Dancing the Antilles in Le Mans with ACMA Caraïbes, from quadrille to gwoka
In September, we were invited to the first planning meeting for the Outre-Mer festival. On the nonprofit's program: dance classes open to everyone, the Journée Créole in October and, in spring, the festival.
Photo : un groupe de danse invité au Festival culturel d'Outre-Mer 2026 — ACMA Caraïbes
A meeting open to volunteers
In September, at the Novotel des Sablons: ACMA Caraïbes kicked off preparations for the 13th edition of the Festival culturel d'Outre-Mer. The meeting was open to volunteers, and we were invited.
The Association culturelle Mans antillaise Caraïbes was founded in 2003 to bring the culture of the Antilles and the Caribbean to life in Le Mans. The team was renewed in 2018 with the current president. Each year: the festival (12th edition on May 16 and 17, 2026, at the Étangs Chauds), the Journée Créole in October, a carnival, a New Year's Eve party, a brunch, the Train des Antilles. For 2026–2027, the nonprofit is recruiting dancers, ka or bèlè drum players, and volunteers. The date of the 2027 festival will be announced once confirmed.
Saturday, October 10: the Journée Créole
It takes place at Le Kaléidoscope, 9 rue du Cantal, from noon to 10 PM. Free admission, all audiences, all ages. On the food side: a hot Creole dish from 12:30 to 2 PM, then Creole boxes in the afternoon and evening. On the program, according to the poster:
- 2:30 PM: welcome with drums and Creole passport
- 3 PM: Creole dictation
- 4 PM: blind test
- 4:30 PM: quadrille and haute-taille demonstration
- 4:45 PM: talk and debate on superstitions
- 6:15 PM: dance demonstration and ka performance
- 7:15 PM: DJ, until the end of the day at 10 PM
With the participation of the MKT nonprofit from Dreux.
Dancing the Antilles all year
The nonprofit offers two dance sessions a week, open to everyone, of any age, with one special feature: you can join mid-season.
- Wednesday at Les Sablons: from 6 to 7:30 PM, quadrille, a figure-based ballroom dance from the Antilles; from 7:30 to 9 PM, the other dances of the Antilles and the overseas territories (bèlè, gwoka, biguine, mazurka, haute-taille).
- Sunday in Allonnes: from 10 AM to 1 PM, the two groups dance together. First class of the season on September 27.
There is also a Creole language class, on Wednesdays from 3 to 4 PM, at the nonprofit's headquarters.
This nonprofit is well worth a visit: share this article with someone who wants to dance.
Getting there
- Headquarters: 17 rue des Ardennes, Le Mans.
- Journée Créole: Saturday, October 10, noon–10 PM, Le Kaléidoscope, 9 rue du Cantal. Free.
- Dance classes: Wednesday (quadrille 6–7:30 PM, other dances 7:30–9 PM, at Les Sablons) and Sunday 10 AM–1 PM (Allonnes); confirm times with the nonprofit before coming.
- Creole class: Wednesday 3–4 PM, at headquarters.
- How to try it: write to acmacaraibes@gmail.com or call 06 37 91 68 51. Ask the nonprofit for the membership fee.
- ACMA Caraïbes on Sortir au Mans
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