The Celtic circle of Châteaulin is the whole life of Ghislaine Fur, who relaunched it in 1985 when it had been inactive for ten years. “This is my third child,” she explains with tenderness. If she has chaired Alc’houederien Kastellin for 40 years, it is to transmit Breton culture, and in particular that of the Rouzig country. “In 2024, we have fulfilled our mission! », Welcomes the president this Saturday January 4, 2025, day of the general assembly.
A real source of pride for the female facilitators, because the entity which has 102 members this year (101 in 2023) mainly attracts women. “Among the 29 dancers in the choreography class, there are only five men. And in management, it’s worse: they prefer to leave the work to us! », laughs Ghislaine Fur. “The habit of traditional dance has been somewhat lost. The image of a man who must be virile, play football, etc., does not fit very well with circle dancing. However, our grandfathers or our uncles danced! “.
“Resonance with current events encourages us to transmit”
And this lack of diversity has consequences, not necessarily negative. “This year, as we were mainly women, we put on a show which retraced the revolt of female workers in 1919, who were paid less than men. We received a lot of compliments, because women’s struggles always resonate with the news and the public. This is what pushes us to transmit,” explains the sixty-year-old.
She adds: “Fortunately, among the youngest, things are improving: there are more and more boys.” In 2024, fourteen children aged 5 to 12 have joined the ranks of the Celtic circle. “Often, they take the initiative, when they discover us in an association forum or during the Sports Festival. It’s important after the covid period, we had to rebuild everything from scratch,” regrets the president.
-Louna, 10 years old, and Arya, 9 years old, who have been practicing for five and four years respectively, are not going to contradict her. “The costumes, the parades and the extra friends, it’s so good! I want to do that and nothing else,” says the first.
Succession assured
And the Alouettes de Châteaulin can also count on many young people to perhaps take over. Like Léa Fertile, 25 years old, and Camille Croguennoc, 23 years old, who help lead the choreography classes. We also owe them a brand new online store, where many goodies from the circle are sold: sweatshirts, fanny packs, soft toys… “A way of financing our open-door policy based on affordable prices, with an annual membership of between €25 and €30,” notes the former social worker.
The initiative comes at the right time, after a busy year and therefore marked by a budget deficit of €2,435. “Our numerous outings, such as the Europades in Sardinia, have affected finances, but we have reserves. That doesn’t worry me, slips Ghislaine Fur. We will be able to continue to transmit, around dance but also embroidery, singing and pancakes! “.
