France. Each evening offers a different musical journey, from Occitan dances to Balkan, Swedish, or Catalan rhythms.

Dance workshops and classes for everyone

The days are dedicated to dance workshops led by experienced dancers. Participants can learn or improve in many styles:

• Bourrées and dances from Poitou
• Balkan and Swedish dances
• Catalan dance and body percussion
• Rueda and Armenian dances

The guinguette space at Étiroirs hosts a discovery stage and free dance introductions, allowing beginners to get started in a relaxed atmosphere before the evening dances.

A family festival rooted in the region

Les Ptibals also offers family activities, film screenings about dance (such as the documentary "Le Grand Bal"), and moments of conviviality around local food. The festival is part of a dynamic of promoting traditional dances and intergenerational transmission, in partnership with the cultural center Les Arts de Lire of the Lagrasse abbey, which hosts some activities within its walls.