Lous Toustem Amics
Brassempouy
Lous Toustem Amics (which means “Forever Friends”) is a traditional folk group from Brassempouy, performing both on stilts and on the ground. The group has existed for over 40 years and currently includes 25 dancers of all ages, starting from 6 years old. We take part in local events such as markets and village festivals, offering performances as well as dance introductions and workshops.
Lous Bidaous
Boucau-Tarnos
Le groupe Lous Bidaous est implanté à Boucau-Tarnos, créé en 2003, il a fêté ses 20ans en janvier 2023. Il est composé aujourd’hui d’une trentaine d’adhérents de 6 à 60ans mélangeant échassiers, musiciens et mamans qui les accompagnent au sol. Le nom du groupe provient d’une spécialité de champignon, montrant l’image du passage de la danse au sol à celle en échasses, imageant le champignon qui grandit tout comme les échassiers. Le groupe effectue des prestations privées et publiques dans un univers familial et convivial, avec des prestations en constantes évolutions. Le groupe a eu l’occasion de partir en voyage lors de festivals mondiaux, en Pologne (2012), Belgique (2013/2019) et Portugal (2018) mais aussi en France. « Nos jeunes sont prêts à prendre la relève des anciens sans hésitez pour faire perdurer ces traditions »
Lous Tchanques Chalosse
Montfort-en-Chalosse
Lous Tchancayres, meaning “The Stilt Walkers,” is a group of about 100 passionate volunteers aged 1 to 67, including ground dancers, stilt walkers, musicians, and supporters. Founded in 1972, our goal is to preserve and share the Landes traditions and folklore through various performances. We take part in festivals, parades, weddings, birthdays, and many other events. Our shows last about 30 minutes and feature both ground and stilt dances.
Lous Cadetouns
Soustons
Lous Cadetouns, meaning “the cadets” in Gascon, is a traditional folk group specializing in stilt dancing—a unique feature of the Landes region. Founded in 1956, our mission is to help people appreciate and share the ancestral traditions of Landes. We offer a variety of performances, adapting our repertoire to fit all kinds of events such as festivals, celebrations, parades, fairs, and meals, both in France and abroad. Our lively and varied show includes dances performed on the ground like open and closed rondeaux, scottish, Congo, and quadrilles, featuring both female and male dancers. We also present spectacular and challenging stilt dances such as polkas, where our shepherds defy the laws of balance. Lous Cadetouns will celebrate its 70th anniversary in 2026.
Lous Crabots de Semisens
Saint Vincent-de-Tyrosse
Lous Crabots de Semisens celebrated its 40th anniversary this summer! The group has around 100 members, including stilt walkers, ground dancers, musicians, support staff, and other active participants. Our association is proud to maintain a warm, family-friendly atmosphere. We mainly perform during the summer months, offering shows in the Landes region, as well as at festivals across France and abroad.
Les Hérons des Lacs
Biscarrosse
The stilt-walking group Les Hérons des Lacs was founded in 2008 in Biscarrosse, in the north of the Landes region. Young and energetic, the group stands out for its performances and stilt-walking workshops. They are also the creators of a unique sport called Athléchasse. Athléchasse, invented in 2013 by Les Hérons des Lacs, is an original discipline that combines stilt-walking with a range of athletic events, such as long jump, high jump, hammer throw, javelin, and sprints (100m, 200m, 400m), as well as relays. This year, the association had the honor of co-hosting the 6th edition of the event, in partnership with the FGFL. Every two years, around 100 stilt walkers come together for this unique competition, where they compete for medals and trophies while enjoying a friendly and festive atmosphere that breaks away from traditional folklore. Les Hérons also had the opportunity to take part in a folk festival in Bergamo, Italy, from August 20 to 26. It was a wonderful chance to meet groups from all over the world (including Ukraine, Albania, Mexico, and more), creating a rich environment of cultural and folkloric exchange
Lous dé Bazats
Bazas
We are Lous dé Bazats, a traditional folk group from the Landes Girondines region, based in our charming town of Bazas. Our group includes several hundred passionate members, aged 6 to 70—dancers, stilt walkers, and musicians. Founded in 1927, we are now approaching our 100th anniversary and remain an incredibly active group thanks to our many performances. You can find us at local Bazas traditions, weddings, birthdays, festivals, and a variety of other events. This year, we proudly represented our group at the Cerveny Kostelec Festival in the Czech Republic, where we were honored to receive the Mayor’s Prize. Our shows last about 30 minutes and feature a blend of ground and stilt dances. Only boys perform on stilts—1.40 meters high for the older group and 0.80 meters for our younger “pitchouns.” See you in 2027 in Bazas as we celebrate our 100th anniversary!
Lous Gouyats de l’Adou
Dax
Lous Gouyats de l’Adou (which means “The Young People of the Adour”) is a traditional folk group from Dax, in the Landes region of France. With the energy of their youth, they strive to bring the local traditions and folklore of their region back to life. Since 1965, they’ve been met with constant success, both in their homeland and abroad. Their stilt walkers, in particular, never fail to impress the audiences who cheer for them. The variety in their performances comes from the rich and diverse ways of life found in their region. Their repertoire includes around 30 dances chosen by the group. Among them are the classic rondeau in its many forms, the poetic “Catherine aou Casaou,” the playful humor of “Saut de Sacule,” “Sabringotte,” and “Saut dou lapin,” as well as story-based dances like the famous “Yan Petit.” And of course, you’ll also see breathtaking stilt-walking dances—rounds, polkas, and jigs—along with the scottish and many more. Each show is created to share the joy of dancing and to pass on their love for these traditions.
Lous Tchancayres
Mont de Marsan
Depuis plus de 35 ans, nos musiciens et nos danseurs, sur échasses et au sol, perpétuent les traditions landaises héritées de nos aieux. Vous découvrirez dans ce site l'évolution de la pratique des échasses dans les Landes. Vous pourrez faire connaissance avec nous, échassières, échassiers et musiciens du groupe folklorique Lous Tchancayres et découvrir nos prestations.
Echassiers ESA
Mont de Marsan
ESA (Échasses Spectacles Animation) is a group of échassiers (stilt walkers) from the Landes region, performing traditional Gascon dances both on stilts and on the ground, as well as Gascon songs. What makes our group unique is that we also offer themed street performances—for example, during Christmas—and modern dances set to contemporary music. In July 2024, we took part in the Cultures aux Cœurs festival in Montignac-Lascaux, showcasing both our traditional and modern styles. The association was founded in June 2010 and currently has
Les Bergers de Seignanx:
Ondres
The group Les Bergers du Seignanx is made up of around forty dancers, both on the ground and on stilts, accompanied by traditional musicians. Based in Ondres, the group has existed for 47 years and offers folk performances, market and local festival animations, parades, and even takes part in sporting events. If you’d like to help keep Landes traditions alive and be part of a friendly, intergenerational group, come meet us! We rehearse every Friday evening from 7 to 9 p.m. at the mur à gauche de Larrendart in Ondres.