Lous Gouyats of Adou

Dances and traditions of the Landes

Lous Gouyats de l'Adou (the Young People of the Adour) is a Landes group from Dax. They strive, with the enthusiasm of their youth, to revive the folklore traditions of their region. Since 1965, they have enjoyed unfailing success during their performances both in their country and abroad. Their stilt walkers, in particular, are admired by those who applaud them.

The variety of the show offered by the Gouyats is drawn from the diversity of the different ways of life that make up their region.

To the north, the Petites Landes and the Grande Lande, then, on the edge of the ocean, the Pays de Born - a region with sparse pignadas in the middle of marshy, flat and bare expanses where flocks of sheep used to pass. Poor vastness where in the 17th century, an agro-pastoral colonization was to develop, of which waders were the typical element.

To the West, a wooded region, dotted with sapphire ponds, sea gulfs; the Marensin where charcoal burners and tappers lived.

To the South, delimited by the harmonious curve of the Adour and up to the edge of the Gaves, the Chalosse, the Pays d'Orthe and the Tursan, regions with green and rich hillsides. This abundance of sources also allows the GOUYATS DE L'ADOU to present a very eclectic program, so great is the variety of the choice of clothes, music and dances.



Clothes

Of course, nowadays, light sandals have replaced clogs, but boys have their beret, the wide red or black belt, the loose shirt, and their calves are sheathed in the ancient woolen trabucs.

The waders have always adopted the sheepskin pelisse and kept the cuyoun, ancestor of the gourd.

The girls, in this country where abundance was rare, will not present sumptuous clothes, but their loose and striped skirts, their dark leotards, their aprons in soft colors, their shimmering shawls will surprise you.



Dances

In their repertoire of 30 dances chosen by the Gouyats, here is of course the traditional rondeau and its multiple forms, the poetry of the pretty Catherine aou Casaou, the humor of the Saut de Sacule, the Sabringotte or the Saut dou lapin, the enumerative dances like the famous Yan Petit and, finally, the astonishing rounds, polkas and jigs of the stilt walkers, without forgetting the scottish and so many others... that you will discover during a show chosen for the joy of dancing and sharing this desire.



But what else?

Lous Gouyats de l'Adou were created in 1965 with the aim of practicing and making known traditional Landes dances.

The group is open (from the age of 5) to all people wishing to learn the customs, music, dances, songs of our region, as well as the practice of Landes stilts (dances, races, virtuosity competitions).

No financial participation is required. Registration, costumes, participation in trips, are completely free.

The group's headquarters are at the Maison des Gouyats - Rue Aygue Rouye in Dax. Rehearsals take place every Tuesday and Friday, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and occasionally on Saturday mornings.



Throughout the year, the Gouyats animate the city of Dax in various places and travel to all regions of France; they also travel abroad. Since 1965, the Gouyats have participated in more than 2,600 shows and various events, around a hundred international folk festivals and have been invited to 22 different countries.