Les Chaboleurs are "the shufflers", with the word deriving from moving in "chabots”, which is Jèrriais for clogs.

History of Les Chaboleurs

• In 2018, a group of people from Jersey, Guernsey, mainland Normandy, and Brittany came together  to have a go at traditional dances – the type of dances that are danced nowadays at fêtes and festivals, and would have been danced in the past at countryside celebrations, farms, and events such as black butter making.
• "We had experienced joining in with Guernsey and mainland Norman dances at the annual Norman language festival, but had not been able to offer our own repertoire in the absence of a group that had in any meaningful way rehearsed," the group said.
• "So, on the basis of written descriptions of dances in Jersey, some of which are variations on mainland dances, including one where the dancers limp for part of the dance holding one leg, which our mainland counterparts do not do, we started practising."
• "One may ask: what is the main difference between Norman and Breton dances? When it comes to round dances, the answer is, in principle, simple: Norman dances start by going to the right, whereas Breton dances start by going to the left," they explained. "Much hilarity ensues in our sessions when some of us are unclear if we are performing Norman-style or Breton-style... but the fun is not in strict formation perfection, but in the enjoyment of the activity."
• After their meet-ups were cancelled during the Covid-19 pandemic, the shufflers started from scratch in 2022 and re-learned their repertoire.

If you're interested in joining Les Chaboleurs, please contact Jean via Jerriais@Societe.je. No dancing skills are required, just a desire to share the local traditions, along with an enthusiasm to keep fit! Les Chaboleurs is an open and inviting social meet-up where anyone who wants to go along and gives the dances a go is welcome.

Rehearsals take place at St. Lawrence Parish Hall from 12:00 to 13:00, usually on the second Saturday of each month.

"We do not perform in elaborate traditional costume – just a kerchief for those dancing the men’s parts, and a gingham apron for the ladies, when the shaking of the apron is a part of the dance."