Outdoor Dance lesson in Paris
 

In Bulgaria traditional dance lessons are offered outside the Opera House one evening a week, these lessons are offered to tourists and locals. Is there anything like this in Paris?

The Balkan countries, including Bulgaria, have a lively folk dance tradition, also taught & enjoyed well beyond Europe. Folk dancing groups in the US always include those but I’ve never encountered French dances that I can remember. That’s not to say there aren’t any, just that they may not be as popular & maybe harder to find outside their homes in the provinces. I’ll be interested to know, too, if anyone’s encountered folk dancing in Paris.

Hi Donnae,
One could check out dancing at Quai Saint-Barnard, in the 5e near the Institute du Monde Arabe. That is tween Pont Austerlitz and Pont de Sully.
There are also similar events in Parc Butte-Chaumont plus Pont des Invalides.
Bon chance.
I am done. the tango

On the Quai Saint Bernard, they give tango and salsa lessons in the warm months as long as it is not raining.

Those are great . . . But isn't that ballroom/social dancing?? Tango, salsa, waltz, that type of thing? A participatory/party vibe. Not the 'folk dancing' the OP seemed to describe.

There is nothing like that in Paris, they don't have a tradition of peasant folk dances in the main city. There are a few French folk dances that are circular or whatever in areas like the Auvergne or Provence (the farandole). I've never seen that done and iot's not a big thing to have public lessons for it even there.

The older popular "bals" in Paris were the musette which were more working class and the guingettes which were more in ther afternoon on the Seine and higher class But these aren't the same as peasant folk dances, just sort of popular dance areas to traditional accordion, etc.. These still exist in some places and areas but not public lessons. I think there are some bals populaires in the summer in Paris, but not public lessons (such as affiliated with Paris Plages).

Guinguettes are likely only in summer, this place says March to October but I don't know how recent that page was updated
https://www.visitparisregion.com/en/...martin-pecheur

Joinville-le-Pont is about the most famous guinguette spot
https://www.chez-gegene.fr/

They say they are open from April thru Sept and you need reservations for dinner but not to just sit on the terrace.

Here's an article about them
https://lefrancophile.com/joinville-...s-guinguettes/

French folk dance from Auvergne, I think they were also the source of the musette

The folk culture of Auvergne Bourrée

We are so glad we decided to post the above question, we are grateful for the replies and feel like we are about to widen our experiences in one of our favorite places in the world. Thank you :heart: