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Feux-Follets - Canada's National Folk Ensemble
These articles are taken almost verbatim from a 1969 Press Release prepared by EDITAS of Montreal for Feux-Follets.

1969 Press Release from Editas
Feux-Follets is a legendary name dating from the days of Canada's first settlers, who often would gather around a flickering fire on the banks of the St. Lawrence to pass a few pleasant hours away on a long summers evening. In a vast and yet unconquered country the tiny bright flames of these fires fostered the comradeship and spirit of men who laid the foundations of a now prospering nation.

Today, Feux-Follets still has a special meaning for Canadians - it stands for their national folk ensemble, a troupe of singers, dancers and musicians who have tickled the imaginations and lightened the hearts of audiences all over North America and Europe.

1952 - The Amateur Years
As a dance troupe, Feux-Follets had its roots in a group of young students, manual workers and office employees who began meeting in 1952 after work in the neighboring Montreal community of Longeuil to share a common interest - folklore. Together they learned the songs and dances of other nations under the enthusiastic leadership of a 17-year-old graphics art student Michel Cartier.

1960 - Atilier Folklorique
The group performed for friends and relatives and soon lent its spark to many semi-professional public performances. In 1960, Feux-Follets found a home in the Atelier Folklorique, sponsored by the City of Montreal Department of Parks and Playgrounds. The folklore workshop attracted many young people and became one of the most successful ventures in Parks offered in its recreational program.

Tours International Fair representing Canada
The high degree of excellence achieved in their performances lead to the Feux-Follets' first appearance abroad. In the summer of 1964, Feux-Follets, represented Canada at the big international fair at Tours, France. More than 90,000 spectators saw the troupe perform in one day.

As an amateur group, Feux-Follets assembled a repertoire of more than a 100 dances from all over the world, as well as 300 brilliant costumes. Today their program centers purely on songs and dances traditional to Canada.

Feux-Follets - now acclaimed as Canada's cultural ambassadors - are unique in many ways. Many of the songs and dances they perform have seldom been seen or heard before outside their original settings. They are the only troupe to recreate and stage Indian rituals, which are quickly becoming obsolete. Permission from certain Indian tribes to re-enact some rituals, is exclusive to Feux-Follets.

In addition, they alone professionally present traditional songs and dances native to Quebec, Nova Scotia and the shanties (chants de la mer) peculiar to the North American seacoast.

As well as achieving a high standard of performance ­ many of the dancers are required to make their own authentically reproduced costumes.

Confederation Arts Centre Command Performance
Since becoming a professional troupe in October 1964, they have journeyed thousands of miles to the stages of Europe and North America. The have represented Canada at the Olympiades du Music Hall in Paris, given three royal command performances before Queen Elizabeth II, and have been honoured with a special stamp in England.

1968 - European Tour
In 1968, they made their third visit to France, when they toured for six weeks in the French-speaking countries of Europe.

Feux-Follets is also the youngest troupe of its kind - the dancers are from 18-20 years old, and the singers about 25. The entire troupe total 65 in all - singers, dancers, and musicians - leading exponents of Canada's diverse ethnic heritage and interpreters of the vigorous spirit with which this land was founded and has flourished.

-30-

FOR:	FEUX-FOLLETS

FROM:   EDITAS

On Tour 1964 - 1968
Since becoming a professional dance troupe in October 1964, Feux-Follets has been seen by more people than has any other Canadian dance group.

1964 - Command Performance
Their first appearance as professionals was an auspicious one. At the occasion of the opening of the Fathers of Confederation Buildings in Charlottetown, PEI, Feux-Follets presented a royal command performance for Queen Elizabeth II.

1965 - Canadian, American & British Tours
1965 was proving ground for this young troupe. Their heavy schedule included an appearance in February at Montreal's Place des Arts. April audiences in Quebec, Sherbrooke and Trois Rivières applauded the troupe's enthusiasm and verve. During May and June, Feux-Follets went on their first Canadian tour to Kingston, Ottawa, Toronto, Windsor, London, Sudbury, Sault Ste. Marie and Fort William. Toronto Star critic Nathan Cohen commented at that time that the organization had "singular merit". Ottawa's LE DROIT cried "Bravo, bravo, bravo".

In July, they crossed the border to perform in Stoneybrook, NY and Washington DC. The capital city was easily won, and the troupe charmed critics and the First Lady, Mrs. Lyndon B. Johnson. Washington's EVENING STAR critic Harry MacArthur called their performance "eye dazzling".

Back in Montreal in August the troupe booked into Comedie Canadienne for three weeks. 'Standing Room Only' was the rule of the day and they were held over for another two weeks.

- Commonwealth Arts Festival & Stamp
The Commonwealth Arts Festival in London, England during September welcomed Feux-Follets as Canada's representative. Not only were they a success at the Picadilly Theatre box office, but also their 3-week visit in Great Britain was commemorated by a special postage stamp.

They returned to Canada to play another week at the Comedie Canadienne. To inaugurate the first colour television broadcast on the Ed Sullivan Show on November 7, Feux-Follets were chosen as guests. This was the first of five appearances on this show.

The year ended with four-day appearances in Quebec and Chicoutimi.

