Students learn about the Occitane culture

It does not take very long for someone visiting Toulouse to realize that Occitane culture is a very important part of the city and this region; for starters every street corner in the city has the name in both French and Occitane. Occitane is its own separate language, among many others in France - an example of a distinct regionalism that also embodies music, dance, and singing. This afternoon, CIEE students learned about the history of Occitane culture, and they also learned a few of the dance steps that Occitane teenagers in the Middle Ages would have used when courting one another. In those days, physical touch was frowned upon if you were unmarried, so dancing was the best time for a young lad to show his affection to the girl of his dreams. This is no dirty dancing by any means. Take a look at CIEE students giving it a try!