Bèlè dancing and creole Last Friday

On March 10th, every school where creole language is taught could organize a cultural action on Bèlè music. Our students will talk about it:

Last Friday there was a group of bèlè dancers called BèlèLégliz in our school library. Bèlè is originally a traditional seduction dance from the island of Martinique.  Bèlè music is very old. Bèlè was created in Africa during slavery and it was imported to Martinique by the slaves before 1848. The first bèlè dancers were the slaves who wanted to enjoy themselves and relax  after a hard  working week. 

The main instruments are drums and wooden sticks called 'ti-bwa' in creole language (ti-bois or Petits-Bois). The two 'ti-bwa' give the rhythm at the beginning of each song. The ti-bwa player hits his two sticks on the big drum behind the player sitting on it.

The name of the male dancers is 'kavalié' or 'cavalier' in French and for women it is 'Danm Bèlè' or 'Dame Bèlè'. The traditional clothes for the female dancers are a large madras (checked material whose origin is supposed to be  the town of Madras in India) or flowered skirt, a petticoat and a madras square scarf tied around their waist. Men wear tucked up trousers and a square-shaped madras scarf rolled around the waist through the pants belt loops. Men and women dance bare feet.

- I discovered Bèlè music which is a traditional dance in Martinique: I had never danced it before. (Camille from Nîmes in France, 2nde4).
- I liked all the dances. I discovered a new language, creole because I am from New Caledonia.
(John 2nde 6).
- I really enjoyed the show because it is our Martinican heritage. (Alizée, 2nde 6)

We were told about the history of our folk music. We have  loved the emotions caused by this music.

We really enjoyed ourselves during the show. The visitors talked about the origin of Bèlè. They told us about Ti-Emile, one of  the bèlè singers  from the hills of St-Marie, North of Martinique. The first school of bèlè was created in that town. We were happy to hear about  our traditions. Nowadays, Bèlè music is very successful as we try to protect our traditions.

The pupils of 2nde 4 and 2nde 6.

Texts read in creole were interrupted by songs and dances.
There was interaction with the students.