1966 - Canadian, American & European Tours
From January to March 1966 the company travelled 15,000 miles and played in 54 cities in the United States.

New York: Walter Terry, NEW YORK HERALD TRIBUNE, "Les Feux­ Follets have done their job well... with considerable charm and with an abundance of that vitality which characterizes the Canadian".

Miami: Larry Devine, THE MIAMI HERALD, "... the spark and flash of the best of a country's musical past".

Sacramento: SACRAMENTO BEE, "This magnificent group... integrate so many cultural traditions into one united and smoothly functioning organization".

Pittsburg: PITTSBURG POST-GAZETTE, "It really is spectacular".

And so it went with yet another appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show in February.

During July and August of 1966, the troupe returned once more to Comedie Canadienne and left at the end of their booking to join Monique Leyrac, Claude Gauthier and Les Jerolas in a three-week engagement at the Olympiades du Music Hall Feux-Follets was in Paris in a special all-Canadian production.

Perhaps one of the best-remembered occasions by the company was their participation on December 10, 1966 in the United Nations celebrations marking the 18th Anniversary of the Declaration of the Rights of Man.

1967 - Candian Tour & Expo '67
1967 is a year, which could probably be termed a highlight in the performing arts in Canada. Centennial celebrations abounded but no group celebrated with as much energy and undying spirit as the Feux-Follets. From January to April 15 the troupe played 126 performances of Canadian Mosaic in 65 Canadian cities. On a frigid night 1n January, they began their tour as part of the Festival du Canada with Secretary of State, Judy La Marsh officiating at the opening. The capacity crowd responded so demonstratively that an echo was heard in all newspapers, radio and TV across Canada. The applause continued to the end of April when Feux-Follets began twice-daily performances for six months at Expo '67 in the Canadian Pavilion. 200,000 visitors to the fair were charmed, an equal number were left standing at the gate unable to squeeze into the over­flowing theatre.

When Ed Sullivan broadcast from Expo ’67, Feux-Follets were part of that show.

Once Expo '67 closed its gates, the troupe played a one-night stand at Place des Arts in November, before beginning a three-week engagement at the Salle Bonaventure of the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal.

1968 - European Tour
In 1968, after months of revising costumes and working on three new suites for the Canadian Mosaic, Feux-Follets opened at Expo Theatre in Montreal for a three-week period. The little theatre was almost always packed to capacity.

In September, the entire troupe left for their third overseas tour. This time, a six-week tour of France, Belgium, Switzerland and Luxembourg in thirteen cities including Paris, Brussels and Geneva was scheduled. This venture was sponsored under the auspices of the Department of External Affairs in co-operation with the National Arts Centre of Ottawa as part of a cultural exchange program with the French-speaking European countries.

In a short career as a professional troupe, Feux-Follets have carved a special place in the Canadian cultural scene.

Their programs are delivered with elan, pride of country and the ability to project a historical theme with all the force of a hit Broadway musical. Needless to say, they will be enjoyed for a long time to come. -30-

FROM:   EDITAS

1969 - Canadian Tour
Michel Cartier resigned his position as Founding Artistic Director in the Spring of 1969. The company does a Canadian tour, finishing at Place des Arts in Montreal. This will be the final performance of Michel Cartier's big company.

Feux-Follets perform for final time on Ed Sullivan on November 2, 1969.

The company have interviews in November to choose a new Artistic Director and choose Alan Lund.

1970 - Expo '70
A planned Scandinavian, USSR and Japanese tour for the big company falls apart.

A small group of ten dancers are part of the Canadian Pavilion contingent at Expo '70 in Osaka, Japan for the duration of the Fair. Alan Lund first major input to Feux-Follets is selections from his Charlottetown production of Paradise Hill, written and composed by Pierre Berton.

1972 - The Charlottetown Fesival Production
The Montreal Board of Directors of Feux-Follets apparently disintegrate. Alan Lund invites a number of people who have been associated with Feux-Follets for a number of years, where he creates his show Feux Follet (minus the hyphen). Members invited include Music Director Claude Poirier, Richard Bergeron and Andre Denis.

The new group is not part of the official Charlottetown Festival season that year, Their appearance was unplanned. They performs mainly in the amphitheatre and touring the Island on back of a truck, sponsored by Shell. They do a special performance on the MainStage and then tour the Atlantic provinces and Quebec.

1973 - Charlottetown Festival, Canadian Tour
Feux Follets does extensive touring across PEI on the back of the Shell Truck as part of their Place to be in '73 celebrations. Then head off on tour hitting Nova scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia and the Northwest Territories.

CBC do a Feux Follets Musicamera special of this production directed by Norman Campbell.

1974 - Canadian and American Tour
Feux Follets do a Canadian tour, visiting Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia.

They also do an American tour to Michigan, Montana, Idaho, North Dakota, Oregon and Spokane, Washington for Expo '74.

1979 - Charlottetown Festival
Alan Lund remounts Feux Follets for '79 Charlottetown Festival and intrtoduces his Chinese suite addition.

1980 - Charlottetown Festival & SuperSpecial
Feux Follets did their final appearance with the Charlottetown Festival.

CBC do a Feux Follets SuperSpecial performance