The Bacchu-ber Sword Dance.
This episode is drawn from a beautiful war dance of very
ancient origin, which has been religiously preserved in the lower Alps. This dance, which
is called the Bacchu-Ber, is danced once a year in the village of Pont-de-Cervières,
to celebrate the day of Saint
Roch (1295-1327), patron of the parish. This noble dance, the greatest legacy of the
pleasures of the old Celts, is not accompanied by the sound of instruments. Thus, it may
be seen that choregraphy, so comprehended, is no longer solely a pleasure insignificant
in itself, or at least only interesting to those who indulge in it. |
This dance has become a spectacle, which can be of great interest to
the beholders as well as to the performers. If children were good at fencing, would have
little difficulty in executing the Bacchu-Ber, and would display in it all the grace of
beautiful gesture. This would be very pretty in a large house, hall or an open space devoted
to tennis courts. Nine, eleven or thirteen young men, with sword in hand, old Gallic swords
which are entrusted to the care of a resident, form in a circle. With the right hand they
hold the large hilt of their sword, with the left hand the point of their neighbor's sword.
Then with a simultaneous movement they place the points of their weapons
on the ground, so as to form a radius. Now their swords are raised, and they salute each
other.
Two dancers separate from the others, to make with their uplifted
arms and their swords, whose ends reunite, an arch, under which the other young people may
pass. Following this they have a rapid mock fight, in which they jump, turn about and salute
with their weapons, in time. The swords flash as they play above the dancers' heads. This
is very graceful but quite dangerous. Therefore, only those young men who have proven themselves
skilful are admitted to the Bacchu-Ber. The one who is the most capable, the most experienced,
conducts the dance unquestionably, making all obedient to him.
If it is absolutely masculine, it does
not, however dispense with the co-operation of the other sex. A circle is formed by the
ladies, who place the oldest one among them in the centre, and they begin a song of remarkable
beauty, which incites the dancers, and which, without doubt, incited the warriors. Bravo,
people of Cervières, who, through the ages, have encouraged this fragment of the old
Celtic customs!
The advocates of the Greeks and Romans
attribute to them the paternity of the Bacchu-Ber, but some others are of the opinion that
this beautiful dance has rather a Celtic character, and that the music of the song which
accompanies it also denotes this origin.
Since this is considered a War,
Pyrric or Military Dance, it may be related to Bacchus,
God of Wine?, The name certainly has the ring.
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