Confolens Dance Festival was started by Henri Coursaget, local man, as a way to make a contribution to the world and is now a significant international folk festival.
During World War II Coursaget, who only died in March 2011, was the only member of his group of French resistance to survive. During many years later he tried to answer the question: "Why me? ' and memories of their teenage friends fallen left determined to give his life some meaning.
And so he did. Using the means unlikely dance and traditional music, Coursaget deceived political obstacles and face down dictators to gather people from different countries and cultures in a non-stop singing, dancing and stomping their feet. In doing so, he not only transformed an obscure folk festival in a French provincial city in the world's largest and part of a global network of more than 300 events linked the Conseil International des organisations de festivals folklore et art Traditionnel (CIOFF). He was also an internationally acclaimed CIOFF activist for world peace.
UNESCO, who is affiliated with CIOFF, awarded its highest honor Coursaget, Picasso Medal, in recognition of his contribution to the cultural arts and for its unconditional promotion of peace, friendship and understanding.
In the second week of August is when the entourage festival come to Confolens, hometown of Coursaget, and where it all began in 1957. A pharmacist by trade, when Coursaget originally designed the folk festival was as a desperate attempt to revive a dying city. ' If you saw two people gathered in one place that you wondered what was happening, ' Coursaget laughs.
Over the next 10 years, however, Coursaget Unit saw the festival grow from a simple one-day event for an extravaganza celebrates over many days. "But I felt I had the potential to be something more," he says.
In 1970 he released CIOFF, going global, made its first international bond Act, when he launched a call for Soviet Union to join. Despite the tense political climate, a Government delegation traveled from Moscow to Confolens and after a day of talks and became a member, stating ' understood the spirit behind the festival '.
Five years later, CIOFF became affiliated to UNESCO which, in the face of globalisation, accused CIOFF ' keeping traditional folklore of the world and therefore, the promotion of peace among people.
Is a role that Coursaget took very seriously during the dictatorship of General Pinochet in Chile, for example, he flew to Santiago at considerable risk to protest the arrest and torture of musicians. ' Over the years I have experienced the best and the worst in the world, ' he says, becoming a little teary. ' I choose to concentrate on what is good, then it can be used to build a better world in the future. CIOFF has 5000 works of charity work with it. "Each one does so in the spirit of fraternity, regardless of colour, language or political," he said.
Coursaget met a long list of Heads of State and was given a private audience with the late Pope John Paul II, who encouraged her to continue because ' the world needs more people like you '. Coursaget, however was humble about his contribution. "It was never about being superior to all others," he said. ' Yes, I feel I did something in my life, but everything I do, I do for my friends who have died. '
The event brings in 100000 people throughout France and abroad, who arrive to see up to 500 elaborately dressed dancers from different countries.
